What do you guys think is the best water tests to get? the little strips or the droppers? I would think the droppers would last longer but whats the best kit for the lowest price?
Best way to water test
- Thread starter anduknodis
- Start date
I'll save you some time: everyone here with more than 20** posts will vote liquid.
** arbitrary number. Assumes that anyone under 20 posts has just not read all the posts that tell people to use liquid instead of strips.
Roan
** arbitrary number. Assumes that anyone under 20 posts has just not read all the posts that tell people to use liquid instead of strips.
Roan
hands down, liquid test kits are more accurate, and they are more cost effective in the long run.
i bought a liquid test kit, and when i was cycling my tank, i was testing for ammonia and nitrites twice a day!
if i'd bought strips for those two tests, i would have spent probably $60 on test strips already. but with the liquid test kit, i haven't even used half of my ammonia test, and the whole kit cost me $14.99
i bought a liquid test kit, and when i was cycling my tank, i was testing for ammonia and nitrites twice a day!
if i'd bought strips for those two tests, i would have spent probably $60 on test strips already. but with the liquid test kit, i haven't even used half of my ammonia test, and the whole kit cost me $14.99
here, if there's a petsmart near you....
print out this page, take it in to your local petsmart, and have them price match the "Freshwater master test kit" that's $14.99. its normally $25
http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...<>ast_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1133210648829
that is of course if they dont already have it on sale.
you may also want to pick up the gH and kH test kit too while your there......
print out this page, take it in to your local petsmart, and have them price match the "Freshwater master test kit" that's $14.99. its normally $25
http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...<>ast_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1133210648829
that is of course if they dont already have it on sale.
you may also want to pick up the gH and kH test kit too while your there......
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Here again. The "bestest" way to test water would be using electronic equipment. However, these are too expensive and most aquarist don't really need such a precise measure and are nor willing to give the mainteinance such equipment require.
Where I live, getting a liquid master kit (ph, kh, gh, nh3, no2, co2) and a strip mater kit is almost the same price. So, I'd go to the liquid even if it was a little exensive. Just look at the expiring date in the box.
If you are getting one, remeber to read carefully all the instructions on how to perform the test and how to read and understand values. And be careful when handling the chemicals: don't pour them in the skin nor the aquarium.
Where I live, getting a liquid master kit (ph, kh, gh, nh3, no2, co2) and a strip mater kit is almost the same price. So, I'd go to the liquid even if it was a little exensive. Just look at the expiring date in the box.
If you are getting one, remeber to read carefully all the instructions on how to perform the test and how to read and understand values. And be careful when handling the chemicals: don't pour them in the skin nor the aquarium.
RockabillyChick said:
Thanks that saved me ten bucks and it was what i was planning on getting in the first place, thanks a lot for all your help guys, i love the great atmosphere that this forum has, everyone always willing to help.
What do the gH and kH kits test for and why are they needed?
gH and kH are tied into pH. i'm not even clear on it. you could probably live without it though, i have so far. if your kH gets to low, your tank can crash or something like that. if you do regular water changes, and your pH is normal (not super high, not super low) you should be alright without the kH and gH test.
the way i understand it is that the nitrification process "uses up" kH and if you run out or it gets too low, then your tank crashes and your water quality goes down the toilet.
however, i've never even heard of kH before joining this forum, and i've had an outdoor pond for about 3 years and never worried about it, and i've never had a problem. its up to you really.
the way i understand it is that the nitrification process "uses up" kH and if you run out or it gets too low, then your tank crashes and your water quality goes down the toilet.
however, i've never even heard of kH before joining this forum, and i've had an outdoor pond for about 3 years and never worried about it, and i've never had a problem. its up to you really.
Last edited:
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Both measure the water hardness. It's a measure of -simply put- the disolved mineral concentration in your water.
Kh, or carbonate hardness, measures that, carbonate. Carbonate is the main buffer in your water. Having a too low Kh measure will risk your Ph to drop too quikly.
Gh, general hardness, is the measure of other disolved solid, such as magnessium. Can't recall them all.
The main objective in knowing how hard is your water, is to allow you to choose fish resposibly. Some fishes -like many african chiclids- like hard water (hi level of dissolved solids) and some other like soft water, such as southamerican tetras.
To do a correct fisk keeping, it's really important to know some of the water chemistry. Some parameter as Ph, Kh, Gh, nitrous wastes and nitrification cycle must be understood to some level. Keep on reading in this forum and you'll easily get the concepts. At the beggining they look complicated, but you'll soon see that you can easily get them.
Kh, or carbonate hardness, measures that, carbonate. Carbonate is the main buffer in your water. Having a too low Kh measure will risk your Ph to drop too quikly.
Gh, general hardness, is the measure of other disolved solid, such as magnessium. Can't recall them all.
The main objective in knowing how hard is your water, is to allow you to choose fish resposibly. Some fishes -like many african chiclids- like hard water (hi level of dissolved solids) and some other like soft water, such as southamerican tetras.
To do a correct fisk keeping, it's really important to know some of the water chemistry. Some parameter as Ph, Kh, Gh, nitrous wastes and nitrification cycle must be understood to some level. Keep on reading in this forum and you'll easily get the concepts. At the beggining they look complicated, but you'll soon see that you can easily get them.
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Well, I sounded like my math teacher fron high school. RockabillyChick is right. You can have a long term aquarium working fine without knowing anything about water chemistry, provided you have good source water and you do your "normal" mainteinance.
Some other may know the whole science and go from problem to problem. There is always a chance for luck.
When an aquarium has established, good routines will keep it running smoothly. Avoid overfeeding and do constant water changes/filter cleaning and you'll do fine.
Some other may know the whole science and go from problem to problem. There is always a chance for luck.
When an aquarium has established, good routines will keep it running smoothly. Avoid overfeeding and do constant water changes/filter cleaning and you'll do fine.