Results 1 to 14 of 14
Thread: testing kits.
-
22-04-2019, 07:59 PM #1
testing kits.
Good evening,
only 2 weeks away from our pond build commencing.... i need to buy a water testing kit, unsure what one to buy, being a complete novice one that is simple and easy to follow probably the better until i become more acquainted with it all, is there anything else i need to purchase? thanks Steve.
-
23-04-2019, 11:01 AM #2
Hi Steve .
Your right to consider this . It`s vital to keep a check on your water perameters - especially in the early stages of your pond`s development .
As with most things koi related - which kit you buy depends on budget . They start at a few pounds for the "dip strip" type , and go to hundreds of pounds for sophisticated meters with digital readouts ect .
At the very least , you`ll need to check PH , Nitrate , Nitrite , Ammonia and General Hardness(GH) . So if your buying one of the various kits on offer , make sure these checks are included .
I would avoid the paper strip type checks , as they are quite hard to read , and not very accurate . As a basic , reasonably priced kit , I would go for one of the chemical types which you add to a test tube .
The next level up , would be the Hanna pocket checkers - which are used to perform single checks . They`re a small meter that gives out an accurate digital reading . At around £70 , might be a bit pricey to buy them all individually . I have the one for Nitrite , as my ponds fairly established , and that's the thing which can give me most problems .
I also have a cheap PH meter - only cost a few pounds - which you simply dip into the water and it gives out a reading (no chemicals required) , and is surprisingly accurate !
Hope this helpsColin
2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber
-
23-04-2019, 05:05 PM #3
I have just ordered the JBL Testlab Koi - seems to have everything in it - £70 ish.
Anyone know if they are any good?
I also have the Seneye Pond Pack - not installed yet though! https://www.seneye.com/devices/seneye-pond
Cheers
ModeLast edited by Mode; 23-04-2019 at 05:09 PM.
10,118Gal 46,000l
Nexus320
Cloverleaf GenesisII(5 bay)
2x13,000lph pumps, 2xEvoAqua75wUV
11 Koi
-
23-04-2019, 09:52 PM #4
-
freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
-
23-04-2019, 09:59 PM #5
-
25-04-2019, 02:26 AM #6
Hi Steve. I have tried a few different test kits and I like the Colombo kit. Easy to do easy to read and think it is only £30 ish for 02 I use a tetra drop test kit.
-
-
25-04-2019, 11:23 PM #7
-
freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
-
26-04-2019, 12:05 AM #8
Craig, how do you get on with your Tetra O2 kit?
Last year I got the first kit and it gave a high reading of 11 then a very low reading 2 then a reading of 5 and no matter where, when or how I tested with it it never changed from a reading of 5 even when I used Manky Sanke's aerated 2 tub method of checking the test kit. I got another kit a couple of months later from the same supplier thinking it was a bad batch so would be a different batch by now and got the same reading of 5 then tried a different supplier and got the same reading so gave up on it I was testing exactly how the instructions said to test, rinsed out the test tube after each test in pond water, then washing the test tube out after each test and then rinsed the test tube out in pond water before each test. The only thing I was using to take the water from the pond was a very large syringe which was washed out in pond water before and after each test. It was a brand new sterile one when I bought it. So can't work out why I kept getting the same result every time even though I added extra aeration to the pond after the first low reading
I was only using the same test tube for the O2 tests and nothing else. All my other tests were OK and not effectedLast edited by Frimley Koi keeper; 26-04-2019 at 12:09 AM.
-
freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
-
26-04-2019, 06:09 PM #9
Don't know if this is of any help to anyone but last year after I'd been testing water every day for Months due to a stubborn nitrite issue I decided to review the 3 main kits I'd been using:
https://www.koiforum.uk/product-revi...test-kits.html
-
Frimley Koi keeper, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
-
26-04-2019, 10:03 PM #10
-
-
28-04-2019, 02:09 AM #11
Sorry for the late reply, I have been getting readings of between 6 and 8 consistently using the exact same method as you have. You have now got me thinking though as I have tested at various times of the day and even leaving the air of for a few hours and still getting the same results
going to now have a read through the link that RS has put up.
-
freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
-
28-04-2019, 08:33 AM #12
Craig I think if you are getting different readings between 6 & 8 then your results are genuine and your kit is working as I was getting the same reading of 5 no matter what I did so maybe something I was doing or using was effecting my results. The only thing I am wondering now is it could be the syringe I use to get the water from the pond
-
28-04-2019, 08:49 AM #13
-
Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
-
28-04-2019, 09:42 AM #14
The Daily pond temp thread
Yep , forecast snow here ! Hoping so more money to be made gritting lol Sent from my SM-S918B...