Good Freshwater Test Kit?

[Oxboy666]

I'm looking to purchase a solid freshwater test kit. I really only need to check ammonia levels, nitrates and PH. I don't need a high-end $100 kit - just something reliable, accurate and easy to use.

Any recommendations?

P.S. - I use Amquel, so any ammonia test would need to be compatible with the Amquel.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[famman]

I use the AP Freshwater Master kit. It has ammo, nitrIte, kh, gh, low and high pH. All you need is a nitrAte test and you're basically set. Total about $40
If your water has chlorimine you will get a low ammo reading no matter what test you use.

good luck

 

[CrohnieBoy]

If your water has chlorimine you will get a low ammo reading no matter what test you use.

Could you explain that one for me? Shouldn't the chlorimine be removed when you use the water conditioner? Wouldn't you then get realistic readings in the tank? Help!

 

[Skittyfish]

The Hagen Master test kit for about $40 has gh, kh,pH (low and high), iron, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate. It is all pretty straight forward and is easy to use.

 

[JohnMemorialHS]

Originally posted by CrohnieBoy

Shouldn't the chlorimine be removed when you use the water conditioner?

I think water condioner that claims to treat chlorine AND chloramine just neutralizes chloramine

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

Amquel actually breaks the chloramine bond (ammonia + chlorine)
then neutralizes ammonia (into ammonium, I think) and removes the remaining chlorine.....pretty full-contact in my opinion. I use this product and it works well. I like Seachem's PRIME best, because it adds extra stuff in also (electrolytes, slime coat, while doing the rest)

 

[famman]

Sumpinfishy has it exactly right.
After breaking down the chloramine the ammonia is changed to ammonium which is not toxic to fish, and the bacteria will eat it too. After a while the ammonium will go away and your test will show 0 reading.
Many water companies use chloramine rather than chlorine because it lasts longer and evaporates less.
I only know this because I listened to RTR, WetmanNY and the other outstanding brains on this board.

good luck

 

[JSchmidt]

Originally posted by Oxboy666
I'm looking to purchase a solid freshwater test kit. I really only need to check ammonia levels, nitrates and PH. I don't need a high-end $100 kit - just something reliable, accurate and easy to use.

Any recommendations?

P.S. - I use Amquel, so any ammonia test would need to be compatible with the Amquel.

Thanks,

Mike

If you use Amquel, you will need a salicylate-based ammonia test. This test uses two reagents, rather than the single reagent used by the more common Nessler-based tests, to test for the presence of ammonia. Many, but not all, of the ammonia tests I've seen bundled with multi-test kits are the Nessler type.

Jim

 

[Hebdizzle]

I use an aquarium pharmaceutical kit from PetSmart. It cost 20 dollars and tests carbonite hardness, general hardness, ammonia, nitrites, low end ph and high end ph.

It works very well and accurately and is much more inexpensive than test strips, which can run approx. 8 dollars for 100 tests. (for each type)


aaron