Test Kit Info

[abraham]

Lookin to get a new test kit set. I was wondering what everyone is using and why. What's the "hot" set-up?

Abraham

[Magoo]

I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit

$15.99 @ Big Als

[kveeti]

I used to use the Hagen tests. Mostly because they are the most widely available here. What I liked about them the most - You could buy replacement regent bottles at Big Als when they ran out and reuse the test tube, etc., therefore saving money (if you were buying stuff from Big Als anyway).

Many people here recommended the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Master Kit. When I needed replacements the next time, I ordered AP. I like them a lot. What I like about them most – User friendly. As long as you have your regent and the colour charts, you’re good to go. The colour charts have abbreviated symbol instructions on the back. The regent bottles all have the number of drops printed in a drop on the label. The company website also has instructions for use on a link for each product.

Compare that to the Tetra test. Now, all I have is the Tetra pH test, so I can’t speak for them all…. BUT I still had the colour chart and somehow lost the instructions. NOTHING on the regent bottle, nothing on the box, nothing on the back of the colour chart. The company website lists products, but with no more information that is on the box. No instructions. They do have a Tetra Care extension site which might have the info, but even though free, you have to register with your email and home address and everything. No thank you. It took a lot of google searching to find out I needed to add 7 drops.

[TetraFreak]

I actually have 2 different kits.

#1 - TetraTest Laborette. Decent kit and relatively easy to use. PH tests are somewhat vague as they're in .5 increments so it's tough to get a precise reading.

#2 - Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit. PH tests are far more accurate. Ammonia Tests are a bit odd though as it will show the "Ammonium(non toxic stuff) and doesn't distinguish it from the actual Ammonia(harmfull stuff) so even with treated water, reads .5 when there's nothing toxic.

[wesleydnunder]

A.P Freshwater master kit

Mark

[Roan Art]

I use AP and Red Sea. I prefer the AP over Red Sea any day, especially the KH/GH tests. They should be shot for those ones :)

If you run out of a particular test, like I just ran out of nitrates, you can order just the kit you need.

I also bought a box of 24 extra test tubes. Now I can test all my tanks on Friday and THEN wash all the test tubes. Heck of a lot faster than testing, washing, testing, washing, repeat 10 more times, blargh!

Roan

[wickedmax]

Bump for a great question!

[sillyputty]

Great question, I agree! I was just thinking of posting this!

Thanks!

[TetraFreak]

Perhaps as this is a major important topic...and quite frequently repeated...

Perhaps making it a "Sticky" is in order!

[kveeti]

Probably the info should be incorporated in the sticky in the DIY section, "Test Kit Database FAQ":
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62715

[abraham]

That's a good idea. Anyone else have any input?

Abraham

[IFLY2HIGH]

I use A.P. test kits, but I see that one of the online places now carry Sailfert. I used them for my saltwater testing and they were much better than the others, but also more expensive. More like a chemistry kit for testing water. I'll be switching slowly to them again.

[abraham]

yeah, I also used salifert for my salt tanks. I didn't realize that they made kits for freshwater.

Abraham

[tomdkat]

This is the exact thread I was looking for. :)

I'm ramping up to start a 55g FW and I'm looking at test kits (among other things).

I'm looking at these two:

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19383;category_id=3111;pcid 1=3233;pcid2=)
NutraFin Test Master Lab Kit (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19475;category_id=3111;pcid 1=3233;pcid2=)

I'll start searching for threads on the AP Master Test Kit since the AP test kits get recommended a lot here. I'm interested in an "all-in-one" test kit, if possible. :)

Peace...

[Aqualung]

I use AP and Red Sea. I prefer the AP over Red Sea any day, especially the KH/GH tests. They should be shot for those ones :)

If you run out of a particular test, like I just ran out of nitrates, you can order just the kit you need.

I also bought a box of 24 extra test tubes. Now I can test all my tanks on Friday and THEN wash all the test tubes. Heck of a lot faster than testing, washing, testing, washing, repeat 10 more times, blargh!

Roan

I use the AP Master Kit, but was considering the Red Sea kit for my next purchase since it is more complete. What exactly do you find better about the AP kit?

I like my AP kit but don't like the fact that I had to buy a seperate nitrate test. I had to order it online because none of the stores sold a nitrate test (which I found surprising).

[tomdkat]

I use the AP Master Kit, but was considering the Red Sea kit for my next purchase since it is more complete. What exactly do you find better about the AP kit? Are you looking at the Red Sea Deluxe Freshwater Lab Kit (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19499;category_id=3111;pcid 1=3233;pcid2=) or one of the marine lab kits?


I like my AP kit but don't like the fact that I had to buy a seperate nitrate test. I had to order it online because none of the stores sold a nitrate test (which I found surprising).Why did you have to buy a separate nitrate test? According to the AP Master Kit link I posted above, the AP Master Kit comes with a nitrate test.

Peace...

[hurricanejedi]

My AP test kit included high and low pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. I bought their gH and kH too. The only thing I don't like about them is I have a hard time matching colors sometimes when ammonia gets a little higher and some of the pH values don't match up very well and sometimes they do. Pretty easy to use though. I like the instructions on the back of the card.

[Aqualung]

tomdkat - Yes, it was the freshwater kit I was considering.

My AP "Master Freshwater" test kit came with ammonia, nitrite, high and low range ph, and gh tests. I bought it a couple of years ago, so apparently the newer kits do include a nitrate test. Good to know!

(Edit) - apparently that is a different Red Sea kit than the one I was looking at. The one I was considering was much more complete.

Either I'm losing my mind or they are making a lot of changes to the test kits. The Red Sea kit in my Big Al's catalog (from last year) was much different than the one shown on the website. Also, it looks like AP has switched the gh test to nitrate since I bought my kit.

[Aqualung]

Ok, I'm not losing my mind :clap:

I just found my Big Al's catalog and it lists the tests in the Red Sea Deluxe Fresh Lab as follows: ph, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. So apparently they have recently changed it. I wonder why?