• Zoolek tests, who has tried them?

  • Heather

Quite inexpensive tests, but there are no reviews about them. Has anyone tried them? I'm interested in calcium and magnesium. Of course, I could splurge and compare them with Salifert and JBl (Salifert has calcium, JBl has magnesium), but I don't really want to do it myself. Maybe we could chip in for the experiment? I guarantee a report.

Daniel4967

A very relevant question. I also want to try the Ptero line at sea.

Amanda5586

Ptero has already confirmed this. The book underestimates, while calcium is overestimated. I compared it personally with Salifert! I’ve already realized that besides Tropic Marin and Salifert, it’s better not to take anything else. I wanted to compare these for the experiment, now I’m waiting for Salifert magnesium, I have calcium. I just need to find a couple more people to chip in for the purchase of Zolek. It will cost 150 for calcium + magnesium.

Steven757

I have a calcium test (from Vako) that showed nonsense for pterophyllum, but nitrate/nitrite/phosphate/ammonium/alkalinity - everything is clear! I compared it with Salifert and API.

Mario

I’ll add a little more. If you knew how much free stuff there is in imports... I think you would be shocked. I'm not saying this to criticize, but to emphasize that you shouldn't blindly trust without checking. We all know this since we don't skimp on buying imports, and we have a lot of them, not just from popular local manufacturers. We look, compare, and so on. So we have experience and understanding of what and how things are with us...

Sharon

I tested the Ptero tests in the sea. I compared almost the entire Ptero line with JBL - quite adequate tests. Moreover, it should be noted that ANY tests work within a very narrow range of values. Beyond this range, their accuracy decreases. Even within the range, the accuracy is not high. However, for aquaristics, it is more than sufficient.

Michael5242

To put it mildly, your tests underestimate the kN; I compared them with JBL and Salifert. It might just need some adjustments with the marine scale instead of ambitiously claiming that everything is fine with the Ptero tests. As can be seen, many marine aquarium enthusiasts do not trust your tests, and professionals don't even look at them to avoid ruining systems that cost thousands of dollars. We no longer rely on freebies... If you have data, please justify it with examples.

Jennifer5371

And you only get one word. Well, now we will definitely conduct an open comparison.

Jeremy8404

Well, if the numbers I provided are just words, then I don't know what to say. Or do you think I have nothing better to do than to criticize Ptero tests and praise Salifert? This will be useful; personally, I am ready to invite any uninterested forum member from Donetsk and demonstrate the difference in readings.

David3217

JBL's test for kN also underestimates readings in seawater. I have also had a bad experience with this. Since I once confirmed that the Ptero tests are adequate compared to JBL tests (not just a one-time comparison), it can be assumed that the Ptero test for kN also underestimates readings. If you want to check - please, I can check, I have Salifert at home. And Igor is a serious person. So here are already TWO candidates for you.

Alec9378

Okay. I have JBL, API, Diana, and maybe something else, I don't remember. I will definitely check today and describe it here. I fundamentally won't buy Salifert because I don't want to pay that much for a test with two components - an indicator and acid. All tests for kH are made based on the same principle; only the indicator may change, which does not affect the result at all, just the color of the sample may be different, and that's it.

Jenny

That's true. All tests for kN are based on titrating the alkali with acid to pH 7.0, but for some reason, they show different results.

Caitlin3279

Up to ~4. At pH 7, bicarbonates are under-titrated.

Michelle13

And a small remark in conclusion. On this forum, there is a section for our brand and a topic for discussing products where you can freely express your *discontent*, and possibly discuss any issues if they exist. During the discussion, there may indeed be constructive comments and suggestions, and together with you, we can improve our products for your benefit. So we invite you to express your thoughts rather than just posting *discontent* in unrelated topics. We hope for constructive feedback. Sincerely, the Ptero brand.

John3432

Well, I don't know. My PTERA showed 8, I doubted it because the water was previously no lower than 11. I handed it over to a forum member, and he measured the JBL, and it turned out to be... 13!!!!! The incident is not resolved. I will double-check, including on my own test (the base, knowledge, and equipment are available). It turns out you can only trust yourself... P.S. Sorry. The test was conducted with fresh water, just so you know...

Charles5941

One can only believe in standards.

Christina9947

Why are there no messages in our thread? Let's double-check. If you want, I can provide the coordinates for sending the test. This way, we can sort everything out at the same time. It's all on us. It's been three years on one complaint, and it seems like everyone is unlucky here. P.S. I already conducted one comparison above... and I think it's convincing.

Katie4842

I thought about it some more. There are two people here whose tests seem to be underestimated. We can send you one more copy (the costs are not significant) and you can double-check for yourself. If you're interested, write to us. Then a comparison can take place. Well, especially for you, since it could not be easier.

Joshua9847

The situation still troubles me. I went back to the lab and found another test dated *Before 05.16*, which means it was released in April. We sometimes leave it under control. In addition, during my search, I found another test from Tetra. Everything was tested as in the previous one, three times. Results: 1. Standard 7 Tetra 6 Ptero 7 2. Sea, as in the previous experience Tetra 8 Ptero 10 I don't know what else to double-check. In principle, everything is clear to me, and I have written my suggestions above.

David4968

I do not retract my words.

Michelle5859

We will send it to everyone who has commented in this topic above. Firstly, it will be interesting, and secondly, the losses are not significant.

Alicia5489

Tomorrow, the samples will be sent for testing, and we'll see. It will probably be interesting.

Caitlin3279

Salifert is considered the best (and most expensive) for the sea.

Judy

I wrote that I won't buy this test for that kind of money. If anyone is interested, I provide it for verification: Stock solution. 3 ml of 4% sodium bicarbonate and 17 ml of distillate (0.6% - 6 mg per ml) Working solution. 2 ml of stock solution and 98 ml of distillate - kH 4 Or simpler: Dissolve 30 mg of kitchen uncalcined soda in 1 liter of distillate - kH 1 You can calculate the required value on your own.

Robin

And also for the freshwater enthusiasts. This is for those who like to measure kH during intense CO2 injection. In short, if water is artificially enriched with CO2 and if the buffer is insufficient, since we are actually measuring alkalinity and not carbonate hardness, the results may not be entirely accurate. This is something that is rarely discussed and generally not given much attention.

Leah

Let's not wait, I just launched the KR and before the launch I measured kN-8 (salifert), 5 (ptero), maybe it really all depends on the drop and its size, let them train in fresh water, the salifert has an insulin syringe and all the drops are the same.

Chad

It depends 100% on the size of the drop. A larger drop means a higher dose of acid at once, resulting in a lower outcome. This needs to be monitored carefully. As for Salifert, I know how it works. It can be done without any problems using an insulin syringe (for calcium and magnesium, it will be the same), but this will lead to a significant increase in the price of the test. The chemical principle of the tests is the same. Salifert is 99, while ours is 25. Of course, it won't be that price, but it will increase by about two times. We will wait. P.S. I emphasize that this is only important for tests on kH and GH where titration is replaced with drops. It is not relevant for others.

Jessica9188

has long become a sailor

Lee

Offtopic, soon two years.

Alyssa6727

Isn't it a problem to convert drops to milliliters and let people buy syringes themselves?

Cassandra7840

Oh no, this all feels wrong, somehow unprofessional. If we're going to do it, let's do it properly. Perhaps in time we will come to producing tests only for the sea with increased accuracy in titration, but not now. What we already have is quite satisfactory for the needs of any average enthusiast, and we'll see from there...

Charles5941

It's difficult with quotes. But I remember somewhere in the definition of overall stiffness there was a pun with the readings. That is, they probably hung them differently in various pharmacy-places-factories. Will one bottle of bicarbonate be different from the one in the neighboring pharmacy... P.S. If there is a difference, it will probably be within 1 degree. And that will already be a discussion about the length of a pepper from one's own garden.)))

Brandon4517

Last year, I tried the Ptero tests for saltwater (left over from freshwater but fresh with a marine scale). The nitrate test shocked me, showing zero when JBL showed around 20 mg/L. I measured several times, and in the end, I gave up and threw away the nitrate and nitrite tests (which also showed zero values). If the situation has changed now and the tests really show accurate values, even with a small margin of error, I would gladly use them. But how can I tell if they are showing the truth or not? Should I buy a salifert and measure every time? Testing would end up being very expensive.

Kimberly4253

What was is no longer. We had problems for a while. Everything has long been resolved, and there are no more problems and there won't be any. This sad chapter, thank God, is closed, and the issue with problems is settled.

Tami

You can simply write in the instructions "1 drop = X.X ml". Even better would be "1 dKh = X.X ml". If I want accuracy, I will use a syringe.

Tracy4603

It is believed that 1 drop = 1/40 ml. I don't know if such a unit exists in the system of measures and weights and how strictly manufacturers adhere to this rule.

Stephanie4990

An interesting option, I can consider it. But only for the next order of packaging. It's not always like that. As far as I remember, we have 30 drops in 1ml.

Joshua9847

Let's leave the other topic and continue the conversation here, for example. There's also a bit about calcium there.

Rita

Can I clarify?

Jason

~30

James4342

And also, what else did you measure? I'm asking because of this. Read this and this. We have observed and tried it ourselves. Not always and not in all batches, but it happens often. The reason... it's hard to say anything...

Colin1418

I wrote a short article *On the Importance of Certain Water Chemical Parameters in Aquaristics.* Please read it, as it relates to this issue. We can also discuss it.

Kimberly4253

I would be very happy to purchase a calcium test from the new batch (and magnesium would be great too). My pH meter was really showing lower readings (as for the second one, I’d rather not mention it at all), it was drawing very similar numbers to the JBL test.. (not great, the guys are also monitoring the quality, although the packaging and content are nice). Have you sent any products from the new batches to Donetsk?

Charles4157

Unfortunately, as far as I remember, no. Magnesium will be available in a month or two.