water test kit

[debs asw]

At risk of being bashed again at my ignorance, I have yet another
question. I have a fresh water tank and have a deluxe style water test
kit for it. Since I've had it for quite a while the main pamphlet of
directions is long gone. I was just wondering if the fresh water test
kits l work the with the salt water tanks. The place I've been buying
my fish from tests your water at no charge, but still, I'd like to be
able to check it at home myself. debs

[BiG Orange]

How about if you get bashed for double posting? :-)

If your test kit is old, you may need a new one anyway, after so long, they
are no longer accurate. Also, I thought you had a Marine Fish tank now, not
freshwater?

It sounds to me like you are trying to cut corners, and if that is the case,
you are going down a long road of hair algae, cynobacteria and more. With a
marine fish tank you need protein skimmers, proper circulation, Compact
Flourscent or better lighting, some live rock, and live sand on the bottom.
The live rock and sand will give you the proper nitrifying bacteria to keep
the cycle going, the smaller the tank, the more important the live rock and
sand are.


BiG Orange

[debs asw]

The test kit itself is not old. It's one that I like, so have stuck with
the same kit for several years. Since I've used it for so many years I
just didn't;t need the directions and they were lost along the way.
I'm trying to find out if the same test kits will work on the salt tank.
Can't you simply help a person out without making them feel horrible? If
you are so into marine tanks and love them so much I would think you
would be glad to share your knowledge rather then discourage, humiliate,
and down right hurt peoples feelings. You have no idea of my age, my
physical disabilities, and no concept on how hurtful your words can be
to someone like me. Unfortunately this will be my last post because
instead of finding a site I thought I could learn from, and meet
people with similar interests, all i've done is get bashed, It's just
not worth it. Take care everyone,I wish you the best. debs

[Billy]

"debs asw" > wrote in message
...
| The test kit itself is not old. It's one that I like, so have stuck
with


I think it's time to add BO to your 'killfile' (blocked senders
list). It's apparent he's got you marked for some reason. Also, May I
again suggest you also subscribe to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs. People
ask all manner of marine tank questions there, it's not limited to
reef tanks. Also, BO doesn't have as much of a presence there. The
regulars would tear him a new one if he behaved in this manner..

I prefer to view you as a person who wishes to one day shed the title
of "newbie". Much better than just blundering through the way so many
are prone to do.

As to your questions...

First, I must grudgingly admit that Big Anus has a good point. If
your test kits are more than a year or two old, I would no longer
completely trust the results. Others may have more exact info on how
long they are good, I do not.
Second, *most* freshwater tests are not sal****er compatible. If they
are, they will likely say so on the bottle. I recomend Salifert
tests, do a Google search for them. You're not going to find them at
PetSmart, but they're (IMO) the best balance of cost and accuracy.
Look at stocking the followinfg tests for a fish-only tank: PH,
ammona, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus. KH, perhaps, as well. And of
course a hydrometer for specific gravity (salinity) testing.

Keep posting!
You may email me off-forum if you wish. I'm no expert, but I've been
through the stage your're in right now, and enjoy helping others
along best I can the way others helped me. And yes, there were trolls
like BA then, too.
vincentbill (at) hotmail (dot) com

billy

[George Patterson]

debs asw wrote:
>
> At risk of being bashed again at my ignorance, I have yet another
> question. I have a fresh water tank and have a deluxe style water test
> kit for it. Since I've had it for quite a while the main pamphlet of
> directions is long gone. I was just wondering if the fresh water test
> kits l work the with the salt water tanks.

I've never heard of a test kit that works on both, but there may be some.
Typically marine test kits are specific to a particular problem; for example,
you need one kit for nitrites, one for ammonia, one for copper, etc.

If you're testing for the nitrogen cycle, you can make do with a nitrite test
kit, though an ammonia kit is also nice to have.

One thing you *can* use your kit for is testing the quality of your tap water
(if you're using that) before you mix up for a water change. If you know the
manufacturer of your kit, you might also try to find a web site for them.
Perhaps there's a product description.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[George Patterson]

Billy wrote:
>
> If
> your test kits are more than a year or two old, I would no longer
> completely trust the results.

Most of the kits I use have an expiration date on each package of reagent, and
you're right. Two years is about all they last and it can be much less if they
spent time in the store before you bought them. In fact, once I had to take a
kit back because the reagents had expired before they sold it to me.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

[Rasmus Berlin aka BatLuder]

First of all, you could check if your brand makes a marine set too, if
so it might work like what you are used to.
The set you have, is the range of ph for example so that it can test
reefwater? If so, is it acurate enough? It's not worth much if you can
only say if the water is around ph 8 or ph 9. ;) And then check if it
has tests for the things you need to test your seawater for.
If it will work with seawater it would make the initial cost of a reef
aquarium seem more affordable, and then later you can change to a
testkit more suited for seawater.
Good luck.

debs asw wrote:
> The test kit itself is not old. It's one that I like, so have stuck with
> the same kit for several years. Since I've used it for so many years I
> just didn't;t need the directions and they were lost along the way.
> I'm trying to find out if the same test kits will work on the salt tank.
> Can't you simply help a person out without making them feel horrible? If
> you are so into marine tanks and love them so much I would think you
> would be glad to share your knowledge rather then discourage, humiliate,
> and down right hurt peoples feelings. You have no idea of my age, my
> physical disabilities, and no concept on how hurtful your words can be
> to someone like me. Unfortunately this will be my last post because
> instead of finding a site I thought I could learn from, and meet
> people with similar interests, all i've done is get bashed, It's just
> not worth it. Take care everyone,I wish you the best. debs
>
>
>
>

[BiG Orange]

> The test kit itself is not old.

You are just looking for trouble now! You may have a few bandwagoners to
side with you, but there was nothing wrong with my post and you clearly
stated that

"Since I've had it for quite a while the main pamphlet of directions is long
gone."

With that said, test kits are inaccurate for a while which is why I let you
know that.


BiG Orange

[debs asw]

Repeat.. the test is not old. I've bought the same kit now for a few
years so I just toss the directions aside when I get it. Geesh!! deb

[Fishnut]

On Tue, 1 Mar 2005 12:25:34 -0600, (debs asw)
wrote:

>At risk of being bashed again at my ignorance, I have yet another
>question. I have a fresh water tank and have a deluxe style water test
>kit for it. Since I've had it for quite a while the main pamphlet of
>directions is long gone. I was just wondering if the fresh water test
>kits l work the with the salt water tanks. The place I've been buying
>my fish from tests your water at no charge, but still, I'd like to be
>able to check it at home myself. debs
>
Hello debs,

"Practical Fishkeeping" ( a very good U.K. magazine) ran comparison
tests on manufacturers' kits for nitrate, nitrite etc. last year (I
think). The tests included Salifert which is generally regarded as the
best of the bunch, for the price. All of them were wholly
inaccurate !! Perhaps it may be better not to buy testkits, as you are
then worrying about a completely false test result, and put the money
saved into more water-changes, which will normally give more stable
water parameters. Just a thought !

Please keep posting.

Regards, Fishnut.

[Rude Bastard]

Welcome to usenet Deb, get used to it, and try not to take it
personally. People talk all kinds of trash when they dont have to look
you in the eye and/or they are bitter, miserable A-holes that get
gratification from spreading their infliction. There are a lot of
condescending pricks here, but fortuneately they are the minority to
the nicer folk who genuinely want to help.

At any rate, dont give up on usenet, I've learned things in various
groups that I just couldnt have learned anywhere else without spending
a fortune in books and training. It is IMO a true knowledge base.

As far as your question, looks like you got the answers.You'll have to
look at the directions to find out, or get online and hopefully find a
source with a decent description of the product.

I use a tetra test kit for both fresh(small koi tank) and marine
tanks(75g reef). This kit is meant for both setups but not all the
tests in the kit crossover. And this kit lacks several important tests
that I had to supplement with sailifert kits.

On Tue, 1 Mar 2005 12:25:34 -0600, (debs asw)
wrote:

>At risk of being bashed again at my ignorance, I have yet another
>question. I have a fresh water tank and have a deluxe style water test
>kit for it. Since I've had it for quite a while the main pamphlet of
>directions is long gone. I was just wondering if the fresh water test
>kits l work the with the salt water tanks. The place I've been buying
>my fish from tests your water at no charge, but still, I'd like to be
>able to check it at home myself. debs
>
>
>

[BiG Orange]

"debs asw" > wrote in message
...
> Repeat.. the test is not old. I've bought the same kit now for a few
> years so I just toss the directions aside when I get it. Geesh!! deb

We understand now that your OP was confusing and unclear. (Obvious from the
numerous similar replies as mine)

I thought you weren't going to post anymore? Did you decide to get back in
the sandbox after your idle threat for attention?

BiG Orange

[Billy]

"BiG Orange" > wrote in message
...
>
> threat for attention?


Pot, meet Kettle. Kettle, meet Pot.

[Aquacare]

Debs,

I personally use the same Tetra kit for both and I do this for a living.
Keep watching the posters here and you will get a feel for people who
generally want to help. Like the hobby there are many ways to accomplish
your goals. Don't get disconcerted.

Rude *******,
Your name doesn't suit you. You hit the nail on the head for Debs. She
should continue to post and not pay attention to the few misfits lurking
around causing trouble.

--
Aquatic-Care aquarium services
Freshwater/Sal****er
Since 1993
www.aquatic-care.com

[BiG Orange]

"Aquacare" > wrote in message
...
> should continue to post and not pay attention to the few misfits lurking
> around causing trouble.
>

Yeah, it's also full of people who don't read threads from start to finish
and are quick to hit the reply button and make ingornant posts. NUMEROUS
people all thought she was saying her kit was really old. You know why?
Because that is what she said!

Her poor communications skills don't mean everyone is out to get her, she's
was OBVIOUSLY looking for trouble before it even started, if you don't
believe me read the OP.


BiG Orange

[Billy]

"BiG Orange" > wrote in message
...
> Her poor communications skills don't mean everyone is out to get
> her, she's was OBVIOUSLY looking for trouble before it even
> started, if you don't believe me read the OP.

Why don't you just go away? It's obvious to me that someone in this
NG is looking for trouble, and it ain't debs. I don't use my killfile
lightly, it is reserved for repeat spammers and career trolls. You,
Big Anus, are begging for one of the chosen spots. I think I hear
your mother calling.

[BiG Orange]

> I do this for a living.

I just took a look (in horror) at some of the tanks you set up. Why the heck
do you use so many dead skeleton coral and fake corals? What a shame those
people in your area don't know what a real marine tank is supposed to look
like.

IMO Doesn't look to me like you know what you are doing.


BiG Orange

[Billy]

"BiG Orange" > wrote in message
...
> IMO Doesn't look to me like you know what you are doing.
>


Yep, that's it. You're just a sad, pathetic mama's boy of a troll.
You've been fed long enough.

<plonk>

I urge others to do the same.


billy

[Aquacare]

Hummm, nice try.

[George Patterson]

BiG Orange wrote:
>
> IMO Doesn't look to me like you know what you are doing.

Boy, you make me ashamed to be from Tennessee. But then, the football nut were
always assholes.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.