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Re: Test Kits, one more time
> From: James Purchase <jpp at inforamp_net>
> Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 01:33:13 -0500
>
> Does anyone have any recommendations for a line of accurate, reliable
> and repeatable (cheap would be nice too, but I don't want to push it)
> test kits for F/W?
>
> I'm leaning towards LaMotte but wonder about the quality of the
> Duplatest line. I like the idea of having one case with everything in
> it as opposed to multiple little boxes, but realize that this is just
> a cosmetic issue.
I would highly recommend Lamotte. We have almost all the test kits
they make that are useful for freshwater aquaria and are delighted
with every one. They cost a bit more to start with since most contain
an "octect comparator" with color samples, making results really easy
to read. Most reagents are sized for 50 tests and refills are very
inexpensive.
A warning about the pH test kit - most aquaria sources sell a Lamotte
"wide range" kit useful for both fresh and saltwater. If you ask
around, you can get a narrow range pH test kit that has a range of 6.5
to 7.5 and can resolve to 0.1 units. I thought I had a phone number
for Lamotte but I can't find it now - they take Visa/MC and do
mailorder. I'll see if I can remember to look it up and also get the
product number for the narrow range pH kit.
We had a couple of Dupla test kits at one time but were underwhelmed
by them. I think we had iron and CO2 and someone else we knew had a
dissolved oxygen kit. The iron test kit was especially difficult to
interpret. The results from the CO2 and O2 kits didn't match the
Lamotte results (and didn't match other crosschecks). Perhaps the
kits had been on the shelf too long, since this was back in the old
days when Dupla was relatively unknown in the U.S.
George