Hydroponics Water Testing Nutrients Chemicals Trace Metals Bacteria. Testing water quality of hydroponic pond water chemistry for nutrients, metals and bacteria levels.
Hydroponics Water Testing Nutrients Chemicals Trace Metals Bacteria. Detailed experiment for Water samples from hydroponic ponds are tested for nutrients, metals and bacteria levels required for biological growth. Testing only takes a few minutes per sample. The bacteria sample grows for 2 days before reading.
# 548 Hydroponics Water Quality plus Trace Metals and Bacteria
Each water sample is tested for this Set of Parameters: Alkalinity, pH, Water Hardness, Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Dissolved Metals (Combined Metals Cu+2, Co+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, etc.) and Bacteria (9 tests on each water sample)

Total Alkalinity and pH test scales
# 115 pH and TOTAL ALKALINITY of Water
Colorimetric test strips. (2 tests per strip)
pH and Total Alkalinity are two of the most fundamental parameters in drinking water testing as well as a great variety of other applications of water usage. Alkalinity indicates the buffering capacity of natural waters. A water is buffered if the pH does not change greatly by addition of acids or bases.
The most effective buffering action is within the pH range of water from 6.0 to about 8.5. The productivities of water can be correlated with ph, alkalinity and the buffering system.
The color charts for these tests read pH levels and Total Alkalinity in mg/L or ppm.
The Color Comparator Chart test reports levels of:
pH levels of 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 11
Total Alkalinity 0, 40, 80, 120, 180, 240, 720 mg/L or ppm.
Both tests are on the same test strip.
Results are obtained from this test in 25 seconds.

Total Water Hardness test scale
# 100 TOTAL WATER HARDNESS
Colorimetric test strips. (1 test per strip)
Water Hardness is composed of mostly calcium and magnesium. The water hardness comes from naturally occurring minerals in the local and regional geology being dissolved by water.
Hardness is a key water parameter and its control is important to assure proper water quality. Low Hardness (Soft water) can
contribute to corrosive water. High Hardness (Hard water above 400) can lead to clarity and scaling problems. Water softeners are used to reduce Total Hardness of water.
Testing for hardness in tap water is very common and is very quick and easy with these test strips. The Color Comparator Chart for this test allows you to read Total Hardness in mg/L or ppm.
This test reports calcium hardness concentrations in water at
0, 40, 80, 120, 180, 250, 425, 1000 mg/L or ppm.
Results are obtained from this test in about 5 seconds.
Background Information
Total Hardness (TH) is a measure of the total amount of calcium and magnesium that has naturally leached into the water during its journey through the watershed. In the U.S. water hardness is most often reported as milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm) as calcium carbonate (CaC03).
It is difficult to produce soap suds in water with high levels of calcium and magnesium ions, hence the term “hardness”.
In addition to reducing the effectiveness of soaps and detergents, hard water may cause an insoluble scale to form on fixtures and on the inside of pipes. Scale formation depends on several factors, one of which is pH.
The EPA does not regulate the levels of hardness in the water supply. There are, however, generally recognized levels that describe the amount of hardness in a water sample:
Hardness as Calclum carbonate (ppm) | Classification |
---|---|
0-60 | Soft |
61-120 | Moderately Hard |
121-180 | Hard |
>180 | Very Hard |

Dissolved Phosphate test scale
# 140 Dissolved Phosphate in Water
Colorimetric test strips. (1 test per strip)
Testing for Dissolved Phosphate in water is common, but
usually found in low concentrations. Because of low
concentrations, phosphate is involved with regulating bilogical growth and productivity in natural waters.
The color chart for this test allows you to read Dissolved
Phosphate in micrograms/L or ppb.
The Color Comparator Chart for this test allows you to read Phosphate levels in water at:
~0, 200, 400, 600, 1000, 2500 microgms/L or ppb.
(Note: concentration units are micrograms per Liter or parts per billion).
Results are obtained from this test in about 1 minute.

Nitrate and Nitrite test scales
# 135 Nitrate and Nitrite in Water
Colorimetric test strips. (2 tests per strip)
Nitrate / Nitrite test strips are for testing water in many applications from drinking water to water used to wash produce.
Nitrates and nitrites occur normally in nature from the breakdown of ammonia in the nitrogen life cycle. Nitrates in nature cause plant and algae growth that may affect the balance of water-based ecosystems.
Nitrate is found in fertilizers and animal waste. Rain tends to wash fertilizers containing nitrates into nearby natural water systems and ground water. Groundwater used as drinking water that contains nitrogen represents a hazard to babies. Many die every year as a result from “Blue Baby Syndrome.”
The Color Comparator Chart for this test reports concentrations compatible with EPA limits of total nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in water.
The test reports levels of:
NO3 (as N): 0, 0.5, 2.0, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg/L or ppm;
NO2 (as N): 0.15, 0.3, 1, 1.5, 3, 10 mg/L or ppm.
Results are obtained from this test in 1 minute.

Total Dissolved Solids test scale
# 145 Total Dissolved Solids in Water
Colorimetric test strips. (1 test per strip)
Testing for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in tap water is very common and is very quick and easy with these test strips. The EPA Secondary Drinking Water Standard for for TDS is
500mg/L or ppm.
The color chart for this test allows you to read TDS in milligram/L or ppm.
The Color Comparator Chart for this test reports Total Dissolved Solids levels in water at:
0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 mg/L or ppm.
(Note: concentration units are milligrams per Liter or parts per million).
Results are obtained from this test in about 30 seconds.

Dissolved Metals test scale
#150 Dissolved Metals in Water
Colorimetric test strips. (1 test per strip)
Testing for Dissolved Metals, also referred to as Trace Metals, in tap water is very common and is very quick and easy with these
semiquantitative test strips. Each test strip result indicates the combined presence of heavy metals (Cu+2, Co+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, Pb+2, etc…) in water.
The color chart for this test allows you to read Dissolved Metals in micrograms/L (ugms/L) or parts per billion (ppb). The color chart was calibrated using mixed metals solution.
In the presence of one specific metal, or a high concentration of a specific metal, colors such as purple, red, or brown may appear. In this situation, matching levels based on color
intensity may be necessary to reach semiquantative results.
The Color Comparator Chart for this test reports mixed Dissolved Metals levels in water at:
<10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400, 1000 microgms/L or ppb.
(Note: concentration units are micrograms per Liter or
parts per billion: ppb.)
Results are obtained from this test in 2 1/2 minutes.

Bacteria Growth Check test scale
# 180 Bacteria Growth Check
Colorimetric test strips. (1 test per strip)
Bacteria Growth Check is a test strip that has been specially formulated with Brain Heart Infusion media that allows maximum cultivation of fastidious aerobic bacteria found in some waters. This test could be used in a variety of applications, however it is not specific for any particular type of bacteria.
You can dip these strips in water or swab surfaces with them. The Bacteria test procedure then requires you to return the test strip into a clear plastic bag for incubation. After 48 hours of room temperature incubation, any fastidious bacteria on the test pad will multiply and turn the test pad pink to red. The darker and more consistent the test pad, the more bacteria that are present.
Bacteria Growth Check tests only a small water sample and requires a significant quantity of bacteria to show a change on the test pad.
# 548 Hydroponics Water Quality plus Trace Metals and Bacteria
Testing water quality of hydroponic pond water chemistry for nutrients, metals and bacteria levels.
Detailed experiment for Water samples from hydroponic ponds are tested for nutrients, metals and bacteria levels required for biological growth. Testing only takes a few minutes per sample. The bacteria sample grows for 2 days before reading.
# 548 Hydroponics Water Quality plus Trace Metals and Bacteria
Each water sample is tested for this Set of Parameters: Alkalinity, pH, Water Hardness, Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Dissolved Metals (Combined Metals Cu+2, Co+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, etc.) and Bacteria (9 tests on each water sample)
Hydroponics Water Testing Nutrients Chemicals Trace Metals Bacteria