Recommendations for reliable PH, KH and GH test kit?

[LindaC]

I really do need a good reliable test kit for my PH, KH and GH now that I'm going to be getting a good CO2 system and dosing ferts. Please let me know what you use and how reliable it's been for you? The test kits that I currently have are, for PH: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, I also have a AP Nitrate test kit. For KH and GH: Jungle Labs and I also have Mardel 5 in 1 test strips. I believe that the PH test kit is pretty reliable but I'm not sure about the rest, so please, I welcome all suggestions!

Thank you!
Linda

 

[Jchillin]

The AP kits have worked for me, the results are always truthful and accurate. Toss the mardel strips, they cannot be relied upon.

 

[cmor1701d]

For pH I finally went to a monitor and for everything else I use the Salifert kits. There is a marked change in color for Ca, dKH, Mg, etc. which makes it easy to tell what the reading is. I have a hard time with subtle shade differences found on most test kits color reference strips. Then again I am somewhat color blind so those subtle shadings are very hard for me to discern.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

For the gh and kh, I use the Hagen kit myself, as well as the phosphate. And for Nitrate, the color on the Hagen kit is easier to read, IMO.

 

[LindaC]

I should have known that there wouldn't be just one reliable test kit out there that everybody uses, thank you, this has been very helpful.

 

[Purrbox]

Really the main thing is to get test kits that use liquid reagents. Beyond that, it's mostly personal preference until you get into the really expensive kits like LaMotte.