Product Introduction:

UK: Manual for Colombo Aquatests General Guidelines

- Always take care that the test tube is clean before use.

- Clean the tube directly after use.

- Take the volume of the water sample as precisely as possible.

- Keep the drop bottle perfectly vertical during dropping.

- Take care that no air bubbles are included in the drops.

For judging the colour of the water sample after adding all the test fluids, proceed as follows: put the test tube on the included colour chart and look through the tube on to the chart from directly above it. Do not look in direct sun light, but at indirect light. Compare the colour of the water sample with the colours on the chart. The closest colour shows the corresponding value. Generally the colours of the sample and on the chart will not be exactly the same, as values in practice will always be between the standard values, as thus a mixture of both consecutive values. Therefore, one should estimate between which co-lours the sample really lies.

In the test where drops are to be counted , like KH and GH, the mo-ment at which the colour changes is the point at which the true value is reached. The number of drops added to reach that point can be converted to the true value. The colour change is reached within one or two drops. Within the one or two drops the sample has an intermediate colour. The true end value is only reached when the colour doesn’t change anymore. These Colombo-tests are calibrated with professional laboratory test, ensuring the most precise test possible.

Ammonia (NH3/NH4) Test procedure:

1. Take a water sample of 10 ml.

2. Add 5 drops of NH3-1 test fluid and shake.

3. Add 5 drops of NH3-2 test fluid and shake again.

4. Add 5 drops of NH3-3 test fluid and shake again.

5. Wait 15 minutes. 6. Determine the NH3-value using the included colour chart. Ammonia (chemically abbreviated as NH3) is a waste product of fish, which they excrete through their gills and their urine.

Ammonia is very poisonous for all water life and thus it is very important to keep the ammonia level zero. Fortunately bacteria in the water break down ammonia into nitrite and subsequently the non-toxic nitrate; these are the so-called nitrifying bacteria of the families of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Obviously these bacteria are essential for a healthy aquarium and pond. The best way to harbor these bacteria is in a biological filter. A new ’clean’ filter needs time to have a sufficient number of a bacteria to grow inside it. You can give this growth a boost by adding the right type of bacteria from the moment the biological filter is started. For all types of water, Colombo has the right product with the right bacteria: Colombo Bactuur for fresh water aquaria and for ponds. An optimal ammonia content in all types of the water is simply 0 mg/l. When ammonia is 0.5 mg/l or higher, it means that aren’t enough bacteria present and thus it is wise to add Colombo Bactuur. Add Colombo Liquid Filter to your tank or Colombo BiClear to your pond to bind and detoxify the ammonia. At an ammonia level of 1.0 mg/l, ammonia can become toxic, and thus it wise to first refresh 25 % of the water. At ammonia levels of 2.0 mg/l and higher, you should directly refresh 50% or more of the water until the ammonia level is 0.5mg/l or lower.