The water tests – all parameters

It’s all guesswork without water tests!

Water tests

Imagine your physician didn’t use blood tests or stethoscopes. A glance into your body would be almost impossible! Water tests enable you to take a look at the structure of your pond. Water can look crystal clear but still can contain poisonous substances. If problems like green water or diseases occur, water tests are an important option to determine the causes.

Why do you need to test?

An analogy to a physician can illustrate the situation: Your physician can look deep into your eyes and guess what is wrong with you. Or they can take a blood test and a computer tomography. Precisely this corresponds to the water tests. The water can be crystal clear but contain invisible poisons, such as nitrite or ammonia. Only the water test can show you where the problem is coming from.

Which tests do you need?

You don’t need to carry out all the tests, just like a physician will not look into your ears to treat a pain in the knee. In the following table you will find a brief outline of when water tests can help.

Pond laboratory / calculator

This worldwide unique pond laboratory gives you dedicated support to combat problems with algae and cloudiness in your pond.

What does the water value indicate, what’s its ideal range and how can you correct it? You will find all the information about every individual water test here:

pH test

This will tell you how acidic or alkaline your pond water is. The perfect pH value is between 7.5 and 8.5. Tip: Measure once in the morning at sunrise and once in the evening after sunset. If the values between morning and evening are outside this recommended range, you’ll need to learn more about water stability (carbonate hardness).

JBL PROAQUATEST pH 3.10-10.0

Quick test to determine the acidity in ponds and freshwater/marine aquariums

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in ponds and aquariums. Determines the ideal pH value in fresh and marine water
  • Quick test: fill plastic cuvette with sample water, add reagent, read value of the sample off colour chart
  • When to use: daily for one week in newly set up aquariums, afterwards weekly
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 complete kit with one reagent pH 3.0-10.0, 1 cuvette and 1 colour chart; contents for approx. 50 measurements
from 6,75 €

JBL PROAQUATEST pH 7.4-9.0

Quick test to determine the pH values in the range 7.4-9.0 in ponds, freshwater and marine aquariums

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in aquariums and ponds. Determines the ideal pH value in fresh and marine water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill plastic cuvette with sample water, add reagent to a cuvette, place cuvettes in holder, read values off colour chart
  • When to use: daily for one week in newly set up aquariums, afterwards weekly
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 quick test, pH test 7.4-9.0 for approx. 80 measurements. Incl. reagent, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 8,06 €
KH test

The carbonate hardness, abbreviated to KH, stabilises the pH value. Your pond water contains various minerals from your tap or well water. Plants, algae and microorganisms consume these minerals as time goes by and the rainwater “dilutes” your pond water’s mineral content. With carbonate hardness levels below 4 °dKH the pH value of your pond water is not sufficiently stabilised anymore and can fluctuate between 6.5 and 10.5!

With JBL StabiloPond KH you increase the KH to at least 4 °dKH and thus stabilise the pH level.

With the help of a carbonate hardness test you can find out in a few seconds how high the carbonate hardness of your source water and pond water is. Action is needed with KH values below 4.

JBL PROAQUATEST KH Carbonate hardness

Quick test to determine the carbonate hardness (KH) in freshwater/marine aquariums and ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in aquariums and ponds. Determines the ideal carbonate hardness in fresh and marine water
  • Colour change test: fill plastic cuvette with sample water, add reagent drop by drop until colour changes from blue to yellow. Number of drops = level of carbonate hardness
  • When to use: daily in the first week in newly set up aquariums, afterwards once a week
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 KH quick test, incl. one reagent and plastic cuvette. Reagent refill separately available
from 6,75 €
Oxygen test

In well-functioning and healthy ponds the oxygen content lies above 5 mg/l. There is no such thing as too much oxygen. High oxygen levels always have a positive effect for your pond. It is vital you test not only the water at the surface but also the water at the pond bottom (as deep down as you can reach without needing to dive). Especially at the pond bottom there is often an absence of oxygen! Always measure the oxygen in the morning when it has its lowest value.

JBL PROAQUATEST O2 Oxygen

Quick test to determine the oxygen content in freshwater/marine aquariums and ponds

  • To determine the current oxygen content and as a result indicate whether measures to increase the O2 content need to be taken
  • Quick test to monitor the aeration: fill glass vial with sample water, add reagent, read sample value off colour chart
  • When to use: once a week in newly set up aquariums and if there are signs of oxygen deficiency. Clear colour indication from yellow to wine-red
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 quick test. Contents for approx. 40 measurements. Incl. 3 reagents, syringe, glass vial with screw cap and colour chart. Reagent refill separately available
from 10,46 €

Tip: when using anti-algae agents or during treatment with medications an additional oxygen enrichment and the testing of the oxygen level is highly recommended!

Copper test

Generally your pond dwellers (incl. bacteria and plants) are not happy about copper (abbreviated as Cu)! From 0.3 mg/l a copper content can even be deadly for your fish. A typical reason for increased copper levels in your pond water is the entering of rainwater by means of copper gutters. You also can measure an increased copper content after the use of anti-algae agents.

JBL PROAQUATEST Cu Copper

Quick test to determine the copper content in fresh and marine water aquariums and ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in aquariums/ponds. Determines the ideal copper value and monitors heavy metals in fresh and marine water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill plastic cuvette with sample water, add reagents to one cuvette, place cuvettes in holder, read values off colour chart
  • Use: daily in newly set up aquariums, later in cases of invertebrate and fish deaths and when dosing copper-bearing medications
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 copper (Cu) quick test for approx. 50 measurements, incl. 2 reagents, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 11,11 €
Iron test

Your plants love a bit of iron (abbreviated to Fe) in the pond water and grow better. Too high iron levels in turn have rather a negative influence on all pond inhabitants. Iron values between 0.05 and 0.1 mg/l are perfect. In many cases too high iron values are caused by using well water. Because of this and other reasons not all wells can be recommended as a water source. By using JBL BiotoPond you can reduce the unwanted high iron levels to the desired level.

JBL BiotoPond binds all kind of heavy metals, such as iron, lead, copper and zinc.

With the help of iron tests you can quickly and reliably check whether your source or pond water contains too much iron. Brown deposits in the water often show that the iron content is already too high.

JBL PROAQUATEST Fe Iron

Quick test to determine the iron content in fresh and marine water aquariums and ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in aquariums/ponds. Determines the ideal iron value in fresh and marine water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill glass vials with sample water, add reagent to one vial, place vials in holder, read off colour values of the sample on colour chart
  • Use: 1 x after setting up a new aquarium, afterwards weekly. In case of green algae problems or when plants don’t grow properly
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 iron quick test for approx. 50 measurements, incl. reagent, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 13,96 €
Ammonium/ammonia

Beneficial bacteria degrade the dirt accumulating in your pond water and at the bottom of the pond. Ammonium NH4) and ammonia (NH3) are created from protein. Both are further processed to nitrite (NO2) and then to nitrate (NO3). Ammonium is also breathed out through the gills of your fish. These degrading bacteria can be damaged by new ponds, after bigger clean-up operations or after the use of antibacterial remedies, causing the ammonium content in the water to rise. In healthy, well established and efficient ponds you will almost never measure ammonium values above 0.1 mg/l. Ammonium itself is non-poisonous but a chemical equilibrium reaction causes it to transform itself to poisonous ammonia. The percentage of this newly created ammonia increases at pH values from 7.0 onwards. As soon as your fish show symptoms of poisoning (gasping at the water surface, darting backwards and forwards, reeling etc.), measure the ammonium content! The remedy is (firstly) an extensive water change to dilute the ammonia concentration and to slightly decrease the pH value to transform the poisonous ammonia back into non-poisonous ammonium. And (secondly) add beneficial bacteria with JBL BactoPond so that they can process ammonium/ammonia.

JBL PROAQUATEST NH4 Ammonium

Quick test to determine ammonium/ammonia content in freshwater/marine water aquariums and in ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of ammonium (NH4) and ammonia (NH3) in aquariums/ponds. Checks the biological balance (bacterial activity) in freshwater and marine water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill glass vials with sample water, add reagents to one vial, place vials in holder, read values off colour chart and table
  • Use: when setting up a new freshwater aquarium: once a day. Initial setup with marine water: once a week. For use in case of fish diseases or fish deaths.
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 quick test, ammonium test NH4 for approx. 50 measurements. Incl. 3 reagents, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 12,34 €
Nitrite

Nitrite (NO2) occurs in the normal biological degradation process from ammonium and is processed to nitrate (NO3). During this nitrogen decomposition (nitrification) the pond water consumes a lot of oxygen. That’s why a good oxygen enrichment for the pond water is not only important for the fish. Without the required oxygen your pond bacteria are not able to do their work properly.

From 0.3 mg/l nitrite is toxic for fish and from about 0.5 mg/l it is usually deadly. This is because nitrite prevents the transport of oxygen by haemoglobin. It has the same shape as oxygen and blocks the docking of the oxygen to the red blood cells (similar to the lock-and-key principle).

An increased nitrite value in your pond water is an extreme alarm signal that there is something wrong in your pond! The nitrite value should ALWAYS be below the detection limit! It’s important you then immediately find out why your bacteria didn’t process the nitrite to harmless nitrate.

Possible causes: If your pond is still quite new (max. 3 weeks old), nitrite still can accumulate because your beneficial bacteria have yet to develop. With JBL FilterStart Pond and JBL BactoPond you can help your pond and accelerate the running-in process enormously. If you have added salt to your pond (why? This does more harm than good), your bacteria won’t like that at all. Bacteria can’t get used to fluctuating salinity. If you insist on adding salt, you will have to restart the bacterial fauna AFTER the adding of salt with JBL FilterStart Pond and JBL BactoPond . Neither do your bacteria like you adding antibacterial medicines to your pond because the medicines can’t differentiate between beneficial cleansing bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. Also in this case a bacterial reactivation with JBL FilterStart Pond and JBL BactoPond is urgently advised.

JBL PROAQUATEST NO2 Nitrite

Quick test to determine the nitrite content in freshwater/marine aquariums & ponds

  • Nitrite is a toxic nitrogen compound, which is formed when the bacterial balance is disturbed or when setting up a new aquarium. The test shows the exact nitrite content of the water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill glass vials with sample water, add reagents to one vial, place vials in holder, read values off colour chart
  • Use: when setting up a new freshwater aquarium: daily for 3 weeks. For initial setup with marine water: once a week. For use with fish diseases or fish deaths
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 nitrite test for approx. 50 measurements, incl. 2 reagents, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 8,94 €
Nitrate

Nitrogen decomposition usually ends with nitrate (NO3). Nitrate is non-poisonous and serves as food for plants and algae. The more plants you have in your pond the more nitrate is removed from the water and is no longer available as nutrition for the algae. Nitrate values above 10-20 mg/l can promote algae. In case your tap or well water has nitrate values below 10 mg/l we would recommend a partial water change (more about partial water changes in Pond cleaning ).

JBL PROAQUATEST NO3 Nitrate

Quick test to determine the nitrate content in freshwater/marine aquariums and ponds

  • Determines the optimal nitrate value for perfect plant growth or possible cause of algae growth in freshwater and marine water
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill glass vials with sample water, add reagents to one vial, place vials in holder, read values off colour chart
  • Use: when setting up a new freshwater aquarium: 1 x weekly. When setting up a new marine aquarium: 1 x weekly. With green algae problems
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 nitrate test for approx. 40 measurements, incl. 2 reagents, 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, dosing spoon, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 13,96 €
Phosphate

Phosphates (PO4) are completely harmless for your pond dwellers, but being the main nutrient for algae, they unfortunately promote algae growth. Therefore you always need to keep an eye on the phosphates. Your algae welcome phosphate levels above 0.05 mg/l. You can quickly and reliably remove the unwanted phosphates with JBL PhosEX Pond Filter or JBL PhosEX Pond Direct (if you do not have a filter).

Tip: As long as your algae are growing well the phosphate content will stay low, because the phosphate is absorbed by the algae. But as soon as you combat the algae and they die off, the phosphates are released into your pond water to fertilise the next algae generation. The best time to remove the algae is in winter and 24-48 h after the algae control has killed them off.

Most phosphates originate from organic matter (dying and decaying leaves and excessive fish food). But inferior feed also leads to increased phosphate values, caused by poor digestion. JBL ProPond foods are precisely formulated for your fish and have the benefits of needing to be given less often and of considerably improving your fish's digestion.

You can find more about that here: Feeding .

JBL PROAQUATEST PO4 Phosphate koi

Quick test to determine the phosphate content in garden and koi ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in koi ponds: determines the algae nutrient phosphate from <0,1 up to 10 mg/l
  • Use: fill both cuvettes with 5 ml pond water, add reagents, compare on colour chart and read off value
  • For measuring and routinely monitoring the phosphate content, graduation on colour scale: <0.1; 0.25; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 3.0; 5.0; 10 mg/l
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Pond
  • Contains: 1 test set for approx. 50 measurements, 2 reagents, 2 cuvettes, syringe, dosing spoon, comparator block & colour scale
from 19,42 €

JBL PROAQUATEST PO4 Phosphate Sensitive

Quick test to determine the phosphate content in fresh and marine water aquariums and ponds

  • Determines the phosphate value for perfect plant growth or possible cause of algae growth in freshwater/marine water & ponds
  • Laboratory comparator system to compensate the inherent water colour: fill glass vials with sample water, add reagents to a vial, place vials in holder, read values off colour chart
  • Use: when setting up a new freshwater or marine aquarium: once a week. With algae problems and for checking tap water
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Aquarium or Pond
  • Package contents: 1 test kit for approx. 50 measurements, incl. 3 reagents (2x reagent 2), 2 glass vials with screw caps, syringe, dosing spoon, comparator block and colour scale. Reagent refill separately available
from 12,32 €
Carbonate hardness and pH value in one combi-test

In only a few minutes this quick test will help you to determine whether your pond water is stable (mineral content, here: whether there is sufficient carbonate hardness) and within which range the pH level (acidity) falls. For this simple test you don’t need to have studied chemistry to gain two important water parameters and to find out whether these values are okay or not.

JBL PROAQUATEST POND Check pH/KH

Quick test to determine the acidity and pH stability in garden ponds

  • Monitors the water values simply and reliably: determines the pH value and carbonate hardness in pond, tap and well water
  • Fill the measuring tubes with pond water, add 5 drops of reagent to each, swivel gently until the colouring stabilises, wait 1 minute, compare colouring on colour chart
  • The pH should be 7.5-8.5 and not fluctuate greatly. The KH stabilizes the pH and should be at least 4 ° dKH
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Pond
  • Package contents: quick test, pH and KH test incl. 2 measuring tubes, pH reagent, KH reagent, colour scale and instructions (refills sold separately)
from 14,16 €
JBL ProAquaTest phosphate test koi

Phosphates dissolved in the water promote unwanted algae growth. With the help of this water test you can find out within 5 minutes how high the phosphate content of your pond water is. With values over 0.25 mg/l you will need a phosphate remover to lower the phosphate content. While the phosphate removers are in use the test will continue to monitor the results.

JBL PROAQUATEST PO4 Phosphate koi

Quick test to determine the phosphate content in garden and koi ponds

  • Simple and reliable monitoring of the water values in koi ponds: determines the algae nutrient phosphate from <0,1 up to 10 mg/l
  • Use: fill both cuvettes with 5 ml pond water, add reagents, compare on colour chart and read off value
  • For measuring and routinely monitoring the phosphate content, graduation on colour scale: <0.1; 0.25; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 3.0; 5.0; 10 mg/l
  • You will find detailed information and troubleshooting tips about water analysis on the JBL website in Essentials/Pond
  • Contains: 1 test set for approx. 50 measurements, 2 reagents, 2 cuvettes, syringe, dosing spoon, comparator block & colour scale
from 19,42 €
JBL ProAquaTest CombiSet Pond

This ”small test case” contains the most important water tests for the analysis of pond water, with result sheets, a syringe to easily measure the right water amount, colour charts to compare the colours resulting from the test, test liquids and cuvettes to carry out the tests.

JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET POND

Test case for water analyses in koi and garden ponds

  • Simple and professional monitoring of the 6 most important water values in garden ponds, spring, tap and well water
  • Take a water sample, add the indicator drop-wise, compare the resulting colour on the colour chart and read off the values
  • With: pH test for the acidity, KH for the stability, GH for the mineral content, ammonium test for the fish’s health, nitrite test for the toxic nitrogen and phosphate test for the algae nutrient content
  • Comparator system for easy and precise reading and for taking any inherent water colouring into account
  • Complete, incl. water-proof case, colour charts, glass vials, syringe, dosing spoon, comparator block and test reagents
from 62,59 €
JBL ProAquaTest Lab Koi

It is especially important for Koi owners to know that their valuable fish are doing well in the pond at all times. Using this test case you can check ALL the relevant water parameters and then optimise them if necessary. You can check whether your well water is suitable for your pond, how many nutrients there are inside your pond, how hard your tap and pond water is, and whether substances are accumulating in the water which can pose a threat to your fish. In addition to a pen and result sheets the waterproof plastic case includes all the utensils you will need for simple but professional water tests.

JBL PROAQUATEST LAB Koi

Professional test case for water analyses in koi and garden ponds

  • Monitors the water values in ponds simply and reliably - determines pH 3.0 - 10, pH 7.4 - 9, carbonate hardness, general hardness, phosphate sensitive (low values), phosphate koi (high values), nitrite, nitrate, ammonium/ammonia, oxygen
  • Easy to use: syringe accurately measures the amount of water, detailed instructions. Comparator system takes the inherent water colouring into account and makes colour comparison more precise
  • With a professional ammonium test, the result of which shows the resulting ammonia content via a table (depending on the pH value)
  • Childproof reagent bottles, waterproof plastic case, refillable kit
  • Package contents: test case, incl. 22 reagents, glass vials, syringes, measuring spoons, thermometer, comparator block, plastic cuvettes, colour charts, pen, report sheets and operating instructions
from 132,13 €
JBL ProScan

Use the technical capacities of your smartphone for an extremely accurate water analysis in only 60 seconds! With special test strips you can precisely measure and evaluate six important parameters of your garden pond with a free app.

JBL PROSCAN

Water test with analysis via smartphone for freshwater aquariums, ponds and tap/well water

  • Water analysis and diagnosis via smartphone: easy and safe monitoring of the water values in freshwater aquariums. Determination of: general hardness, carbonate hardness, pH value, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine and CO2 calculation
  • The new generation of water analysis: download ProScan app free of charge, insert test strip into water, position strip on colour chart for analysis, scan colour chart, values are determined
  • Fast diagnosis – precise results: test value results are displayed as numbers and additionally evaluated (good/medium/poor). Additional recommendations for optimal values in freshwater aquariums and ponds
  • Compatible with iPhone and iPad: requires iOS 13.0 or later, Android version 10.0 or higher, and a camera with auto focus.
  • Contents: 24 water analysis strips, 1 ProScan colour chart, 1 ProScan app for free download
from 26,67 €

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