water testing kits

K

kaslkaos

AC Members
Jan 27, 2004
26
0
0
Ontario Canada
Visit site
I'd like suggestion for a minimum of what I should be testing for, and what test kits to buy. I haven't bothered for the longest time, and of course I have a horrible algae (especially string, and hair, and thread) problem. Blech... so I have to learn the hard way.
I do water changes with bottled spring water, not tap water.
 
As far as the essentials go, the most important stats everyone asks are pH, Ammonia, NitrItes, and NitrAtes. Also, gH and kH tests are very helpful, especially if you are running a planted aquarium.

There are some kits that sell the four big tests in one package... Wardley has one such kit, but you can also get them seperately if you'd like. I have a Hagen gH/kH test kit, and it's a very good one IMO.

HTH!
 
Currently, I only use my Nitrate kit and even that is rare unless I see a problem. I would recommend you get some good test kits to have "just in case" and if your new to fishkeeping than I would use them, but when you get things under control (cycled), and you have tanks setup for 5, and 10 years then they really become not as important or nessessary...sometimes. ;)
 
Last edited:
My tap water is very hard, town water supply, chlorinated. I know I could use dechlor, but I figured the spring water would solve both problems. I used to test ph all the time for my african violets and adjust ph was a pain. What should I look for on the label in regards to bottled water? I just use 'equality brand/A&P house brand' as it comes in 10 ltr refillable containers. It does list trace minerals.
 
Well just dont get distilled water or water with the minerals/vitamins taken out. Make sure you get water thats just as normal drinking water should be.

Surely, your water can't be to too hard? I mean does everyone in your area who keeps fish buy all their water? :eek:

Could you give us the readings of your water when you get them, thanks!
 
Okay, I forgot to mention that I have a water softener, which uses potassium (not salt) for our tap water.
Found some old test kits for PH & another for 'NH3/NH4 +ammonia'
PH is 7.6 or more (test doesn't go higher) both for the tap water, and the fish tank. I don't have any bottled water to test.
The Ammonia test reads 0
Can test kits be too old,? The ph test is years old, the ammonia kit is 1 yr old.
Will go shopping for better test kits if I have to.
 
Just FYI, I bought some Jungle dipping strips thinking it would cut down the time I was taking to check my tanks but the results are way different from any of my other test kits or the LFS results. I only keep them in case I run out and need to test in an emergency or something. KYle
 
Are your test strips out of date (or nearly so)? I've used Jungle strips and they've always been in the ballpark with a variety of other kinds of tests.

Jim
 
not sure if there is a date on them but they are brand new from a wal mart that's been open only a couple months so I couldn't see them being all that old. I bought the multi-test strips and the ammonia test strips. I have yet to get the ammonia to change any different. I was going to use it to set up a cycling tank that I'm adding ammonia but I kept adding ammonia and testing with no results. When I used my tetra ammonia test it was off the chart. I also bought another kit (not sure the brand) but it was off the chart on that too. maybe I'm just not smart enough to figure them out :) Kyle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom