Test kits?
- Thread starter Sal329
- Start date
The strip tests are notoriously inacurate. I recemend the aquarium pharmacutecal's Master Test Kit. Its about 20 bucks and has all diffrent water tests you will ever need.
Oh no, not the dreaded test strips! 
Seriously, they aren't very reliable. Liquid reagents are far superior to strips. The best one I have found, and the overwhelming favorite here at AC is teh Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit.
It has tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH. It comes with the test tubes and plastic laminated cards.
If you have a PetSmart near you, you can print out the web page from their site, and they will match it in the store. This way, you get the $28 kit for around $14 or $15.
It has enough chemicals in it to last a good long time...
Seriously, they aren't very reliable. Liquid reagents are far superior to strips. The best one I have found, and the overwhelming favorite here at AC is teh Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit.
It has tests for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and pH. It comes with the test tubes and plastic laminated cards.
If you have a PetSmart near you, you can print out the web page from their site, and they will match it in the store. This way, you get the $28 kit for around $14 or $15.
It has enough chemicals in it to last a good long time...
My tank is very well established, so I do it once a week. The Nitrate result determines how much I change. If something has happened to push it a bit high I do a larger change.
Early days of a tank though, or after any significant maintenance, I test daily till I just kind of feel like everything is OK.
Early days of a tank though, or after any significant maintenance, I test daily till I just kind of feel like everything is OK.
CaptnDan said:Oh no, not the dreaded test strips!
Man, was I ever glad to see THIS thread, and the responses. Was using the 5-in-1 strips and the Quick Dip ammonia test strips. Thought it was a "just me" thing when the 5 in 1 tests were always within parameters, but the ammonia test was never less than .25 regardless of water changes, additives, etc.
Picked up an API master yesterday and getting ready to test away.
Does anyone have any experience...good, bad, or indifferent..with the Seachem Ammonia Alert that you can stick inside the tank? I had one in there, it wasn't real expensive...but the fishies were constantly getting between the card and the tank wall. Took it out since I got worried about them bumping their little red caps
