PO4
Phosphate (PO4) build up in the tank appears to be a fairly common problem in freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
They are present in most tap water supplies, they are also introduced to aquarium water through fish waste, uneaten fish food, and decaying plant and invertebrate material.
Hobbyist end up with rising levels of PO4, leading to the appearance of algae that start to cover the tank panes, the driftwoods, the substrate and just about anything else in the tank.
The maximum value of PO4 in aquarium is:
- for seawater aquarium 0,01 mg/lt
- for fresh water aquarium is 0,5 mg/lt. In deeply planted aquarium the maximum level can achieve up to 1 mg/lt
The periodical analytical valuation of phosphate in the aquarium water should be considered by the serious aquarium enthusiast.

ELOELOS AquaTest PO4, as well as all the other colorimetric test kitof this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedureslike the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the colours chart compared to the reagents; the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results; the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
Thanks to the use of Lab Quality reagents, our PO4 test, allows the determination of the Phosphate down to a level of only 0,01 mg/lt, really alerting on Phosphate presence.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology.
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

NITRATE
The Biological filtration is a method that uses naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria to detoxify nitrogenous wastes. One type of bacteria (Nitrosomonas spp.) converts ammonia to nitrite while another naturally occurring bacteria (Nitrobacter spp.) converts the nitrite into a far less harmful form of nitrogen waste: nitrate.
Nitrate is the final stage of the nitrification process. Many invertebrates, unlike fish, are not tolerable to high nitrate concentrations. As a result, it is extremely important to make sure that nitrate levels do not reach high levels.

In freshwater aquaria the optimal level of Nitrate should be below 20 mg/lt. Values of over 75 mg/lt should be avoided at all costs.
In reef marine aquarium their level should not exceed 20 mg/l. A level of 10 mg/lt is the maximum for reef aquariums.

For these reasons, the periodical analytical valuation of nitrate in the aquarium water should be considered, specially during the aquarium set-up and, periodically, to avoid a too high level inside the water of our aquaria. Our kit allows the determination of the Nitrate level within a range of 5 – 75 mg/Lt

ELOS AquaTest NO3, as well as all the other colorimetric test kit of this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedures like the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the colours chart compared to the reagents; the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results; the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology.
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

CALCIUM
Calcium is the primary building block of corals, clams, calcareous algae and many other organism that we grow in our aquarium. Without adequate supplies of calcium these organism will not flourish and will eventually waste away and die.
The ideal value of Calcium in the aquarium is:
- for the marine aquarium 450 mg/Lt
- for the planted freshwater aquarium 100 mg/Lt
Because of the importance of calcium, it is necessary to keep inside our marine aquariums, the proper Calcium Level, testing it with an accurate test kit.
ELOS AquaTest Ca, as well as all the other titrimetric test kit of this line, offers very high accuracy thanks to several procedures including: calibrated lab droppers with consistent and predefined drops of 0,03 ml each, NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples to validate reagents and strict stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the freshest production batch available.
HIGHLIGHTS:
High quality system: one powder reagent and two liquids!
Standard sensibility: 25 ppm of Calcium ions.
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"C" reagent available as separate sales unit
High number of test per kit: up to 40-50 test depending on Ca level
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

MAGNESIUM
Magnesium (Mg) is present in a high quantity (1.300/1.350 ppm) in natural seawater. Contrary to its (not only quantitative) significance, this element was ignored as an important parameter of the marine aquarium for a long time.
In contrast to that we know today that Magnesium creates a remarkable improvement in the growth of calcareous algae and also has a positive influence on the growth of invertebrates and macro algae.
The ideal value of Magnesium in the aquarium is:
- for the seawater aquarium 1100-1300 mg/Lt
Because of the importance of Magnesium, it is necessary to keep inside our marine aquariums, the proper Calcium Level, testing it with an accurate test kit.
ELOS AquaTest Mg, as well as all the other titrimetric test kit of this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedures like the use of calibrated dropper with constant and predefined drops of 0,05 ml each, the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results, the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
HIGHLIGHTS:
High quality system: one powder reagent and two liquids!
Standard sensibility: 100 ppm of Magnesium ions.
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"C" reagent available as separate sales unit
High number of test per kit: up to 40 test (with a standard Mg level of 1100 ppm)
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

PH
The pH value or acid value indicates how acidic or alkaline water is.
It is a measure of the concentration of the acidic or alkaline components in a hydrous solution. Pure water will react neutral and has a pH-value of 7.00 . If the acidic components are predominant, the pH value will drop below 7.00. If the basic components are predominant, the pH-value will rise about 7.00.

The SaltWater aquarium pH-value is considered between 8.1 and 8.4 pH which is the value found in natural seawater.
Many organisms will react with high sensitivity to very small variations of the pH-value. An overly drop or rise should be avoided absolutely. Most of the organisms reacts sensitively (or die) on a pH-level, which is constantly far away from the requested value as well as on gravid modifications.
Therefore, a regular check on the pH-level is elementary necessary to note and to avoid any negative development.

ELOS AquaTest pHM, as well as all the other colorimetric test kitof this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedureslike the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the colours chart compared to the reagents; the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results; the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
ELOS AquaTest pH M shows a range of 8.1 / 9.0 pH-units.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology.
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

NITRITE
The activity of the bio-filter in the aquarium system can be divided in mineralization and nitrification.
The product of the mineralization process are ammonia and organic acids. The next step of decomposition is the oxidation (nitrification) of ammonia and ammonium to Nitrite (NO2).
Nitrite has a toxic effect on fish because it oxidizes hemoglobin to methemoglobin.
While hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen, methemoglobin lacks this ability !

Nitrite concentrations higher than 0,05mg/Lt (ppm) of NO2 are not acceptable keeping aquarium fishes.

For these reasons, the periodical analytical valuation of nitrite in the aquarium water should be considered, specially during the aquarium set-up and, periodically, to avoid the activity loss of the bio-filter system.

ELOS AquaTest NO2, as well as all the other colorimetric test kitof this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedureslike the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the colours chart compared to the reagents; the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results; the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology.
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

ALKALINITY
The alkalinity of a solution refers to its capacity to buffer against drops on pH. It is a measure of the concentration of various negatively charges ionic compounds (anions) such as carbonates, bicarbonates, borates and hydroxides in the aquarium water.
The concentrations of these ions determines the buffering capacity of the water to maintain proper pH.
If the percentage of the hydrogen carbonate and carbonate ions is too low, the pH value of the water may drop severely (acidity drop) causing a life threatening condition for many plants, invertebrates and fish.
The ideal value of KH in aquarium is:
- for seawater aquarium 7 dKH° to 10 dKH°
- planted freshwater aquarium 3 dKH° to 7 dKH°
Because of the importance of KH, it is necessary to keep inside our aquariums, the proper KH Level, testing it with an accurate test kit.
ELOS AquaTest KH, as well as all the other titrimetric test kit of this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedures like the use of calibrated dropper with constant and predefined drops of 0,05 ml each, the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results, the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
HIGHLIGHTS:
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
High number of test per kit: up to 40 test (with a standard level of 10 dKH)
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.

AMMONIA
Ammonia is the most lethal form of inorganic nitrogen produced in aquarium water.
The major source of ammonia in a well run aquarium, is from solid waste of fish and invertebrates, uneaten food, decaiyng leaves of plants.
Nature comes to our rescue as there are specialized bacteria (Nitrosomonas species) that “eat” ammonia , and strip away the hydrogen atoms. By the way, this bacterial population may be affected by many negative biochemical events.
In an established aquarium Ammonia should be zero, for these reason, the periodical analytical valuation of ammonia in the aquarium water should be considered by the serious aquarium enthusiast.
ELOS AquaTest NH4, as well as all the other colorimetric test kit of this line, grants an high precision thanks to several procedures like the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the colours chart compared to the reagents; the validation of its quality, thrugh NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples, in order to grant accuracy and constant results; the carefull stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the most actual and fresh production batch.
Thanks to the use of Lab Quality reagents, our NH4 test, allows the determination of the Ammonia down to a level of only 0,05 mg/lt, really alerting on Ammonia presence, thus preventing delicate situation that may occour specially in reef aquarium.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology.
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated dropper
NIST validation: each batch is validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kit are based on Toxic Reagents.