Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Water test kits

  1. #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



  2. Thanks freddyboy, knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #2
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Somerset
    Posts
    6,653
    Thanks / Likes
    5635
    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 Of course, you do need to test often enough to use them up before they eventually go out of date to get full value for money.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.

  4. Thanks freddyboy, Manky Sanke, knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai RipleyRich's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ripley, Derbyshire
    Posts
    358
    Thanks / Likes
    414
    I use the NT labs one, but you have to make sure you stick to the timings or you can be way out.

  6. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    The NTlabs kit works but the results chart is a bit misleading.
    How so? I use NTLabs, so you've got my attention!

    Their PH test in the big kit is pretty useless though - basically tells you that your PH is somewhere between 7 and 9

  8. Thanks lee63, knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  9. #5
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Somerset
    Posts
    6,653
    Thanks / Likes
    5635
    Quote Originally Posted by Mitsufishi View Post
    How so? I use NTLabs, so you've got my attention!

    Their PH test in the big kit is pretty useless though - basically tells you that your PH is somewhere between 7 and 9
    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?

  10. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    Water test kits

    Quote Originally Posted by jonnyshaw49 View Post
    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
    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 Water test kits

    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.

  11. Thanks knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  12. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion pondwithnoname's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Suffolk
    Posts
    6,983
    Thanks / Likes
    1663
    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/

  13. Thanks Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
  14. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    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?
    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.

  15. Thanks lee63 Thanked / Liked this Post
  16. #9
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Grand Champion lee63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    East riding of yorkshire
    Posts
    3,881
    Thanks / Likes
    3865
    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 Water test kits


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Its always a work in progress

  17. Thanks knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  18. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai RipleyRich's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ripley, Derbyshire
    Posts
    358
    Thanks / Likes
    414
    Quote Originally Posted by Mitsufishi View Post
    How so? I use NTLabs, so you've got my attention!

    Their PH test in the big kit is pretty useless though - basically tells you that your PH is somewhere between 7 and 9
    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? :-)

  19. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai RipleyRich's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ripley, Derbyshire
    Posts
    358
    Thanks / Likes
    414
    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.

  20. Thanks knave beneath the waves Thanked / Liked this Post
  21. #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?

 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:54 PM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.