ProAquaTest Combi Set Plus NH4 Review
JBL's carry-case liquid test set: pH, carbonate hardness, nitrite, nitrate and ammonium in one refillable box, with a CO2 table thrown in — the go-to master set on European Amazon.
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👍 Pros
- Six tests in one case: pH, KH, NO2, NO3, NH4 plus a CO2 lookup from pH and KH
- Carbonate hardness (KH) test that the API master kit leaves out
- Refillable — you buy individual reagent bottles rather than a whole new case
- Clear comparator block and colour cards make matching easier than a bare tube
👎 Cons
- Pricier up front than the API master kit
- Mainly stocked on European Amazon stores, not the US
- More bottles and steps than a four-test kit — a bit much for a first nano tank
A fuller liquid set for European keepers
The JBL ProAquaTest Combi Set Plus NH4 is the master liquid kit most European aquarists reach for. In one carry-case you get pH, carbonate hardness (KH), nitrite, nitrate and ammonium, plus a table to read CO2 off your pH and KH values. That KH and CO2 coverage is the main thing it adds over a four-test kit, and it is exactly what planted-tank keepers want.
Refillable, which pays off over time
Rather than buying a whole new kit when a reagent runs out, you replace the individual bottle — the case, cuvettes, syringe and comparator block stay. It costs more up front than the API master kit and involves a few more steps, but for someone testing regularly it is tidy and economical. The comparator block genuinely helps colour matching versus holding a bare tube against a card.
Where it fits
If you are in the US, the API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the easier liquid equivalent to buy; this JBL set is the European counterpart with extra parameters. Pair either with Seachem Prime for water changes and a bottled starter for cycling. See the full range on our water testing hub, and match it to a tank on the aquariums page.
The most complete liquid set commonly sold on European Amazon: everything the API kit tests plus KH and CO2, in a tidy refillable case. Worth the premium for planted-tank keepers.
ProAquaTest Combi Set Plus NH4 — frequently asked questions
How is this different from the API master kit?
It covers the same core nitrogen tests (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate) but adds carbonate hardness (KH) and a CO2 calculation from pH and KH, which planted-tank keepers use. It comes as a refillable case, so you top up single reagents rather than rebuying everything. The API kit is cheaper and simpler; this is the fuller set.
Does it help with cycling a new tank?
Yes. Ammonium/ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all included, so you can follow the cycle in order — ammonia first, then nitrite, then nitrate — and know when the tank is safe. The added KH test is a bonus, since low carbonate hardness can let pH swing and stall a cycle.
Where can I buy it?
It is mainly stocked on European Amazon stores such as Amazon.de and Amazon.es under the same ASIN. If you are outside Europe, the API master kit is the easier liquid equivalent to source.
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