[APD] Hagen test kits? Flying blind

["Candy M." <cry_little_sister at hotmail_com>]

Hi all,
I was going over Big Al's website making my wish list and although I am 
aware that the lamotte test kits are more accurate (from reading archives) 
they are out of my price range.

I am wanting test kits that are close enough to accurate for our use 
specifically to allow me to dose fertilizers. Since this is my first real 
attempt at planted tanks I don't yet know all of the "look at the plant for 
signs of what they need" tricks of the trade. I figure I have to start 
somewhere and hopefully over time I will learn to use my plants as 
indicators.

At this time I have all the ingredients to make pmdd or dose dry including 
phosphate and am afraid to use them. (You can order all of them at 
http://www.gregwatson.com/ very fast and friendly service)

I have contacted the city water lab and got every report they have of any 
kind. They are all about useless. I can tell average ph/kh/gh and even that 
varies a lot depending on rain and which source they get our water from. By 
now the water lab is used to me bugging them and brings any new report they 
do to my door by hand.

Any way you look at it the water classes as HARD from 200-300ppm average 
jumping up to 500ppm in times of low/no rain. I am for this reason using 
part tap part RO.

I was able to get a few readings which I posted 
http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200312/msg00898.html asking for 
help. No one replied I assume because I did not have a complete water 
analysis. Thing is they can't even tell me where to send a sample to to have 
one run on my own. I have also contacted the county agriculture office with 
the same result. So for now I am left with no other choice than to order 
test kits, look up recommended nutrient levels in the archives and fly 
blind. Well I guess I do have a choice, Plastic plants....... :(

I would like to know if anyone is aware of any reason I should not order the 
following test kits: Hagen
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT PH LOW RANGE (6.0-7.6)
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT PHOSPHATE FRESHWATER/SALTWATER
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT NITRATE FRESHWATER/SALTWATER
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT IRON FRESHWATER/SALTWATER
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT GH/KH FRESHWATER/SALTWATER
NUTRAFIN TEST KIT CALCIUM FRESHWATER/SALTWATER

Are they accurate enough?

Thanks
Candy

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