View Full Version : test kits
cusweatin
08-04-2003, 9:10 PM
i guess im using the wrong test kit (red sea) just need some info on what works i hear alot about salifert or something but cant seem to find them anywhere
karlas
08-18-2003, 9:57 AM
just curious why do you think you have the wrong test kit? i use aquarium pharmacuticals its pretty easy to use but theres tons and tons of test kits out there. it seems they all read a little different then the other so its not necessarily bad
mogurnda
08-18-2003, 4:16 PM
Red Sea kits are reasonably accurate. At leat the NH3, NO3 and pH. The alkalinity test kist is relatively useless, IMO. I hate their Ca test kit, because the droppers clog and the cutoff isn't horribly sharp. Which one are you worried about?
VoodooChild
08-19-2003, 7:30 AM
The copper one is really inaccurate as well, though I do have luck with the pH/alkalinity and the calcium ones (I stopped using those stupid pipettes and now I just dunk the tube).
mogurnda
08-19-2003, 7:48 AM
VoodooChild,
Have you found a copper test that you like? So far they have all been pretty bad in my hands.
Originally posted by cusweatin
...i hear alot about salifert or something but cant seem to find them anywhere
Premium Aquatics (http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PA&Category_Code=Salifert) and Marine Depot (http://www.marinedepot.com/a_tk_sf.asp?CartId=) carry Salifert kits. Best hobby-grade kits for the money IMO! :)
VoodooChild
08-19-2003, 10:11 AM
Lol. The Seachem one was ok, but the color hues were way to similar to make an accurate reading. That's all that I've tried so far.
I did have problems with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals products, specifically their ammonia test kit.
Nobody has mentioned the brand Sera. They are on the expensive side, but fairly easy to use - including their dKh and Ca products.
Ray Pollett
08-23-2003, 9:49 AM
First, this is not a flame.
Why do you all worry so much about testing and test kits? Why are you worried about meassuiring copper? Did you add some copper to your tank? Did you let someone else add something with copper to your tank?
I understand measuring Salinity. I can even understand measuring Alk and Ca if you have alot of plants or animals that are heavy Ca users. If you do not have heavy Ca users; doing water changes with a salt with adequate Ca and other minerals takes care or those two.
I even understand taking a pH reading or ORP reading from time to time. But some of you seem obcessed with testing water parameters in my opinion. From my expereince, those who are always testing they water parameters and making adjustments seem to have more problems than those who only test on ocassions when their tank tells them it is time to test.
Ray
I regularly test for specific gravity, pH, calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. Once I saw that I was able to keep inverts alive, I didn't bother testing for copper and I hardly ever test for amm, trate or trite anymore...unless I lose a fish.
hi Ray, the focus on testing is probably the symptom of being a newbie.....fortunately this is not a terminal condition!!!!
I work in a clinical diagnostic laboratory, so I suppose I am doubly at risk of suffering from "testitis". I tend to do some testing if I observe something in my tank that I'd like an explanation for. I like to figure things out for myself!
I don't use my ammonia, NO2 or No3 kits very much at all anymore. I have been monitoring phosphate, as I have some cyanobacteria. I can keep it in check, but I think there is a low level of phosphate in my source water and I have not gone to RO or distilled yet.
I was doing ph, salinity, Ca and dKh frequently, observing slight dips in the Ca, then would add a suplement, Ca would go up, dKh go down...... as I learned the relationships and dynamics between these components, it was kind of neat to see my results corroborate what I'd read about. But I have been nearing the same conclusion you just stated....an easier approach to keeping the balance may be just to do slightly more frequent water changes!
ChilDawg
08-24-2003, 9:14 AM
I think that we all want to do what's best for our fish, and some think that testing is the answer...some find that water changes and underfeeding on regular bases help...some use a mix of both...but if the fish do well under any regimen, I'd keep doing it, I guess.
I'm more from the school of understanding the tank without testing, but I can definitely see the value of tests...we'll see what type of nervous wreck I become with my first SW tank, eh?
Ray Pollett
08-24-2003, 9:45 AM
I thank all of you for your answers. It was nice to see you reasons.
Ray
ChilDawg
08-24-2003, 11:26 AM
Thank you for posing the tough question, Ray...that is a good one and a good thing to have pondered. :)
mogurnda
08-24-2003, 6:07 PM
I test specific gravity, Ca, Alk, and NO3 weekly. Spgr, Ca and Alk are essential for the corals, as far as I'm concerned. NO3 is just to keep an eye on general tank health. Copper was more of general curiosity. I was treating ich with Cu years ago, and the test kits were awful, and wondered if they had improved.
we all have our reasons.... all variations on a theme! But Ray, the voice of those more experienced is always very valueable. Keep chiming in. You've got my vote!
Originally posted by Ray Pollett
From my expereince, those who are always testing they water parameters and making adjustments seem to have more problems than those who only test on ocassions when their tank tells them it is time to test.
Also keep in mind that frequent testing doesn't always lead to frequent adjustments in water chemistry. I know people who test they're water every single day and keep very detailed journals of their conditions...but they don't necessarily adjust anything; they just test a lot.
Ray Pollett
08-25-2003, 7:01 AM
gcvt,
"Also keep in mind that frequent testing doesn't always lead to frequent adjustments in water chemistry. I know people who test they're water every single day and keep very detailed journals of their conditions...but they don't necessarily adjust anything; they just test a lot."
Good point.
Ray
ChilDawg
08-25-2003, 7:25 AM
That is a really good point...I can see, though, where it would be tempting to folks like me to make little changes to adjust the levels to where they were yesterday, etc....
mogurnda
08-25-2003, 8:47 AM
To add to gcvt's point, there's the issue of figuring out the problem when things go wrong. If the fish or corals start to act strangely, it is good to have a record of the baseline when things were healthy. This is especially true when one is starting out, and doesn't have a strong feeling for the parameters of a specific tank, and how they fluctuate over the course of a day, or between water changes.