co2 test kit

[stmoo]

hi... all..

any recommadation on the co2 test kit.
cos in the market there are alot of them , dun know which one is good.

currently using JBL co2 test kit . thought of changing another brand.

give ur commet on the product u use for ur tank .

[richietay]

your current test kits doesn't work for you?!

[stmoo]

your current test kits doesn't work for you?!

i jus want to make some product servey.
ke....

[PeterGwee]

A well calibrated pH pen/monitor along with a good alkalinity (LaMotte or Hach) would get you close enough and need be just tweak the rate slowly higher till you get the response from plants without harming the critters.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[valice]

For ADA's drop checker, I understand that it possibly works by using a CO2 test reagent in it... So how accurate is it? And does it take into the account that ADA soil lowers the kH?

[dc88]

I first used the Dupla one, but later change to JBL which is just as good but cheaper.

BTW just wonder why the instruction said to refresh the water sample in the tester with the new tank water each time after making water change ? Shouldn't it be more accurate to prepare some standard water sample (e.g. distilled water mixed with Baking soda to a standard KH) as the water sample inside the tester ?

[the_r0ck]

Hmm. I have been told that these testers tend to be inaccurate as you need to kinda "reset" it to check the CO2 levels. Am not sure myself.

Is this better than a pH/KH check?

[tawauboy]

For ADA's drop checker, I understand that it possibly works by using a CO2 test reagent in it... So how accurate is it? And does it take into the account that ADA soil lowers the kH?

it should be accurate enough to give a good indication of co2 levels but not the accuracy required by laboratories.
i doubt it can take into account of ada soil because there is no way of "telling" it the kind of substrate being used.

[tawauboy]

I first used the Dupla one, but later change to JBL which is just as good but cheaper.

BTW just wonder why the instruction said to refresh the water sample in the tester with the new tank water each time after making water change ? Shouldn't it be more accurate to prepare some standard water sample (e.g. distilled water mixed with Baking soda to a standard KH) as the water sample inside the tester ?

the tank water must be used because that's what you want to measure. if some standard water sample is used, then the tester will show co2 concentration based on standard water sample. if you read the manual, you should be able to understand why.

[tawauboy]

Hmm. I have been told that these testers tend to be inaccurate as you need to kinda "reset" it to check the CO2 levels. Am not sure myself.

Is this better than a pH/KH check?

ph/kh check is much faster than long term co2 indicator. these takes more than 1/2 hour to register changes.
if setup properly, the accuracy should be similar.