Buying Hach/Lamotte NO3/PO4 test kits in SG

[cheeboonyong]

Hi,

does anyone know if there are any retails shops selling the above mentioned? And the recommended retail price (not the net discounted price, just the RPP)?

Would it be cheaper for me to get it in the US instead? Will be there for a short week.

[FC]

I am not sure but I think I saw Keong Siong has the Hach. However, why border to pay more? I suppose Sera provide quite good reading/indication for both PO4 & NO3.

[PeterGwee]

Freddy, the Sera kit does not come close as far as I am concern about accuracy and consistency as compared to the Hach and LaMotte kits. Hach low range NO3 kit comes with a big price tag of around $130-$150 depending on the quote by the local distributor. I'm not sure of the LaMotte though but heard it is even more costly. The shipping time for the Hach kit is 4 weeks though.

Regards
Peter Gwee :wink:

[cheeboonyong]

Saw 4 distributors in SG on Hach website. Just contacted one of them but haven't gotten the quote yet.

Lamotte is selling for US$43.99 on Marine Depot website, which is about S$75 (excl shipping). Suspect the shipping will be another US$30-40, so total cost should be S$130-140...

I think Hach/Lamotte is supposedly much more accurate than the average hobbyists' kit. I can't prove that because I've not used it yet. Just circulating 2nd-hand reviews from people who did.

[FC]

Of course, Hach and Lamotte are know to be more accurate and so are their bank accounts surplus projections .

Nevertheless, they are all convenience indicators, not many can claim to be 100% reliable in their readings, including the top-notch Lamotte. If one were to change water weekly/fornightly, there is hardly any danger of nutrient buid up. Therefore, so long as the nutrient adminstration is well proportioned and sufficient, all test kits are not needed.

[cheeboonyong]

Of course, Hach and Lamotte are know to be more accurate and so are their bank accounts surplus projections .

If one were to change water weekly/fornightly, there is hardly any danger of nutrient buid up. Therefore, so long as the nutrient adminstration is well proportioned and sufficient, all test kits are not needed.

Hach/Lamotte products are meant for industrial use, not for hobbyist use. Quite obvious will be much more expensive, but much more accurate. Whether a hobbyist needs such accuracy is really down to individual preference and setup. I really have no issue against their bank account size. There's always an alternative (we're not talking about Mixxxsoft here)

My problem is not nutrient (nitrate specifically) build-up. It's running out of it, before my next dose. Really, I just need a few good tests to ascertain my PMDD dosage is sufficient to last the week before re-dose. But unfortunately, I can't find anyone to lend me a Hach kit for a few tests. Just got to buy a new one.

Tom Barr's esimative index method is basically to slightly "overdose" to make sure you don't run out of nutrients and do a massive water change every week/fornightly to make sure no excessive build-up of nutrients and basically reset the nutrient levels at every water change.

Not everyone has the luxury to change water every week/fortnightly. By testing the water for nutrients, we can reduce the frequency of the water changes. Of course, water changes does remove other contaminants, but surely weekly/fortnightly water changes is not the ONLY way to run a planted tank?

[cheeboonyong]

Got the quotation from a Hach distributor in Singapore (not the Havelock Road LFS).

The nitrate test kit is ~S$120-140 (not nice to disclose actual price here. PM me if you're interested)

There are 2 tests: Low range and medium range. The low range tests for 0-1 mg/l (ppm) and medium range is 1-10 ppm. Note that this is testing for N in NO3, not NO3 itself. So a result of 1 ppm N = 4.4 ppm NO3. Accuracy range is 0.02 ppm (as claimed)

Ideal NO3 range is 5ppm - 20ppm (depends on who you read...)

The kit is good for 50-100 tests. If only low range, it's 100 tests. For combination of low and medium tests, it's about 50 tests. So about $1++ for each test.

Refills are priced at about 75% of the full test kit price.

A hobbyist kit would probably cost $15-20 for 45-60 tests for comparison purposes.

Ultimately, it's up to the individual if you're comfortable with the accuracy level and your budget.

For those interested, there's a bulk discount of 5% if we can get 10+ orders. Really, I think the 5% is too small to be worth organising any bulk orders. But if anyone here wants to buy 9 kits at one go, please let me know! :P