Water testing

[PurplePhoenix]

I'm currently in the process of setting up my new tank, doing a fishless cycle. I've been using King British 6 in 1 water test strips, but I'm not sure about the ammonia test specifically. It doesn't go one colour like the rest of the test squares. It's blue around the edge and then the middle is somewhere on the scale, but as that's inside the blue, it's tricky to match it to the colour chart. My first reading after a day, having fed the tank with fish food was showing as 3. 2 days later it looked like it was 0 and the same for the next couple of days. There are 2 live plants in there (an Amazon Sword and a Water Wisteria) so I know they may potentially be using some of the ammonia, but surely not all of it, especially as they are currently melting, so should be adding to the ammonia levels. I'm still feeding the tank. I don't see how all the ammonia can have gone. I'm a week in and after it going back up 2 days ago to 3, it's back down to 0. No Nitrites at all.
PH is showing as 8.4, KH 50, GH 125, Nitrate 25 (tap water is showing the same, so it's Nitrates from the water). Water temperature is 26°C/78°F and it's a fresh water tank. I have the light on for around 6 hours a day, sand on the bottom of the tank (not sure if those make a difference).

Is it the test strips not being accurate, or is something weird going on that someone can explain? If it is the test strips, can someone recommend a good ammonia test and also let me know if I can trust the other readings from those strips. I don't want to spend a fortune on various different water tests in the hope I find a good one and I can't go to the pet shop to get the water tested to see how accurate home tests are due to currently being in lockdown in my country. I'm stuck ordering online, but reviews seem so mixed for every kit out there.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Essjay]

Test strips are notoriously inaccurate; liquid testers are more accurate. Most of us use the API master test kit which contains tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH (both mid and high range). At the very least, get ammonia and nitrite.

One important thing to point out is that all liquid nitrate testers have one reagent bottle which must be shaken well, and then the test tube after the drops are added. This shaking is important - shake the bottle more than the instructions say. One of the chemicals in the bottle settles out on the bottom and the shaking it to get it all back in the liquid.


Plants do take up ammonia as fertiliser and they don't turn it into nitrite or nitrate. You mention 2 plants - is that just 2 plants or several plants of 2 types? Just 2 plants shouldn't take up that much ammonia unless the plants are very big and the tank quite small. A photo of the whole tank would give us an idea.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Test strips are very inaccurate. I suggest getting the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It has over 800 individual tests. It tests for ph, high ph, Ammonia, Nitrite, and nitrate.

 

[Metalhead88]

Agree with the above posts.

API master test kit. Do it.

 

[JuiceBox52]

API master test kit is more expensive but 100% worth it

 

[PheonixKingZ]

API master test kit is more expensive but 100% worth it

I agree. It costs anywhere from $20-$30 in the US.