I think it's time to change the 'Lamotte is best' meme. I use the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (AP) NO3 test kit and found it every bit as accurate as the LaMotte, so I threw the LaMotte away.

If you don't believe me, get a new AP NO3 kit ($7 at Petsmart) and dose a known dose into clean water. Use The Fertilator over at APC to quantify the dose and expected result, then test it. It'll be right on. (Follow the directions, especially the shaking.)

We simply don't need the precision of the more expensive kits. The AP kits are very easy to read in the 0-5-10-20 range. Above 20 is difficult to distinguish, true, but that area can just be labelled 'too much' anyway.

I think it does a huge dis-service to anyone coming into the hobby to recommend the expensive kits when there is a perfectly suitable cheap alternative. The end result of the expensive recommendation is likely to be no testing at all. Imagine walking into a car dealership:

"I'd like to buy a Taurus."

"Mercedes is the best."

"I understand, but I don't want to spend that much."

"Mercedes is the best."

"I understand, but I can't afford rent if I buy a Mercedes."

"Mercedes is the best."

"I understand, but I can't eat if I buy a Mercedes."

"Mercedes is the best."

"Never mind, I'll walk"

TW