I've noticed that there are several Nitrate test kits model from LaMotte.

which model is the preferred one(easiest to use) for our aquariums?

Though I'm looking forward to getting only the Nitrate test kit, if anyone knows the preffered model for other tests (in case other tests also has multiple models) for our aquariums, I would appreciate if you posted it up (just for future reference)

I have a slightly used one for sale, 40$.
It's a 3354 model.

I have a lab grade NO3 meter that's accurate to about 0.1ppm of NO3 and another one at work that's about 0.003ppm of NO3 accurate.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Here's were I got my Iron and Calcium test kits. I plan on getting nitrate and phosphate later this month if I really want. I'm testing less, but the dang Seachem nitrate test is so hard to compare, I want a more reliable test result to taillor my fert regimen.

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...gories/ssid/13

I'm going to get the one that goes up to 10 mg/L. I just have to dilute 1:1 with distilled water and double the results you get. If you need, you could also do a 1:2 dilution or greater and use the appropriate multiplication factor to get your results.

jadebutterfly, i too use lamotte 3354. its a 2 tablet,with octa-slide. easy to use. just make sure kit is not out of date., been there. regards,cornhusker

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

Thanks for the site Gill Man

too bad they do not have the 3354 model.

I searched up the 3110 model and find the method a lil bit more work.

3354 seems to be the cheapest...does anyone know where to get lamotte kits cheap? and are willing to ship up here (Canada)?

Thanks.

I know, I prefer the 3354 model, which I found at: http://www.reefsplendor.com/pages/la...lamotte.1.html for a reasonable price (for La Motte). Those comparators, sliding or octet are just so easy to compare and get a good approximation for those of us that can't distinguish shades of red on paper.

yeah I'm tired of all the test kits i've used before...I just can't make out the colour properly.

darn. too bad reef splendor doesn't ship internationally

I am going to have to agree with Tom Wood on this, it really is not that hard to get accustom to using a cheap-o and a rough estimate is all we need anyway, but it's you're money.
I will leave the expensive kit's to the biologist's and colorblind..
We are not building "piano's" but growing weed's underwater, varibles change daily, if one could set the N03 level and keep it that way, maybe it would be different.

My past experience with test kits warrants the better quality, I've done more testing on water than anyone I've ever met in this hobby. I do it as part of work as well.

You can calibrate and check the test kit against standards and even if it's off, that be accounted for, so cheap kits can be used certainly if they are consistent. In the ranges and accuracy ranges I've been interested in, Lamott is okay, I needed something more precise and consistent personally.

For the money, the cheapy kits are not a bad deal, I would not place much reliance on them unless you have tested them against a standand and do NOT assume each NO3 is going to be the same, calibrate every test kit.

Lamott test kits are nice, easier to use and perhaps the ADA/Dupla of test kits for hobbyists.

I don't need kits for the hobby, I can look and tell if the plants need NO3.
That's much more important than testing (noting plant health and growth). Some of the best tanks and plant folks do not use test kits at all, except for CO2 and even there I and some others don't need a test kit.

Many don't use pH/KH at all, just eye ball with a bubble rate.


Regards,
Tom Barr