Been meaning to do a thread like this for a while. Few pointers.....

--> Price is based on cheapest i can find (new product), it's either off the shop floor at a Maidenhead Aquatics, from e-bay (price includes postage) or from another on-line store (price includes postage). So if you are looking to buy a test kit, try not to pay above the price i have quoted, because if you look hard enough you will find the said kit at this price (including postage where required).

--> They are all liquid tests, with the exception of the Interpet which i believe are tablets? I haven't tried Interpet tests as of yet. I dont like test-strips at all, will make a reference to them later.

--> I am just covering Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate testing. I do test for pH, General Hardness and Carbonate Hardness but have not used enough of a variety of kits to comment right now.

--> It's freshwater i am referring to, i dont keep and never have kept marine fish/set-up's.

--> I have not used all the kits mentioned here, this will be included in the comments i make about each kit.

--> Please (obviously) feel free to add comments and share your experiences with relevant test kits, this could include test kits i have not covered (i.e. pH, hardness, phosphates etc)

Okay first up will be Ammonia testing, to follow...........................

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AMMONIA

Here is a couple of interesting articles, including an interesting calculator regarding ammonia. You may need to join PFK to use the calculator, but you may as well join, it's free, easy and lots of valuable information, calculators and product review etc.......

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...article_id=431

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...es/ammonia.php

Me, personally, i am stopping testing for ammonia now, as the water conditioner i use (Seachem Prime) creates some problems with testing for ammonia (false positive results). I am satisifed my biological filtration is processing ammonia as it should.

I did try a testing kit (Seachem) that provides true "free ammonia" results even if you use a conditioner that can provide false-positive results, but i didnt like the test kit, see below.

If you are not using a water conditioner that converts ammonia to a non-toxic form (such as Prime) your testing results for ammonia should be "ok" and reliable. Tetra Aqua Safe is a water conditioner that does not convert toxic ammonia for example.

Here come's my previous experience with ammonia testing kits and price information

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API
£8.48 for 130 tests, 0.07p per test



I have used this, does what it says on the tin, very cheap. Two different reagents need to be used which is about average for ammonia testing


Nutrafin Freshwater Ammonia Testing
£6.39 for 70 tests, 0.09p per test



I have used this, one reagent only which is handy and an "instant" result, no waiting about


Nutrafin Freshwater and Marine Ammonia Testing
£5.99 for 50 tests, 0.12p per test



This used to actually be my favourite before i had issues with false-positive results of all ammonia testing kits. The reason i liked this one, was that it was quite easy to see small ammonia traces based on the colours in test tube, easier that all other ammonia test kits i have used. The downside of this kit is (a) 3 different reagents you have to use and (b) results take 20 minutes


Sera
£7.45 for 60 tests, 0.12p per test



Never used it! although i do like/trust the Sera brand


Salifert
£6.95 for 50 tests, 0.14p per test



Never used it!



Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16 per test



Never used it!


Seachem
£12.95 for 75 tests, 0.17 per test



Tried this as it shows up only the toxic form of ammonia, unlike most other ammonia kits. This was a big let down for me, it involves fiddling about with little paper "dots" and placing them in water then reading the colour change, big pain, difficult to read the results, waste of money for me.


JBL
£8.99 for 50 tests, 0.18 per test



Never used it! although i do like/trust the JBL brand



Tetra
£7.40 for 25 tests, 0.30p per test



Never used it, at 30p per test, Tetra are having a laugh. I have seen the colour chart and its basically the same kind of test as all other much cheaper kits. I cant see how they are justifying 25 tests for £7.40. Nothing to suggest there is extra value for money here

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NITRITE

In my opinion, the most useful/important test kit out of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate. I know ammonia is more toxic, but biological filter media generally quickly can mature to process ammonia compared to processing nitrite which can take longer. I have tested tank water in the past for other people where ammonia is zero but nitrite is very high. Therefore if you are choosing between ammonia and nitrite and can only afford (or dare i say it be bothered to have only one of these kits), go for nitrite.

See following links for info

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/cycling2.htm

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/bi...rogencycle.htm

http://members.optushome.com.au/chel...rification.htm

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API
£7.90 for 180 tests, 0.04 per test



My second fave nitrite kit and great value, the only downer to it is that it does not seem to detect very low levels of nitrite, but as a general test to find out if you have a nitrite issue it's great value and easy to use with just the one reagent. Definitly recommeneded by myself


Nutrafin
£7.29 for 75 tests, 0.10 per test



Used it a few times. It's ok. But no more reliable or effective than API, so when factoring cost in, go for the API (above)


Sera
£7.45 for 75 tests, 0.10 per test



I have used it, no problems with it and i like Sera


Salifert
£5.45 for 50 tests, 0.11 per test



Never tried it


JBL
£8.49 for 60 tests, 0.14 per test



My favourite Nitrite kit, tests for very low range of nitrite, easy to read colour differences on chart (easier than other kits), i think this is the best test kit out of them all (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate), if you can find JBL, then get it!


Tetra
£6.75 for 45 tests, 0.15p per test



Not used it


Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16p per test



Not used it

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NITRATE

Traditionally and i think scientifically? the hardest to test accurately for with LFS kits (in terms of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate)

It's particularly problematic if you have set-ups that run with nitrate in the 40mg/l+ range as its always difficult to get a decent reading off the colour charts.

TIP: as i have 20-30 mg/l from the tap and dont use RO or any specific nitrate reducing agents, my tanks are often in the 40-50 mg/l range(except my planted tank), so............. because of the charts being tricky with readings of 40mg/l i test with 50% distilled water (0 mg/l nitrate) and 50% tank water, i then double the result to get my reading (based off colour charts)

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API
£8.48 for 90 tests, 0.09p per test



Good value, i have heard stories on one forum of problems with API Nitrate readings being wildly varied from same tank. However, if you dig a bit deeper, you will find that this is a problem associated with many nitrate kits and not just API. This is a decent kit, it will always (100%) confirm to me that my tpa readings are in the 20 mg/l range and tanks in the 40 mg/l range. Uses x2 reagents and no powder


Nutrafin
£7.90 for 80 tests, 0.10p per test



I dont like it, colour chart (even for nitrate kits) is useless once you get past 25 mg/l. Uses x3 reagents and no powder


Sera
£7.45 for 60 tests, 0.12p per test



I like this one, easy to read colour chart, uses x2 reagents and powder


Salifert
£6.95 for 50 tests, 0.14p per test



I dont like it, colour chart (even for nitrate kits) is useless once you get past 25 mg/l. Much the same as the Nutrafin one


Interpet
£6.50 for 40 tests, 0.16p per test



never used it


JBL
£11.15 for 50 tests, 0.22p per test



I had some problems with this one, all my results came back at under 10mg/l nitrate, which i dont think was accurate


Tetra
£11.20 for 45 tests, 0.25p per test



My favoured Nitrate kit, although too expensive at £0.25 per test. Easier to read colour chart when compared to other Nitrate kits. x2 Reagents and a powder.

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