Review Of D-D high sensitivity Multi Test Kit by me.

Right, as Ged always seems to take the time out to do a review (and hes getting some LED's to try so who knows what I might win LOL) I thought I'd give the little fella a break and do one myself.

So, heres the kit in its box




and heres a shot of whats in there, obviously Strongbow not included but I needed something to keep me entertained whilst writing this out



So the tests included are....

calcium, 3 bottles, one powder,2 liquid for this and a small scoop
Magnesium, 3 liquid bottles
KH (Alkalinity) just one liquid bottle

Its extremely important to rinse the syringes etc out after each use to avoid contamination, I keep a glass of RO water to hand for this. I wont be including every small detail to test, just a brief idea so read the instructions, dont just follow this

So first test, KH, big tip here, be careful taking the lid off the reagant its filled right up to the top, amazed I didnt end up with it all down my front

10ml of tank water in test vial, attach clear tip to the green syringe. Draw in 1ml of the KH reagant, its important to note that you fill the level using the bottom of the plunger as a guide for all the tests, it will appear you have an air gap, this is normal, more in the instructions.

So begin adding the reagant and swirl the vial after adding each drop/drops, the start colour will be blue with the end point being purple, the good thing is if you overdose it it will change to the overdose colour, shown below.





So before you reach that overdose point you hit the purple, you then look on the chart, compare how much reagant is in the syringe and theres your KH done




Now on with calcium, Im not going to go through the mag one as its very similar to the calcium, same colours etc and believe it or not I do have a life off the forum

Calcium test, trying to keep it a little shorter now

5ml of tank water in test vial, we are now using the black syringe with a clear plastic tip, the green syringe is ONLY for the KH test.

Add 5 drops of reagent A to the test vial, put the stopper on the top and shake gently for a few seconds. the water will go cloudy as the mag precipitates out of the sample.



Add one level scoop of reagent powder and shake, allow to stand for 20 seconds. Its now pink and you can see the mag at the bottom, 4head is amazed with that part, as am I!




Fill syringe with 1ml of reagant and as before add slowly swirling after each addition, you are then heading for the end colour of pure blue, just as the final hint of pink vanishes



As before compare what you have left in the syringe against the chart, 500ppm is the max although if you go past this point, add more reagent to the syringe and continue, the calculation to work out the result is in the instructions



So there you have it. As I said no mag test but I've shown enough. The great thing I found was I find it impossible to read the results normally, dont ask me to read a nitrate test. I've had a colour blindness test a while back for work and I was OK but they always seem to similar to me,25ppm could be 50! so I was wary of this kit. The good thing here is how easy it is to see the end points of the test, KH I found a little harder but with the overdose colour you know if you go to far.

£39.99 I paid from Burscough though I'm sure they are available elsewhere

I think its a great price for what you get. Its probably easier solving a rubix than it is getting all the stuff back in the box though Im not one for spending on test kits I'd rather buy a coral but I got sick of not knowing my parameters, no point adding more corals if the water isn't right IMO

Mag 30 tests
Calcium 60 tests
KH 75 tests

Refills are available though I have no idea on price

Hope I've not missed anything out, was my first proper review so go easy

By Funkymonkey