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test kit ranges
I am researching test kits that I will later obtain for my 'hi-tech' CO2
injected plant aquarium. I have primarily been looking at Hach and LaMotte test
kits.
My main question concerns the appropriate ranges for these tests. This is what
I have selected so far. However, on the last three these I really don't have a
good grasp of 'danger' ranges and target ranges and what exactly I am testing
for.
Test Range Increment
Iron as Fe 0-0.2 0.002
0-1.0 0.01
Dissolved Oxygen 0.2-4.0 0.2
1-20 1
Carbon Dioxide 1.25-25 1.25
2-40 2
5-100 5
Nitrogen, Ammonia 0-3 0.1
Nitrogen, Nitrate 0-1.0 0.2
Do the kits listed above sound about right? The ones listed below are the ones
I am more unsure about.
Ammonia, Nitrate ??? ???
Phosphate ??? ???
Hardness ??? ???
Nitrate - What is a good target? and what is a good range to test for?
Phosphate - What is a good target? and what do I really want to test for?
Hach lists Phosphonate, Orthophosphate, Orhto-/meta-phosphate,
and Total Phosphate.
Hardness - There are three types of kits it seems. Total Alkalinity,
Total Hardness as CaC03, and Total Hardness and Calcium as CaC03
(Magnesium by difference.) I figure I need two of the three but
after reading Baensch, The Krib, and Dupla still am a little
confused. My gut feeling is I need a Total Alkalinity Kit and a
Total Hardness and Calcium Kit.
Any help will be appreciated.
*Mike Roberts - mike at microspan_com
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