I am thinking about getting a new p.h. testing kit because of the difference I find in my water from what my LFS says it is. Currently, all my test kits are Aquarium Pharmaceutics.
In your opinion, which brand of test kits is the most accurate?
- Thread starter NJ Devils Fan
- Start date
Lamotte's are damn near the best, but out of your price range I'm sure...TetraTest makes a good, reliable, and inexpensive kit...and is practical for most users.
For aquarium purposes, I don't think accuracy is the most important thing. I'm content with test kits whose results are more or less accurate, but I think it's imperative that the results are reliable and that testing is easy.
For example, I'm not terribly concerned if my pH is 7.8 and the test kit reads 7.6. I do care that the test repeatedly measures the same way (i.e., it's reliable) and I do care that it's easy for me to test. Similarly, I don't care if my tests can accurately detect .20 ppm nitrite vs. .25 ppm nitrite; I do care if it's clear if there is ANY nitrite and if it can show me the difference between .25 and 1 ppm.
If you're doing research and want high accuracy, or if you have extremely sensitive fish, or if you're just starting out and want to learn about water chemistry, accuracy may be more important. For many of us, being able test quickly & reliably is more of an issue. I like dip stick tests for this kind of quick and dirty testing. For more precise testing, I like the kinds of tests where you look thru the treated sample of water and compare its color to a translucent piece of plastic with graded levels of color. I find these much easier to read than the kind where you compare the treated water sample to a printed color card.
Of course, electronic probes are probably the easiest and most accurate, but not cheap...
HTH,
Jim
For example, I'm not terribly concerned if my pH is 7.8 and the test kit reads 7.6. I do care that the test repeatedly measures the same way (i.e., it's reliable) and I do care that it's easy for me to test. Similarly, I don't care if my tests can accurately detect .20 ppm nitrite vs. .25 ppm nitrite; I do care if it's clear if there is ANY nitrite and if it can show me the difference between .25 and 1 ppm.
If you're doing research and want high accuracy, or if you have extremely sensitive fish, or if you're just starting out and want to learn about water chemistry, accuracy may be more important. For many of us, being able test quickly & reliably is more of an issue. I like dip stick tests for this kind of quick and dirty testing. For more precise testing, I like the kinds of tests where you look thru the treated sample of water and compare its color to a translucent piece of plastic with graded levels of color. I find these much easier to read than the kind where you compare the treated water sample to a printed color card.
Of course, electronic probes are probably the easiest and most accurate, but not cheap...
HTH,
Jim
For high-end testing with accuracy, don't forget Hach - IME they are equal or at times superior to LaMotte, but pretty much on par.
Overall I agree with Jim - reliability is of far greater importance to most routine tanks testing than high accuracy. That said, some hobby test kits have neither.
For common testing (ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, GH/KH) I use Tetra tests
Overall I agree with Jim - reliability is of far greater importance to most routine tanks testing than high accuracy. That said, some hobby test kits have neither.
For common testing (ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, GH/KH) I use Tetra tests
Jim, nice to see someone else likes the dipstick test kits. I also find them very easy to use, easy to read the results and reliable.
I have tried both the clear vials liquid test or the plastic liquid test and I have a harder time reading the results (ie I never know precisely what my liquid kit is reading because the color is hard to match the little printed card). So I figure if the dip sticks are also off by a shade, its no big deal.
So, that said, for typical testing use - I buy either the Mardel or Quick Dip brand dip stick tests - however, when cycling a tank, because I was testing frequently (and the strips cost more on a per use basis than the liquid tests), I bought a cheaper liquid reagent Aquaria Pharm Ammonia test and a Seachem Nitrite / Nitrate test
I have tried both the clear vials liquid test or the plastic liquid test and I have a harder time reading the results (ie I never know precisely what my liquid kit is reading because the color is hard to match the little printed card). So I figure if the dip sticks are also off by a shade, its no big deal.
So, that said, for typical testing use - I buy either the Mardel or Quick Dip brand dip stick tests - however, when cycling a tank, because I was testing frequently (and the strips cost more on a per use basis than the liquid tests), I bought a cheaper liquid reagent Aquaria Pharm Ammonia test and a Seachem Nitrite / Nitrate test