Which test kit for my aquarium?
By Aram Schneider Published Updated
Translated from German with AI assistance and reviewed by our editors.
Test kits with different equipment are available on the market. In this guide, we show you which water tests, and therefore which test kit, best suit which type of aquarium.
JBL ProAquaTest Testlab
With 13 water tests, the Testlab from JBL is quite comprehensive. Of course, drop tests are provided for general parameters such as KH and GH, and there are even three different tests for different ranges for pH. With NH4, NO2 and NO3, you can fully monitor the entire nitrogen cycle and go into the cycling phase with a good feeling. NO3 is also an important nutrient for aquatic plants, and here the kit adds the parameters PO4, CO2 and Fe. For additional monitoring in terms of safety, the Testlab also includes a water test for copper (to check for any contamination in the source water) and an oxygen test.
Since this test kit is quite comprehensive, every type of aquarist can benefit from it. The water tests are useful for regular aquarists, breeders and planted-tank aquarists alike. Because of the large number of water tests, however, the price is comparatively high.
JBL ProAquaTest Combi Set Plus NH4
If you are a beginner in aquarium keeping and want the most important water tests combined in one case, you are in good hands with this Combi Set. It covers the essential and most important general parameters such as KH and pH. With the additional NH4 test and the water tests for NO2 and NO3, you can track the entire nitrogen cycle and therefore keep an overview of the values during the cycling phase. The included drop test for CO2 is also a useful addition.
This test kit already offers a good foundation of general parameters for an aquarium and can then be complemented well with further individual tests. An additional GH test, for example, makes sense.
JBL ProAquaTest Combi Set Plus Fe test kit
The name of the JBL test kit Combi Set Plus Fe already tells you that an iron test is included. First and foremost, however, it offers general, important water tests for aquariums, such as pH (over a wide measuring range), KH and GH. NO2 and NO3 also let you check how well the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium is working. This is especially important for the cycling phase. The CO2 test is another nice extra. In terms of its components, this test kit builds a good bridge from general water parameters to important tests for measuring key plant nutrients (Fe, CO2, NO3). The kit is therefore aimed at aquarists who are also interested in the basics of planted aquariums.
A sensible extension would be to buy an additional PO4 test if you want to look more closely into keeping aquatic plants. For monitoring the cycling phase, an ammonium test would otherwise be advisable, so that you can also measure the toxic precursor of nitrite.
ProScape test kit
This test kit from JBL is clearly aimed at planted-tank aquarists and aquascapers. The selected drop tests mainly cover all the important nutrient parameters such as iron, nitrate and phosphorus. Other important nutrient elements such as potassium and magnesium can also be evaluated with the kit. The pH test and the KH water test let you check general aquarium parameters as well. The silicate test is also a useful aid for finding the causes of persistent diatoms. The quick test for CO2 is another nice extra. For permanent and independent CO2 monitoring, however, we definitely recommend also installing a CO2 drop checker with test reagent, in which the KH is fixed.
As a supplement, we also recommend buying an additional refill test for general hardness. With a GH test and a water test for magnesium (already included), you can calculate the calcium content. This matters for determining the calcium-magnesium ratio in the water, so you can create ideal conditions for your plants in terms of general hardness.