Brand: JBL
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Healthy aquarium/healthy pond with conditions close to nature
The right water values are dependent on the fish stock and the plants in the aquarium/pond. Even if the water looks clear it can be contaminated. With bad values diseases or algae can appear in the aquarium/pond. To maintain a healthy aquarium/pond with conditions close to nature it is important to check and adapt the water values regularly.

For each water analysis JBL provides water tests in the form of quick tests or colour change tests. These determine a certain value or several values in one go. With these water tests you can recognise algae problems and negative nitrate, nitrite, potassium, magnesium values etc.

Why test?
Nitrate is the end product of the mineralisation in the aquarium/pond. Even in relatively high concentrations it is non-toxic for fish, but has an adverse effect on plant growth and the well-being of several fish species. Furthermore too high nitrate contents promote unwanted algae growth if phosphate is present in the water as well as nitrate.

Recommended nitrate values:
Freshwater aquarium (community aquarium): 0-50 mg/l
Lake Malawi/Lake Tanganyika aquarium: 0-50 mg/l
Plant aquarium with few fish (aquascaping): 10-30 mg/l
Marine aquarium: 0-20 mg/l
Pond: 0-10 mg/l.

You can analyse the water values you have measured in the JBL Online Laboratory free of charge and receive recommendations.

Where can I find the record sheets for the documentation of my water analysis?

Have you lost your record sheets, already filled them all in or do you need them in another language?
With the following links you can quickly and easily print out your new record sheets with recommendations for the individual parameters at home and document the water analyses.
deutsch: https://www.jbl.de/?lang=de&mod=files&func=show&id=11164
English: https://www.jbl.de/?lang=en&mod=files&func=show&id=11164
französisch: https://www.jbl.de/?lang=fr&mod=files&func=show&id=11164
niederländisch: https://www.jbl.de/?lang=nl&mod=files&func=show&id=11164

9789500 V05 PROAQUATEST Wasseranlayse PREVIEW.pdf

Which of the three scales on the colour cards symbolize of the water tests saltwater, freshwater and garden pond ?

koi carp = garden pond
angel fish = saltwater
discus = freshwater

I have lost my colour chart. Can I download the colour chart for the test?

The colour cards are not available for download on the JBL website. The absolutely accurate colour reproduction that is required can only be achieved using a printer which can be re-calibrated before each printout. Most privately used printers are not accurate enough for this.

You will find the colour chart bundle as a spare part on the respective product page and in the spare parts shop under: https://www.jbl.de/en/products/detail/8732/jbl-proaquatest-assortiment-color-chart

My nitrate test indicates measurement results which I can’t read or which are far too low.

The reason is often an incorrect use of the test. It is important to shake the test vigorously for precisely one minute. All the other important steps can be read in the instructions.

The instructions point out that the comparator block should be used to compare the colours. Can this be done without the comparator block as well ? Or is there a factor from this comparison that is required for the measurement ?

The colour charts are intended to be used with the comparator block. In addition, when the comparator block is used with the blank water sample, this compensates the inherent water colour.

Therefore, if the comparator block is not used, there will most likely be deviations in the readings.

Show more FAQs ...

When doing the nitrate test, why can't I use 5 ml of water, one spoon of Reagent 1 and 3 drops of Reagent 2 ? Wouldn't that result in twice as many measurements ?

If you use 5 ml instead of the 10 ml of sample liquid, this would yield distorted results for two reasons.

For one, the powder for the reduction of NO₃ doesn't dissolve completely so that it forms a thin layer of sediment which causes difficulties when reading the results with too little water. Tapping the cuvette on the side several times helps by causing the powder to be deposited on the side.

Secondly, attention must be paid to the drop size of reagent 2, as the first drop from the drop dispenser can turn out to be smaller in individual cases, especially when the bottle is not held in a fully vertical position. This may also lead to incorrect measuring results. Therefore, it is advisable to use 10 ml in order to ensure accurate test results. Please make sure to really shake hard for exactly one minute in order for the colour to develop properly.

Which scale applies for my aquarium? My test has two or three control fields with fish and recommendations.

We repeatedly receive questions regarding the symbols on the water test. The hobby areas cannot be clearly assigned to the scales for analysis. There are three symbols to make the hobby areas on the colour charts clear:

Discus = fresh water
Emperor = salt water
Koi = garden pond

In the following, you will find a list which assigns the scale for analysing the results from measurements in the hobby area and explains the symbols: The scales are described from the top to the bottom here.

NO3: salt water, fresh water, garden pond
pH 6.0 – 7.6: fresh water, garden ponds
pH 7.4 – 9.0: salt water, fresh water, garden pond
Fe: fresh water, garden pond

The following JBL tests have a uniform scale for all 2 or 3 hobby areas for analysis of the results from the measurements, as differentiation is no longer necessary:

SiO2
Cu
NH4
NO2
PO4
pH 3-10
O2

What is the shelf life of the JBL Nitrate Test haltbar ?

The JBL nitrate test has a shelf life of 2 years in the original sealed bottle.

The following is printed on the bottom of the packaging:

CH/B: 2262 (e.g.) = batch number
BBD: 05/12 (e.g.) = best-before date (month/year)

Please note that the best-before date does not apply for opened reagents. Exposure to atmospheric oxygen decreases the shelf life.

What can I do when the measured value of a water test falls outside the scale?

If one of your measurements reaches the end of the colour chart scale you can multiply the scale by diluting later tests with distilled water (e.g. JBL Dest).

Here’s how to do it: dilute the sample with distilled water and carry out the test once more.

This works in detail as follows:
GH test: Instead of 5 ml use 10 ml aquarium water. Now 1 drop is equivalent to 0.5 dGH.
KH test: Instead of 5 ml use 10 ml aquarium water. Now 1 drop is equivalent to 0.5 dGH.

Note: when using 10 ml sample water the colour development is weaker with the first drops than with 5 ml sample water. Put the measuring container on a white underlay for a better readability.

NH4/NH3 ammonium/ammonia, NO2 nitrite, Fe iron and Cu copper:
2.5 ml sample + 2.5 ml dist. water: result times 2
1 ml sample + 4 ml dist. water: result times 5
0.5 ml sample + 4.5 ml dist. water: result times 10

NO3 nitrate, SiO2 silicate, PO4 phosphate sensitive and Mg magnesium freshwater:
5 ml sample + 5 ml dist. water: result x 2
2 ml sample + 8 ml dist. water: result x 5
1 ml sample + 9 ml dist. water: result x 10

PO4 phosphate koi high range:
2.5 ml sample + 2.5 ml dist. water: result x 2
1 ml sample + 4 ml dist. water: result x 5

K potassium:
7.5 ml sample + 7.5 ml dist. water: result x 2
3 ml sample + 12 ml dist. water: result x 5
1.5 ml sample + 13.5 ml dist. water: result x 10

K potassium in marine water:
1. Fill 10 ml of sample water with distilled water to 300 ml.
2. Follow the instructions for fresh water.
3. Multiply the test result by a factor of 30.

CO2 direct, Ca calcium and Mg+Ca magnesium+calcium: not required.

Do my water tests still work although they have been open for nine months?

Basically a sealed test keeps longer than an open one. How much the shelf life is reduced depends crucially on the handling and the storage conditions of the reagents. It may happen that a reagent in a test that has been open for 9 months doesn’t indicate correctly any more. However, additional information is needed to answer this question properly.

JBL TV #69 Algae in the aquarium - causes and solutions - Part 1

The first part is about successful algae control in the aquarium.

Animal species:	Arowana, Axolotl, Barbels, Bettas, Bichirs/reedfish, Blowfish, Catfish, Cichlids (South America), Corals, Crayfish, Danions, Discus, Dwarf shrimps, Flowerhorn, Gobies, Goldfish, Gouramis, Guppy, Juvenile fish, Killifish, Livebearers, Loaches, Mussels, Panchaxes, Rainbowfish, Snails, Spiny eels, Terrapins, Tetra, Tropical terrapin, Veiltails, Water turtles, freshwater butterflyfish
Animal size:	For all animal sizes
Animal age group:	All aquarium fish
Volume habitat:	50 tests
Material:	Reagent 1: sulfanilamide, tartaric acid, tartrazine, zinc. Reagent 2: 1,3-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride, hydrochloric acid, purified water
Colour:	white / transparent
Dosage:	Screw closed mixture of 10 ml sample water, two large dosing spoons reagent 1, 6 drops reagent 2 and shake vigorously for precisely 1 minute

Mercury:	No
Dimmable:	No

Mercury:	No
Dimmable:	No

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JBL NO3 Nitrate Test Quick test to determine the nitrate content in freshwater/marine water aquariums and in ponds

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JBL NO3 Nitrate Test
Quick test to determine the nitrate content in freshwater/marine water aquariums and in ponds