Test Kits

[illumbomb]

Hi guys,

What brand of test kit do you guys recommend for the parameters stated below and roughly what's the cost like? Won't it cost a bomb if we buy all these test kits?

Carbonate Hardness (kh):
Total Hardness (gH):
PH :
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm):
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

Can we get some LFS to do all these tests for us and charge us a small fee? i.e. We bring 1/2 a litre of water to them and they perform the tests we want.

[David]

Hiya Illumbomb

Brands of test kits that I usually go for is either JBL or Aqua Medic...Azoo has got quite an extensive range but haven't gotten around to try them yet.

You actually need not have to buy all the test kits that you mentioned...

Needed Test Kits
PH, KH, NO3, or optional CO2. If long term CO2 indicators is purchased, you need not have to buy the PH test kit.

Tank Cycling Test Kits
NH3/NH4, NO2

Micro Management Test Kits
GH, PO4, Fe. Ca

Dont remember any LFS doing testing services. Even though that they do, the travelling time and service charge will out weight the cost of test kits which should be around 8 to 18 bucks each

[DEA]

a bit the hardcore, actually, all those test kits
if you're on a budget, i suggest getting kH, pH and no2
these are what you should be aiming for for a new setup
when you're really hardcore you can go for the rest

i'm strictly a softcore guy, myself

[PeterGwee]

LOL []

[sherchoo]

IMO, SERA has rather good test kits. You can give them a try.

[illumbomb]

I have A pH test kit but the pH interval is 0.5. Isn't that a bit unprecise? Is there any pH test kit with interval of 0.2 maybe?

[hugo]

you can bring your water down to this place call waterworks or aquaworks. not quite sure the name but it is located in old tampines road where all the nursery (selling plants)are. The shop sells pond products and offer product for a brand call Oase. They let you use their electronic tester which test PH, KH, Amonia, Nitrate and Nitrite.

[bclee]

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On 2/13/2003 9:26:20 PM

I have A pH test kit but the pH interval is 0.5. Isn't that a bit unprecise? Is there any pH test kit with interval of 0.2 maybe?
----------------

Sera test kits has pH 0.5 intervals. But the color of 1 pH level to the other is very distinct.

On the other hand, some kits have down to 0.2 intervals, but yet it is quite difficult to tell the difference of the color from 1 interval to the other.

It is up to you to decide which type to buy.

BC

[FC]

I saw Aquarium Pharmaceuticals NO3 test kits. It need only 1 liquid for the test, very easy unlike Sera 2 liquid and 1 powder.

Has anyone has experience with it? I am thinking of getting it.

[dAwNdAwN]

I got a set of aquarium pharmaceutical test kit from bedok 85 bird shop. They are cheap and quite simple to use. But I only got NO2 instead of NO3. All liquid form and needs only drops from bottle. I got one tetra test kit for NO3, 2 liquid and 1 powder to mix. Very troublesome.

Basically, I find AP products overall work and value for money. I use Stress coat, Stress Eyzmes, Melafix and their test kits.

[joe]

FC, where did you see it? Aquarium Pharmaceuticals testkits are one of the cheapest in the market. I got my pH testkit from C328 at only $6.

[FC]

dAwNdAwN,

Thanks for your feedback. I am not so into NO2, btw why do you test NO2?


joe,

Yes, AP is the cheapest in the market due to its' big bottle (last for life time). I used its' PH kits, very good. But its' GH kit is not that easy to read. You can get the NO3 and other AP kits from (I think the name of the shop is) Soon Heng located along Henderson Rd.


Again, does anyone has experienec with the Aquarium Pharmaceutical's NO3 kit?

[PeterGwee]

Amercian test kits cannot be that bad...personally I test there GH/KH test kit and was very impressed by the bottle size and test results..LOL..so much test solution as compared to other kits. [] ...If any of you guys drop by Soon Heng at henderson road, can help me have a look whether they sell PO4 test kit as well (AP brand). Sera is a bit steep for its price as now I am supplementing NPK and GH individually for improve plant growth and much testing is needed per week.

[illumbomb]

Hi Hugo,

Old Tampines Road got no nursery liao. Any idea where the shop with the electronic tester shifted to?

[juggler]

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On 2/15/2003 12:59:55 AM

I saw Aquarium Pharmaceuticals NO3 test kits. It need only 1 liquid for the test, very easy unlike Sera 2 liquid and 1 powder.


Has anyone has experience with it? I am thinking of getting it.
----------------

Really? I am also interested. Save the trouble of mixing liquids and powders. I am using Sera NO3 kit and their measuring range is good. Better than Tetra NO3 kit, IMO.

Where can we get this AP NO3 test kit?

[joe]

Soon Heng near my workplace. Will go check it out on Monday lunchtime and let you guys know. I always see the pH testkit from AP, and not other testkits.

[sherchoo]

Which Soon Heng are we talking about?

[joe]

Soon Heng @ Henderson Road loh

[FC]

Joe,

So, you are the man for the job; I am also interested to know whether AP brand has the PO4 kit. Kindly let us know, thanks.

[PeterGwee]

FC, went to Soon Heng just now after dropping by at Crawford Lane to pick up some potassium phosphate and found that they do not have AP PO4 and NO3 test kits...what a shame. Anyway, Sera Test kits are pretty good enough for me but a bit troublesome though...especially handling of the powder..[]