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Thread: Water test kits
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16-03-2017, 11:15 PM #1
Water test kits
Hi all
Anyone got any recomendations for the best water test kits or brand.
Best value/quality for money
Mainly needed to test the basics
Ammonia
Nitrate
Ph
Nitrite
Thanks
Jonny
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freddyboy, knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
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17-03-2017, 01:57 AM #2
Avoid test strips, they are quite rubbish. Liquid drops are best. Most manufacturers make a fairly decent kit, so it's down to personal choice and where you shop largely.
API kits are good value as they contain plenty of reagent so don't run out fast. Of course, you do need to test often enough to use them up before they eventually go out of date to get full value for money. I would highly recommend buying a KH test kit as an add-on. KH is one of the most important things to test, and yet most kits don't come with it included.
Many people are keen on the Colombo kit which is quite a comprehensive one. The NTlabs kit works but the results chart is a bit misleading.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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24-05-2017, 08:43 AM #3
I use the NT labs one, but you have to make sure you stick to the timings or you can be way out.
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-05-2017, 02:51 PM #4
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lee63, knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-05-2017, 11:51 PM #5
The NT labs kit tells you to calculate your nitrite level from No2-N to No2 by a correction factor-- but if you do this the result you get is actually wrong.
The pH bit of the test should be correct though, and will give you an accurate result. How are you doing this test, and what makes you think the result is not an accurate reading?2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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25-05-2017, 12:20 AM #6
Water test kits
I use the Colombo kit and it's very comprehensive. Simply to use too and not expensive. Has all the tests in that you need.
My Mum does all the tests every week and reports the results to me. That's how simple it is
API comes out well too but haven't tried that yet as the Colombo seems to do the trick nicely for me.Last edited by Gray; 25-05-2017 at 07:18 AM.
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knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-05-2017, 02:16 AM #7
NT Pondlab 200 is the kit I have always used, it pays to stick with one once you've made your choice so that variations in your pond can be monitored more accurately.
As already said the instructions that come with the NT tests are a bit confusing at first but on the whole they're simple to use and reasonably priced.Alias PWNN - Steve
My favourite and recommended web site is......
http://www.mankysanke.co.uk/
http://www.freewebs.com/koikoi/
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Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-05-2017, 12:33 PM #8
Aha, gotcha. I've seen Mankeys post about the correction factor, so was ignoring it anyway. The pH test is a wide range test, so my pH is 'Somewhere around 8'. it's above seven, below 9, and a similar colour to 8... I really need to get a better PH test... Other than that, I quite like the NTLabs kit as it come with the KH & GH tests too.
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lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
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25-05-2017, 12:39 PM #9
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I have both api and NT labs kits. If im honest i use the api religously and the nt labs as a back up and double checker sometimes if im unsure on colour to chart with the api tests if that makes sense? I do prefer the nt labs nitrAte test though
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkIts always a work in progress
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knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
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14-06-2017, 04:48 PM #10
The Nitrite, Ammonia and Nitrate tests are all timed for either 2 or 10 minutes.
Try leaving them longer and you will see a darker colour generate.
Also if you read the 10 minute tests after 2 mins they will be lighter than at 10 mins.
I have completely missed the nitrite correction factor though. Help please? :-)
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31-07-2017, 10:04 AM #11
I have ben using the NT Labs and API kits over the last couple of months following my filter swap.
I have to say that the difference between the 2 at times is alarming.
This weekend the API measured my Ammonia at 0.5 and Nitrite at a similar level, whereas the NT kit shoed almost zero ammonia and <0.25 nitrite.
Its hard to know what to believe tbh.
As for the koi. All fine and eating like pigs. No flashing or typical behaviour that would lead to believe in high levels of ammonia.
Not impressed with the Bio Capability of my Oase Combi Drum though.
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knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
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03-08-2017, 06:09 PM #12
I use the Colombo test kit and really like it. I've used the NT Pondlab 200 and it was ok too, I find them really similar.
I do though have an issue with the Colombo kit, in that the Nitrite and Nitrate are both red liquids if you have anything above 0 for either of these, but I do find that my reds are orange, so don't match the colour charts at all, so it's just a case if looking at the depth of the colour for the result.
Does anyone else find this with them?
Best plants to remove Nitrate
pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....