The required equipment for the RBTI test:
Besides that I would suggest you get a washing bottle, or preferably two different ones
Well plate with 12 holes if you use the pH reagents and 6 or 12 holes if you use the pH meter.
Some glassware like a dozen pipettes, a reusable small vial or disposable culture tubes.
A tiny cup for the saliva.
A glass cup for the urine
You can find more information about how to test in the articles Brix, pH Urine, pH Saliva, Conductivity, Albumin and UREA'S.
In the United States of America Pike Agri sells a starters kit that is very convenient for $100,-, but they are not willing to ship the AN and NN reagents to Europe. In Europe these two chemicals alone will cost you € 85,-, while they are in the States only a third. That is caused by the shipping (around $50,- for a max of 3 btls) and the taxes (19% of the value including shipping, and €20,- custom clearance).
The UREA agents can be ordered through the shop of RBTI.info for the EU.
We do not sell the cheap refractometer nor the conductivity meter because they sell on ebay for less than our wholesale price.
Many ask us what exactly to buy. What we reccommend.
The only equipment we fully recommend is the following:
Atago Mater 20α: a top quality refractometer at a high price. For most hometesters a cheap refractometer will do, but this is the one we use and approve.
LaMotte pH reagents: less expensive than a digital meter, but in our opinion more accurate for RBTI tests
Cardy Twin Cond: again a top-quality meter. Most use a Hanna Dist-6 or Dist-4, which may do. After comparing we believe the Cardy Twin is more accurate.
LaMotte Urea reagents: we have not seen a digital meter that gives an accurate reading.
Some have asked us if we could list the ingredients of the UREA reagents. Below is all we could find,
Nitrate test solution:
95% sulfuric acid, CAS#7664-93-9
0,2%, diphenylamine, CAS#122-39-4
and the rest is just deionized water
Ammonia nitrogen test solution:
15% potassium hydroxide, CAS#1310-58-3
3,8%, Mercury Chlorine, CAS#7487-94-7,
< 6% potassium Iodid, CAS#7681-11-0
and the rest is just water
And the universal extraction solution (Morgan extraction solution) is:
3% acetic acid, CAS# 64-19-7,
10% Sodium acetate, CAS# 6131-90-4;
water to 100%