Best Test Kit?

[AquaVelva]

What is the best all around test kit for a planted tank? Has anyone had experience with the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freswater Master Test Kit? Are there better kits for the money? It is only 12 bucks at Big Al's.

How do you test CO2? I can't find a CO2 test kit.

...AV

[Leopardess]

Well..what are you looking to test?

Also you don't test for co2...you calculate it by your kh/gH and your pH. Do a google search for co2 in ppm and a chart and you'll find dozens. I had a link, but i can't find it now...sorry lol

[Leopardess]

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm


Theres one.


(for some reason, its not letting me edit my previous post)

[AquaVelva]

Well...the AP kit tests for PH, GH, KH, amonia, and nitrite. But I am not saying that I won't ever want to test for other things...I just wanted opinions as to the quality and/or accuracy and ease of use of the various "general" test kits, of which there are several made by various manufacturers. I was thinking or ordering the AP kit if it was decent, based on other folks experience, but maybe there is a better choice for the money.

Thanks, Leopardness, for the explanation and link for the CO2 chart.

...AV

[Leopardess]

don't forget nitrates:) those are the ones you'll want to use most often:)

Sorry, I can't help you there, I bought my kits separately by Aquarium pharmeceuticals...except my kit for kH/gH which I purchased from BigAls. I might go to the lfs and see how many tests come in each kit vs their price and compare it to the all-in-one kit.


Anytime:)


And sorry, I had thought you were looking for tests for things like Iron, Magnesium, and other metalic elements for ferts:)

By the by, the test kits that have little pads that you dip are generally less accurate than the kind that are liquid drops.

[Matt W]

The AP Master kit is a good deal. But, for a planted tank test kit, it is lacking on many things you need. For a generalized test kit, it is great.

[AquaVelva]

Thanks for the information. I looked back at may original post and I guess it was pretty ambiguous. What I really wanted to know was if the AP Freshwater kit was any good...at least for what it is. I don't guess I should have said specifically for a planted tank, as I realize that other tests may be needed in addition to the ones offered by this kit.

[29gallonsteve]

The AP Master test kit, IMHO, measures pH, Hardness, Ammo, and NitrIte very well. This is a partial value for cycling and setting up a new tank.

I, personally, like the AP test kits for what they are.

Thanks,
Steve

[superjohnny]

In my planted tank I test for ph, ammonia, kh, gh, phosphate (PO4), nitrate (NO3) and infrequently iron. I feel like I'm forgetting one... anyway PO4 & NO3 are good to test because that's what you fertilize.

Hope this helps. If I were suggesting test kits to buy I'd skip Iron... it's pretty much a worthless test.

[Dapple2]

The AP Master kit is a good starting base and a good kit for the money IMHO. Would add on at the least the nitrate kit as others have mentioned. It's usually cheaper to get them all bundled together too, with that one exception.

[125gJoe]

I also agree and use the AP Master Kit. When you need other tests, buy them separately..