Test Kits

[AlexAndCarmen]

Hi everyone,I have a Api master test kit for Nitrite,PH,Nitrate and Ammonia does anyone find the readings a bit broad spec,not accurate enough. I'm hopeing to get CO2 one day soon and need to test the Kh and GH if I understand correctly so what test kit can you guys recommend? I've seen these five in one test strips, will they be accurate enough?

 

[Jen]

The dip tests are incredibly inaccurate. The liquid ones are the way to go.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Thanks Jen, do you have a prefered make of test kit? I've now also read about testing for phosphates and iron and and and......I hope i win the lottery, otherwise i won't be able to afford all this lot

I've just had a look at your 90gal planted tank Jen, Looking good

 

[karlp]

My favourite test kits are the JBL ones. It's a German make not as widespread in the UK as the others.

I like them because the results are easy to read. Instead of the usual hold the test tube up against a card and figure out what shade of purple it is, which always ends up with a debate with the girlfriend about the exact shade , you fill two jars one with reagent one without and then they have a comparison chart that you run the jars over to get the closest match. Difficult to explain but it's easier to read the results.

Incidentally, I think the test strips are still worth having as a sanity check. it's worth dipping a test strip in the tank every now and then just to check the tank is within normal parameters, just don't rely on the exact readings, just look for them not having changed or showing anything that shouldn't be there (e.g, nitrite should be white - 0)

 

[George Farmer]

I have found the Nutrafin pH low-range kit and Nutrafin KH/GH kits to be good value and accurate enough for me.

The pH kit measures from pH 6.0 to 7.6 in 0.2 increments and does 225 tests.

The KH kit measures in 10ppm increments so you'll need to divide the result by 17.9 to read degrees hardness. The instructions are simple to follow.

 

[jimbooo]

thanks george i've been looking for a decent PH kit for ages. i'll go get one of those nutrafin ones. good link, thanks

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Ok I bought a liquid API test kit that test KH and GH. My dKH is 3 and My PH is 6.9 according to a chart i used thats about 10ppm CO2. Is my KH a bit low, I'm worried adding CO2 will have PH swings?
My dGH was 9. Is that good? I filter all my water changes with a three stage tap water filter, Carbon,sediment,active carbon. I was wondering why people use RO in planted tank? Thanks for all the advice.

 

[George Farmer]

3 dKH is fine - it's about what I have. Your pH will drop when you add CO2 but it's nothing to worry about. With an ideal CO2 level of 30ppm your pH will be 6.5 - perfect for most tropical freshwater fish and plants.

9 dGH is also fine. It means that you won't need to worry about adding extra magnesium or calcium (water with less than 4 dGH may have to).

I dilute my tap water with RO (50:50) so I can have softer water that my fish and plants prefer. Some use pure RO and add re-mineralising agents but to me this seems a waste of time and money - unless you have very sensitive fish or are breeding (Discus for example).