Testing Ph & Others

[mattyvx]

What do people use to test their water parameters?

I've seen loads of different kits like water samples or even "easy strips" like litmus paper which you dip into the water and it gives you a reading.

Things i'm looking for are ease of use, time, cost and I don't mind buying in bulk like a years supply or something.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

API freshwater liquid test kits are what the majority of members would recommend.
Not as cheap as strips but far more accurate.
A typical kit will last you a long time. My first kit that was used through 50 days of cycling my filter is still going.
But it all depends on how often you are going to test. Follow the instructions to the letter and any tips you get on this forum

It is definitely drips for me!

 

[weezawoo]

Hi
Strips are not accurate enough to use, liquid test are always better. A lot of people reccommend the API test kit. Its easy to use just a few drops and shakes lol

 

[KittyKat]

+1 liquid over strips every time.

 

[Tizer]

+1 API kit

 

[StandbySetting]

Saliferts all of the way for me.

 

[waterdrop]

Saliferts all of the way for me.

Yes, Saliferts are even better than the API kit, so if any beginner happens to have this then they should be aware that we are not recommending the API over the Saliferts. It's just that in practice the API kit seems to be good enough for the average beginner experience and a few of the Salifert kits have an extra step or two (for good reason, it makes them a bit better) making tests take a tad longer. They also must be bought individually for each test.

In the end, the more important thing for beginners is the development of the skill. Whether you use the Salifert, API or Nutrafin liquid kit is less important than learning the overall process. Often you just want to know if a substance shows up at all or is zero.

~~waterdrop~~