According to the manufacturer, Söll GmbH, this new electronic Aqua-Check photometer “checker” has been three years in the making and is currently manufactured in Bavaria, Germany.

The unit is shaped similar to an electronic thermometer with a thin probe end that is immersed in the sample to be tested and a digital readout on the other end where your results are reported. An easy two-button menu control system is employed in conjunction with different water test reagents to allow the user to accurately measure eight different water parameters:

• Ammonium – Measuring range 0 – 2.0 mg / L
• Nitrate – Measuring range 6 – 125 mg / L
• pH – range from 6.5 to 9.0
• Chlorine – Measurement range 0.1 – 1.6 mg / L
• Phosphate – Measuring range 0.02 – 1.5 mg / L
• Copper – Measuring range 0 – 3.0 mg / L
• Silicon – Measuring range 0.05 – 1.0 mg / L
• Nitrite – Measuring range 0 – 1.0 mg / L

The unit is reported to be suitable for many applications such as aquariums (freshwater and saltwater), garden pond, pool, fish farming and aquaculture.

In contrast to the Hanna Checkers where there is a different colormeter required for each water parameter to be tested, only one electronic colormeter is required with the Aqua-Check. This, in my opinion, is a definite benefit. The user would purchase one Aqua-Check photometer and then the appropriate reagent packs suitable for the water parameters they want to test.

In the video below, a gentleman fills a series of different vials of water to be tested. The vials are lined up and reagents from the appropriate test kits are dosed into each and allowed to react before the probe is inserted to take a reading.

No word on if/when the new Aqua-Check will make it to the states or their current cost.

For more information, head over to www.aqua-check.de for more information on the photometer and reagent kits.

(via reefnews.eu)