Recommended test kits?

[jencheung]

After being inspired by all of you, I switched my 29 gallon tank to live plants. I have a low tech tank that I just planted with some hopefully "easy" plants. I'm using Flourish and Excel at the moment and things seem to be going well, but I want to start dosing macros too since I've been told they're necessary (Phosphorous, Potassium and Nitrogen).

I'm planning on using the Flourish supplements (I know I could go cheaper using DIY mixes, but I feel more comfortable starting out with these). I know it's generally good to test for anything you're adding to your tank, but does that hold true in this case? Do I need to test if I follow the recommended doses on the bottles? I have a test kit that tests for Nitrates so I can keep an eye on Nitrogen levels, but I was wondering if folks have recommendations for good, inexpensive tests for Phosphorous and Potassium if they are indeed necessary.

Thanks for all your help!
(If it makes a difference, the plants I have are Wisteria, Water Sprite, Red Ludwigia repens, Java Fern (Windelov and regular), Christmas tree moss, Anubias nana, Dwarf Sag and will soon be adding some vals).

[Mgamer20o0]

there really isnt one. just your basic api master kit with the gh kh test. its more about watching the plants and see how they react.

[plantling]

I never bothered with tests other than the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. If you have lots of plants, you can get by with dosing what's on the label. Actually the labels were for lightly planted tanks, so a wee bit more than the dosing recommendations shouldn't hurt. Like Mg said, just watch your plants and if they're healthy and growing, then let it be.

[ImAGMan]

IF you really want too...
https://thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/215023/product.web
Kit includes the following:
pH low range test (6.0-7.6)
pH high range test (7.4-8.6)
Iron Test
Nitrite Test
Phosphate Test
Ammonia Test
Nitrate Test
Calcium Test
General Hardness Test
Carbonate Hardness Test
Instruction booklets with color charts
2 Pipettes
5 Glass test tubes with caps

Price Tag: 106.29

[John N.]

Most test kits will give you general readings due to the lack of pinpoint accuracy of these kits. But in general, they are useful if you are starting off, and want to know what's going on.

The Aquarium Pharm Master Test Kit, and the GH/KH test kit are ideal to get for the above purpose.

-John N.

[Canuck]

I believe most people with planted tanks test to make sure they are dosing enough. With off the shelf products its fairly easy to calculate what you are adding to the tank. In a slow growth tank, running something down to 0 may not be your largest concern. As Mgamer pointed out, poor plant growth will indicate if you are running short on nutrients. Another indicator of shortages will be the amounts and types of algae that are growing.

If you are concerned about fertilizers accumulating in your system, water changes can be your friend and you don't need to bother with the test kits. A 50% water change every week will limit the amount of any substance accumulating in your system to twice what is added in the one week period. If your stocking levels and feeding are reasonable (remember fish add nutrients) then you should be able to get away without the test kits.

Potassium test kits are rare and expensive. Phosphate are reasonably easy to find (and aren't expensive). If you do get test kits, remember to test them with known solutions.