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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    Product Comparisons - Water Test Kits

    UPDATED JUNE 2022 - SEE 2022 POSTS

    In view of experiencing many Months of elevated Nitrite levels, I've become quite familiar with various water test kits and feel well enough positioned to do a product comparison test between the main 3 kits I've used.

    COLOMBO Aquatest Testlab Professional
    NT LABS Pondlab 200
    API Pond Master Test Kit

    Presentation and packaging:

    IMG_20180925_172346.jpg

    The NT Labs kit comes in a white cardboard sleeve box proudly displaying "Made in Britain" on the back, The Colombo Kit comes in a hard plastic carry case and does look professional, and the API kit comes in a plastic tupperware type container.

    The Colombo kit certainly looks the most professional especially if buying online based on a picture, but in reality its quite flimsy and fiddly.
    The NT labs kit has all the colour charts on the back of the box which looks good initially but doesn't take long before they drips of water and dirt cause the box to become tatty and tired looking. The box advertises that full instructions can be watched for each test on YouTube, but when I looked not every test was covered in the videos and some of the videos had been removed.
    The API kit has no fancy graphics, just a plain clear plastic tub with a card on the inside.

    Rating this aspect is difficult in the current climate of anti-plastic packaging because the Colombo plastic case looks the most professional and robust (but in fact is quite flimsy), the API kit looks average but is actually very robust and has enough spare room to add extra bottles, and the NT Labs box is the least robust but made from recyclable cardboard.

    The Colombo and NT Labs vials are plastic whereas the API vials are glass.

    MVIMG_20180925_171929.jpgIMG_20180925_171836.jpgIMG_20180925_171051.jpgIMG_20180925_171130.jpgIMG_20180925_171728.jpgIMG_20180925_171736.jpgIMG_20180925_171904.jpg

    Presentation Winner: Colombo
    Packaging Winner: API (Tough plastic and you can re-use the tub for fish food etc afterwards and glass vials)
    Eco-Friendly Winner: NT Labs

    Overall winner: API


    Value for Money:
    Colombo kit has 7 tests and cost £27.95 and includes: Ammonia / Nitrite / Nitrate / PH / KH / GH / Phosphate
    NT Labs kit has 6 tests and cost £21.00 and includes: As above but no Phosphate test
    API kit has 4 tests and cost: £25.10 and includes: Ammonia / Nitrite / Wide Range PH / Phosphate

    It seems strange that this particular API kit tests for Phosphates but not for Nitrates which I would have thought most people would prefer.
    The NT Labs kit has 3 Ammonia reagents but one runs out well before the other 2 which is frustrating and stupid as the other 2 are rendered useless.

    You will get a maximum of 40 tests out of each NT Lab reagent.
    You will get less than 40 tests out of each Colombo reagent
    You will get at least 180 tests out of each API reagent.

    Despite only having 4 different tests, you will get at least 720 tests out of the API kit, a maximum of 240 tests out of the NT Labs kit and probably only a handful more tests out of the Colombo kit.

    You are therefore paying approximately 11p per test on the Colombo kit, 9p per test on the NT Labs kit and 3p per test for the API kit.

    Overall Winner: API kit by a long shot.



    Using the Kits:
    I'm going to try and keep this as short as I can, otherwise this could go on forever, so if you have any questions please ask.

    Firstly, there is one problem that exists with all the kits. When you shake the vials they leak, thats all of them without exception including the NT Lab one which has screw top lids compared to the other 2 that have push on lids. You virtually always end up getting the colour cards wet and stained and in fact I damaged my kitchen work surface after shaking the NT Labs GH kit which leaked down the side of the bottle and has permanently stained the worktop.

    The Colombo kit is more hassle than the others because there are multiple bottles for most tests and a couple of tests require you to measure out some powder which needs adding and dissolving into the vial. If doing regular (daily) tests this gets a bit annoying and having a choice of products to use I find myself using the other 2 products which are quicker.
    The Colombo tests are different to the other 2 because you put the vial on the colour card and view from above and this definitely makes it easier to conclude the results, however you have to be aware that the increments on the Colombo test cards are larger than on the other 2 kits so you rarely get a result that perfectly matches the colour card, but you can confidently ascertain between which levels the colour falls.

    The Colombo kit does supply you with a syringe which neither of the others provide. This is great and I think all kits should include this, but syringes are so cheap to buy I can't say this can be used as a major selling point.

    The Colombo kit only goes up to 5 mg/l for Ammonia, Nitrite and Phosphate.


    The NT Labs kit is easy to use and offers the largest range of readings going all the way up to 10 mg/l for Ammonia, 8 mg/l for Nitrite and 10 for PH. Overall the test results are easy to read except for Nitrite which is a total nightmare. You have to leave the vial for 2 minutes to obtain the results, but after 2 minutes the reading continues to get higher and higher at a rapid pace so you are never really sure if the reading is precise. I've had a nitrite reading of 1 mg/l after exactly 2 minutes, but by 2 mins and 20 seconds the reading has doubled to 2mg/l and you are left wondering if the initial 1 mg/l was totally accurate because between adding the 1st drop of reagent and the final drop and then shaking it 15 seconds has passed you by before you've started the stopwatch!

    Also once you put water in the vial it is incredibly difficult to see the 5ml line, so difficult in fact that I've had to mark it with permanent marker.


    The API kit is much the same as the NT Labs kit and easy to use. The API kit goes up to 8 mg/l Ammonia, 5 mg/l nitrite, 10 mg/l phosphate and PH of 9.
    The increments between the colours are small and on most tests the colours are quite different from one increment to the next which allows you to ascertain an accurate result with ease, except for Nitrite!. Nitrite on the API kit is by far the hardest to read of all the tests if you have readings over 0.25 ppm.

    Here's some examples that demonstrate this perfectly:

    Colombo Nitrite Test clearly shows a level of 1 mg/l

    MVIMG_20180925_170755.jpg


    Exactly the same water in the API Nitrite test appears to show a nitrite level of 1 mg/l:

    MVIMG_20180925_171425.jpg



    But move into a different light and suddenly that exact same API reading looks more like 2 mg/l, or is it 5 mg/l ????
    MVIMG_20180925_171347.jpg


    The API kit is fine when nitrite is zero or 0.25 mg/l, but anything higher than 0.25 mg/l is impossible to differentiate from and I have tested this myself using water that I know to have 0.5 mg/l nitrite and water with 2 mg/l nitrite. Initially the 0.5 water starts off blue and gradually changes over a couple of minutes whereas the 2 mg/l nitrite immediately goes purple, but after the instructed 5 minute wait they are indistinguishable from each other.


    Again I found the API kit challenging for ammonia as you can see in these 2 examples shown in different lights. Is the reading 0 mg/l or is it 0.25 mg/l ???
    MVIMG_20180925_171640.jpgMVIMG_20180925_171608.jpg


    However it must be said that the Colombo test kit goes up in 0.5 mg/l increments so you can't even attempt to measure 0.25 mg/l ammonia on that one. The NT Labs kit is the easiest one to distinguish ammonia levels.

    Because of the weaknesses each test kit has for distinguishing the colours against the chart, an overall conclusion is difficult due to the variables.

    The Colombo kit is easiest to ascertain the nearest colour overall across all tests, but each mg/l level goes up in larger increments than the other two kits so the result is less accurate.

    The NT Labs kit and API kits are easiest to establish the most accurate readings on all tests due to the tiny increments between colours that offers you more room for error than the Colombo kit.
    However, Nitrites are a total nightmare on the NT Labs kit due to the timing issue, and the API kit due to the colours of the nitrite test being almost indistinguishable beyond 1 mg/l after the 5 minute wait.

    Overall Conclusion:

    Each kit has its own major advantages and major disadvantages so no single conclusion will please everyone.

    As someone with a nitrite problem the NT Labs and API nitrite issues really lets the kits down if testing beyond 0.5mg/l, but as any reading beyond 0.5 mg/l indicates a serious problem the relevance of the exact reading isn't likely to be great for most people.

    The lack of a Nitrate test in this API kit I think is also a downside as to me that is more important than Phosphates. Again, the API kit doesn't include KH but for most people I don't think this is a serious issue as the PH test will alert you to a possible problem in the making.

    The Colombo kit is the most comprehensive package and the easiest to read, but comes at a ridiculous price and is harder to get accurate readings due to the large increments between levels. Unfortunately this kit seems to run out very fast and would become very expensive for someone who tests parameters daily.

    Overall the API kit is the easiest to use, has glass vials and is by far the best value for money covering over 720 tests. However, you will need to buy a 2nd kit that includes a Nitrate test. This isn't actually a bad thing because the kits with Nitrate reagents also include Ammonia and Nitrite reagents so you'll be doubling up on these 2 which considering you probably test ammonia and nitrites twice as often will mean you get through both kits over the same period of time.

    Therefore the winner for me is the API kit.


    Last edited by RS2OOO; 17-06-2022 at 01:28 PM.

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  3. #2
    Brilliant write up, thanks for taking the time and trouble to do this Product Comparisons - Water Test Kits


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  5. #3
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    I think you've probably got the wrong API kit really- I always buy the freshwater one that has both low and high range pH and has nitrate not phosphate in it.

    I would choose API for the glass vials alone. They seem to last forever and can even be put through the dishwasher on the little prongs of the top rack

    Have you read Manky's test kit comparison? Test Kit Review

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  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    Hi Feline,

    Not read Manky's comparison yet but guessing it's more technical than mine!

    I do have the API freshwater kit as well but didn't include it in this comparison because the nitrite reagent I have in that one is now obsolete and uses a different colour scale, but it is much much easier to pinpoint the exact level compared to this new one with the horrible purple scale. I wish they hadn't changed it.


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  9. #5
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RS2OOO View Post
    Hi Feline,

    Not read Manky's comparison yet but guessing it's more technical than mine!

    I do have the API freshwater kit as well but didn't include it in this comparison because the nitrite reagent I have in that one is now obsolete and uses a different colour scale, but it is much much easier to pinpoint the exact level compared to this new one with the horrible purple scale. I wish they hadn't changed it.


    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
    The kit I've always bought is this one https://www.apifishcare.com/product....0#.W6tj3C-ZOCQ (plus the separate KH and GH kit, and occasionally phosphate kit also).

    Is the nitrite test different then in the Pond master kit? If so probably a good reason to buy the freshwater master aquarium kit instead

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  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    I have the old version of that one Feline. They all now have the purple nitrite scale.

    The old one went from sky blue through to violet, then pink, then purple which was so much easier to read.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

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  13. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Good write up and some interesting comments on their results.

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    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai hippo's Avatar
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    Thanks for the write up !

    Ive tried a few of the test kits , but bought a Hanna pocket checker for Nitrite - as this is the thing that causes me issues .

    It gives a very accurate reading and takes away any guesswork - especially as my eyes aren't as good as they used to be . They cost around £70 plus the price of the re-agents . Well worth it - in my opinion !
    Colin

    2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
    Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber

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  17. #9
    Agree. I also use one of these for nitrite. I'm going to get the ammonia one too.

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hippo View Post
    Thanks for the write up !

    Ive tried a few of the test kits , but bought a Hanna pocket checker for Nitrite - as this is the thing that causes me issues .

    It gives a very accurate reading and takes away any guesswork - especially as my eyes aren't as good as they used to be . They cost around £70 plus the price of the re-agents . Well worth it - in my opinion !
    Yeah I have the Hanna pocket meter for nitrite, plus one for ammonia and KH. They do allow a more accurate measure. I still use the API liquid drop kit though in between times.

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    Junior Member Rank = Fry bis's Avatar
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    good information of the test kits. I am using one NT lab test kit. The ph test result increments by 1. My pond water tests nearer to 8. It can be between 7.5 and 8. It's not very accurate information!

    12233 litres in ground pond

    4" bottom drain
    Evolution Aqua PerfectDry Pump 15000
    Evolution Aqua Nexus 220 pump fed Automatic System
    Evolution Aqua 130 Airtech Air Pump
    Evolution Aqua Evo UV25

    Certikin HD100 PondSkimmer
    PondKraft Pressurised Filter 8000
    Crystal Enterprises Heat Pump 8.5Kw
    1.5
    " Tangential Pond Returnjet
    Evolution Aqua Detox Dechlorinator

    Fish MateP7000 Auto Fish Feeder

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  23. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    4 years on from the original review and having done more water tests and gone through more test kits than I care to count......

    I've bought a new Test Kit and here's why:

    The API kit was originally my favourite, but colours can be off on some batches. Ammonia always seems to read higher than other kits; Nitrite is great at zero but if above 0.5 the level can be impossible to distinguish; same for Nitrate once you are 20 or above (which I'm sure most of us are); Phosphate readings appear to be inaccurate at times and also can be difficult to read because the results often don't seem to match any of the colours on the card.

    The Colombo kit, whilst expensive, is very easy to read but doesn't read below 0.5 mg/l ammonia which kind of makes it useless for any of us with a pH above 7.8, the nitrate and phosphate tests are a pain because you have to add specific non-precise amounts of powder, then clean the "spoon" in between uses etc.

    The NT labs kit is just generally poor.... Ammonia colours are hard to read, nitrite results take just 2 minutes but by 2 minutes 30 seconds the colour has changed leaving you wondering how accurate the 2 minute result really was. (There are other known issues about it testing for NO2-N and not NO2)

    So I gave up with them all and invested in a JBL Pro Aquatest Lab kit.

    All I can say is wow, this kit is impressive and they've thought of everything.

    Proper quality test bottles with lids that seal properly.
    Separate holders for bottles and lids so you aren't forced to put the lid on wet bottles for storage
    The inclusion of a "Placebo" test to accurately identify test result colours across a wide range of colours.
    Huge range of tests available on the more expensive kits, including things like Copper, Oxygen, Silicon Dioxide, Iron etc.
    It comes with charts, tables (for calculating DO etc, syringes, and even a pen.

    At time of purchase I had undiagnosed problems in the pond so bought the most comprehensive kit as I wanted to test metals etc, but in reality you'll only ever use these once or at times of major issues you can't get to the bottom of, therefore my recommendation would be for the cheaper Pond lab kit at about £40.

    There's multiple tests for pH so you can pin point the reading to the nearest 0.1.

    The colour matches are more accurate than any other dropper type test kit I've ever seen, I took videos to demonstrate but as there's no facility on this site to upload videos here's a few photos:







    Last edited by RS2OOO; 17-06-2022 at 03:31 PM.

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    A couple of photos showing a bog standard ammonia test which you can see has a huge range measuring as low as 0.05 mg/l. Note that it tests NH4 and not direct NH3. I assume the colour chart indications factor in the calculated NH3 content. I have read other test kits do the same even though the packaging refers to NH3, but NH3 is very hard to measure directly with a dropper test kit so who knows what the truth is.

    The top bottle in the photo is the "placebo" bottle which has normal pond water in and no reagent added, and the bottom bottle is the actual test bottle with the reagent.





    Slide the bottle holder over the coloured circles until the colour in both bottles is identical and the notch in the pointer points to your reading:






    Its not a cheap kit compared to other kits, but the quality of every aspect to this kit is on a another level, really impressive.

    Due to the higher cost-per-test compared to the cheapest cost-per-test kit (API), it probably makes sense to have both this and an API kit side by side using the API for general testing and this kit when you really want or need precise accurate results.

    Will definitely be sticking with this going forward and will update if I come across any issues as I've not actually done every single test yet, but of the 8 or so I have done the results have been spot on.
    Last edited by RS2OOO; 17-06-2022 at 03:40 PM.

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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai rolo's Avatar
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    nice write up shall have to break open my piggy bank and invest in one.

    keith

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    nice review of the JBL kit RS
    ammonia looks a lot better than the api kit, that always was a dodgy one...

    i've started collecting some of the hannah checkers now, LR ammonia and ULR total chlorine,
    but i probably wouldn't bother with anymore other than LR nitrite....

    as kit tests are more than adequate for everything else...

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    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by davethefish1 View Post
    nice review of the JBL kit RS
    ammonia looks a lot better than the api kit, that always was a dodgy one...

    i've started collecting some of the hannah checkers now, LR ammonia and ULR total chlorine,
    but i probably wouldn't bother with anymore other than LR nitrite....

    as kit tests are more than adequate for everything else...
    Apart from if your in Japan then they don't have any use whatsoever!

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  33. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by samp09 View Post
    Apart from if your in Japan then they don't have any use whatsoever!
    They just use a Richard the third analyser there

    Here's the comparison chart -

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195011174...QaAnB-EALw_wcB
    Last edited by Frimley Koi keeper; 17-06-2022 at 04:18 PM.
    ________________________________________________
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    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai rolo's Avatar
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    just ordered the JBL combiset pond, and piggy bank still in tact bought it on ebay and used nectare points.
    every one a winner.

    keith

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    What's the O2 one like as that's the one I always have problems with getting a reading above 2.4 to 5 mgl when I know it's much higher than that with the kits I've tried in the past?
    ________________________________________________
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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper View Post
    What's the O2 one like as that's the one I always have problems with getting a reading above 2.4 to 5 mgl when I know it's much higher than that with the kits I've tried in the past?
    That's one of the tests I've not tried.

    Not sure but there might be 2 tests that are oxygen related, one of which you test for other things and then cross reference on a chart and it tells you the oxygen.

    Don't quote me on that as I didn't read it all as wife was on her way home so had to quickly put kit away and hide it. Didn't want a million questions about spending £80 on a kit on the same day I said I had no money to get my son a school shirt Product Comparisons - Water Test Kits

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