Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry What Test kit do I Need

I have used both the API and LaMotte Kits. Both test for similar items.

API was less expensive shipped in housed in a small plastic container.
LaMotte was more expensive and has a form fitted briefcase style container with form fitted foam for each of the bottles and chemicals.

My regular testing includes Alkalinity, Hardness, and PH. The LaMotte test kit does have a DO test, Nitrate, Nitrite which I am not using regularly.

Outside of the test kits I also log water temps and secchi disk readings along with personal observations of anything I see visually (algae bloom, plants in the water, wildlife, fry in the water, feeding times with success for failure, additional forage additions....). All of the info gets logged in the pond journal for future reviews on what we did, saw, treated or need to order.


I think almost all of the information I have seen on test kits is that the test strips are not very accurate.

Hope it helps!