Test Kit Product Suggestion

J

jonathan03

AC Members
Feb 12, 2005
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I am looking for a test kit to test my water. I will be growing live plants, so I need to be able to test everything for them as well as ph, nitrates and ammonia.

I was wondering if anyone has used the master test kit by Tetra Laborett. ( http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19617;category_id=3111;pcid1=3233;pcid2= ) I have never heard of this company and it seems to have all the tests I need.

Are there any vital tests that aren't in this kit that are needed for live plants? It says it has ammonia, nitrite, ph, carbonate hardness and general hardness tests. Is it important to test the nitrates for plants as well? I always mix the nitrites and nitrates up.

Thanks for the help.
 
The Tetra Laborett is the first comprehensive test kit I purchased. Prior to that time, I purchased only the ammonia and pH kits from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. Once I started growing live plants, I became interested in the expanded test kit. While I do not use all of the tests all of the time, the Tetra Laborette provided me with the experience of all the included tests. As I ran low on the reagents I used most, I replaced them with the individual bottles of reagent from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.

For example, I only check the total hardness from time to time. I rarely use the test for ammonia, since I use a conditioner to neutralize the chlorine or chloramine and I also test for a high level of nitrates regularly. Again, since my tanks are established, I only test for nitrites from time to time. I do test pH and nitrates often, so those are the two in particular that I purchase separately.

I appreciated the variety of tests to start me out and give me the experience and it was much more economical to purchase a full kit of smaller bottles of reagents, such as in the Tetra Laborette, than it was to purchase the larger individual bottles of reagent separately. The nitrate test should be included in the laborette, but unfortunately, it is not. I had to purchase that separately. Yep, it's an important test, not only to the health of your fish, but your plants as well.

There may be additional tests required, such as for phosphates, if you have a saltwater aquarium (even though the box states the kit is for both freshwater and saltwater...it is because a test for saltwater pH included in the kit), but the tests in the laborette are sufficient for freshwater aquariums with plants and I have not had any problems with the kit.
 
Ems said:
I haven't heard of that either, but we use a master test kit by Hagen. It includes all that fun stuff as well.
Click to expand...

I just ordered (and it's on the way!) this kit. It has everything I wanted. Prior I had bought individual test kits (AP-NH4, NO3, NO2, pH, GH/KH) but bought the Hagen Phosphate and iron test when I got into live plants. According to my calculations on what I dosed (and showing 0ppm prior) they were accurate.
 
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