Nutrafin(Hagen) Master Test Kit

yourpaceormine · 8th January 2011, 14:44

Looking at buying a master test kit... I want to test for ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, dh, kh and phosphate. Have seen the Nutrafin/hagen set for £35. Bit of a bargain, and it comes in a plastic case (always a sucker for a nice box - think it is a result of working with autistic kids for twenty years). JBL one looks rather good too but that is over a hundred quid!

So any experiences of Nutrafin/hagen tests good or bad would be greatly recieved. (Obviously bad vibes will need to be via PM so as not to upset anyone). Read a few threads where folk are worried about accuracy - partic re: nitrate.

ta in advance

matsp · 8th January 2011, 15:58

Everyone on here seems to recommend the API test kit. And I think (has been in the past at least) it's available for around £20 from online retailers.

--
Mats

lisathomas · 8th January 2011, 16:24

I have just bought an API test kit online for £22 from Charterhouse Aquatics. Unfortunately tho I had to pay a bit of P & P.

Good kit tho...easy to read. No nice box tho I'm afraid and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a pipette with it. However, I'm currently using one of my sons medicine syringes

yourpaceormine · 8th January 2011, 18:20

API doesn't have all the tests I want in it though.

matsp · 8th January 2011, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by yourpaceormine

API doesn't have all the tests I want in it though.

What are you after that isn't in there? Could you get it/them as individul test(s)?

I'm not saying that's better, just another choice to consider...

--
Mats

*koinut* · 9th January 2011, 19:20

Hi yourpaceormine.

If your after a standard type re-agent kit I would go for the API kit that's been mentioned.
Very good value and more importantly very easy to read.
And the accuracy is very acceptable as well.

I do remember posting on the Nutrafin/Hagen kit before here.
On thing I can say...and show...is I personally did not like the ammonia test cards at all when I trialed one.
The different shades between zero and 0.6 were indistinguishable
And to my mind this is as good as useless as by the time you have a reading over 0.6 you are already in trouble.
Have a look below and you will see what I mean.

Of course if this has been altered or amend lately it may be better than the example above.

If I use a standard (non electronic) kit I always use API.
API do a hardness test kit as well...around a £5-6 I think.
And a phosphate test kit for around £8-9
Hope that helps a tad.

Andy T

janmalkin · 10th January 2011, 07:19

When using the Nutrafin Ammonia test I filled a test tube with plain tap water and held that beside the one containing the tank water and reagent and held both against a White background. If I could detect any colour difference it would be because I had some Ammonia

matsp · 10th January 2011, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by janmalkin

When using the Nutrafin Ammonia test I filled a test tube with plain tap water and held that beside the one containing the tank water and reagent and held both against a White background. If I could detect any colour difference it would be because I had some Ammonia

This works, but only if you are sure that your tap-water doesn't have any ammonia. Which has been known to happen in some regions...

--
Mats

janmalkin · 10th January 2011, 07:32

Heaven forbid.Good thinking Mats, you are quite right. Fortunately we don't where I live, but I guess this could change at any time.

yourpaceormine · 11th January 2011, 11:49

Many thanks for the replies - particularly Koinut and Janmalkin.

Why am I looking at the Hagen set? £35 for everything I want to test for (and a few things extra as well). API is £20 and then a number of individual tests too (@ £5-8 each).

If money was no object I'd go for the JBL pro kit - I really like JBL tests, in particular the comparison test bit

So the Hagen ammonia test isn't the easiest to read - sounds like the tapwater/mineral water comparison could make it work.

Any more experiences of Hagen tests gratefully received.
Ta in advance

8th January 2011, 14:44	#1
yourpaceormine Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 111	Nutrafin(Hagen) Master Test Kit Looking at buying a master test kit... I want to test for ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, dh, kh and phosphate. Have seen the Nutrafin/hagen set for £35. Bit of a bargain, and it comes in a plastic case (always a sucker for a nice box - think it is a result of working with autistic kids for twenty years). JBL one looks rather good too but that is over a hundred quid! So any experiences of Nutrafin/hagen tests good or bad would be greatly recieved. (Obviously bad vibes will need to be via PM so as not to upset anyone). Read a few threads where folk are worried about accuracy - partic re: nitrate. ta in advance

8th January 2011, 16:24	#3
lisathomas Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Posts: 342	I have just bought an API test kit online for £22 from Charterhouse Aquatics. Unfortunately tho I had to pay a bit of P & P. Good kit tho...easy to read. No nice box tho I'm afraid and I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a pipette with it. However, I'm currently using one of my sons medicine syringes __________________ Lisa 'No one can feel as helpless as the owner of a sick goldfish' 200l Fluval Roma housing three comet goldies and two single tail goldies

9th January 2011, 19:20	#6
koinut Senior Moderator - Forum koi & pond specialist Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Sussex Posts: 3,750	Hi yourpaceormine. If your after a standard type re-agent kit I would go for the API kit that's been mentioned. Very good value and more importantly very easy to read. And the accuracy is very acceptable as well. I do remember posting on the Nutrafin/Hagen kit before here. On thing I can say...and show...is I personally did not like the ammonia test cards at all when I trialed one. The different shades between zero and 0.6 were indistinguishable And to my mind this is as good as useless as by the time you have a reading over 0.6 you are already in trouble. Have a look below and you will see what I mean. Of course if this has been altered or amend lately it may be better than the example above. If I use a standard (non electronic) kit I always use API. API do a hardness test kit as well...around a £5-6 I think. And a phosphate test kit for around £8-9 Hope that helps a tad. Andy T __________________ If you have sick fish......Think twice..... Treat once. O.A.T.A Certification in Filtration & Fish Anatomy ><{{{{(0> ><{{{{(0> ><{{{{(0>

8th January 2011, 15:58	#2
matsp Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North of Cambridge, England Posts: 12,364	Everyone on here seems to recommend the API test kit. And I think (has been in the past at least) it's available for around £20 from online retailers. -- Mats

8th January 2011, 18:20	#4
yourpaceormine Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 111	API doesn't have all the tests I want in it though.

10th January 2011, 07:19	#7
janmalkin Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Sussex Posts: 724	When using the Nutrafin Ammonia test I filled a test tube with plain tap water and held that beside the one containing the tank water and reagent and held both against a White background. If I could detect any colour difference it would be because I had some Ammonia

10th January 2011, 07:32	#9
janmalkin Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Sussex Posts: 724	Heaven forbid.Good thinking Mats, you are quite right. Fortunately we don't where I live, but I guess this could change at any time.

11th January 2011, 11:49	#10
yourpaceormine Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 111	Many thanks for the replies - particularly Koinut and Janmalkin. Why am I looking at the Hagen set? £35 for everything I want to test for (and a few things extra as well). API is £20 and then a number of individual tests too (@ £5-8 each). If money was no object I'd go for the JBL pro kit - I really like JBL tests, in particular the comparison test bit So the Hagen ammonia test isn't the easiest to read - sounds like the tapwater/mineral water comparison could make it work. Any more experiences of Hagen tests gratefully received. Ta in advance