Comment RE: RBTI Testing Kits

Note: This is a mirrored expansion for the comment posted here.

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RE: Purchasing RBTI Kits

For those of you looking to purchase a RBTI testing kit -- $400 is not required.

• Handheld refractometer -- available new for $25-$40 on eBay or any number of wholesale/supply websites.

• Handheld conductivity meter -- available for $5-$50 on many supply websites and at your local aquarium supply store.

• Pen light -- $2 at Amazon.

• Box latex gloves -- $2 online or at your local drugstore.

• Ammonia test solution, nitrate test solution -- Available for $6 online at aquarium supply websites or your local aquarium store, as well as some chemistry supply sites.

• PH testing strips -- available online for $3-$9.

• Test tubes, pipettes, well plate, wash bottle -- All available for pennies to dollars online, at a local lab supply shop, etc. Sites supplying equipment for children's chem-lab sets are a particularly affordable source.

• Universal Extracting Solution -- the only 'special' item specific to RBTI. Available for $10 at (RBTI associated site) Pike Agri-Lab.

All told, you would be able to purchase a complete testing kit for around $150 at the high end.

Please note that individuals making their living from RBTI will be purchasing these same supplies in bulk at wholesale, for pennies on the dollar.

If you're putting down $400 for a kit, you're paying at least a $200-$300 retail markup.


(Should I add, 'For everything else, there's M******card'?)


Taylor/Hobson