test kits

[Harry Ohanian]

I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure which is
best and most accurate.
HARRY

[Comatose]

Salifert test kits are very good,


On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 14:46:41 -0600, "Harry Ohanian"
> wrote:

>I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
>Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure which is
>best and most accurate.
>HARRY
>



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[Mark Henry]

Harry Ohanian wrote:

> I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
> Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure which is
> best and most accurate.
>
>

Accuracy is relative when it comes to any of the "hobby" kits that we
buy. Since most are based on observing color changes the whole thing can
be skewed just by changin the tye of lighting you view the test under
(IE daylight, incandescent, flourescent, halogen, etc).

IMHO most are fine for fish only tanks, but there's some concern (as
I've heard it) over kits for reef tanks. That being said, I've been
using a mix of SeaChem and Nutrafin with good results.

mark h

[Roy]

I like and prefer, Seatest and Fastest kits to check Ammonia, PH,
Nitrite and nitrate.. For Calcium and Alk I like salifert kits. I do
not need any additional kits as I dose with nothing but 2 part
B-Ionic.

Whatever is on the label you add in the oine of supplements to a tank,
you also need to test for.......just keep that in mind.

You will find some of the cheaper test kits will show a slight trace
amount of ammonia, even though there is none. Make sure you get a pH
test kit for sal****er as most freshwater ph tests kits do not go high
enough for sal****er use.

YOu may also want to consider a refractometer for checking SG as its
as important if not more so than some of the test kits after awhile. I
rarely use my nitrite or nitrate or ammonia rest kits, same for my PH.
My tanks stay stable and as long as there is aheap of live rock and
sand its highly unlikely any ammonia or nitrites are going to occur.
As long as things look fine and are growoing and flourishing, and my
Xenia are doing fine, the tank is fine IMHO.....


I use my Calcium and Alk kits once a week or two.


On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 14:46:41 -0600, "Harry Ohanian"
> wrote:
>><>I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
>><>Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure which is
>><>best and most accurate.
>><>HARRY
>><>

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[wolf]

as far as basic, you dont need real accurate, if your tank is new. i like
these strips that you dip and its 5 in 1 for freshwater, 1 is eliminated for
salt. it gives you nitrate, nitrite, ph, and hardness all in 1. just
dip, wait 30secs and compare chart. no drip bottles, salt spoons, etc...
then get some salifert kits for the accurate measures later on down the road
when the basic kit gets less than half empty or after you think your system
is cycled...

hows that for advice?



"Harry Ohanian" > wrote in message
. ..
>I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
> Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure which
> is best and most accurate.
> HARRY
>
>

[wolf]

Roy,
what do you do after a water change regarding CA and ALK tests, how many
days, hours do you wait, then when is teh next check after?


"Roy" > wrote in message
...
>I like and prefer, Seatest and Fastest kits to check Ammonia, PH,
> Nitrite and nitrate.. For Calcium and Alk I like salifert kits. I do
> not need any additional kits as I dose with nothing but 2 part
> B-Ionic.
>
> Whatever is on the label you add in the oine of supplements to a tank,
> you also need to test for.......just keep that in mind.
>
> You will find some of the cheaper test kits will show a slight trace
> amount of ammonia, even though there is none. Make sure you get a pH
> test kit for sal****er as most freshwater ph tests kits do not go high
> enough for sal****er use.
>
> YOu may also want to consider a refractometer for checking SG as its
> as important if not more so than some of the test kits after awhile. I
> rarely use my nitrite or nitrate or ammonia rest kits, same for my PH.
> My tanks stay stable and as long as there is aheap of live rock and
> sand its highly unlikely any ammonia or nitrites are going to occur.
> As long as things look fine and are growoing and flourishing, and my
> Xenia are doing fine, the tank is fine IMHO.....
>
>
> I use my Calcium and Alk kits once a week or two.
>
>
> On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 14:46:41 -0600, "Harry Ohanian"
> > wrote:
>>><>I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
>>><>Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure
>>>which is
>>><>best and most accurate.
>>><>HARRY
>>><>
>
> --
> \\\|///
> ( @ @ )
> -----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------
>
>
> oooO
> ---------( )----Oooo----------------
> \ ( ( )
> \_) ) /
> (_/
> The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Roy]

I check my water after a water change, or sometimes the next day and
adjust it if necessary, but most times it does not require any
additional. I can usually leave my water alone for 2 days after a
water change before I start to dose again, it may drop a slight bit,
but nothing to worry about. So I guess you could say I check CAL and
ALK once a week or so...My Ph usually stays dead on the same number
right before lights out, and right after lights on.

All other tests like ammonia, nitrate or nitrite I rarely use. My
xenia is the fist to show signs when things start to go wrong, and to
be honest, my tanks are super stable, probably due to the stocking
levels and live rock amounts. Highly unlikely you will ever get
ammonia, trite or trate with lots of live rock, unless its grossly
overstocked.

Now if I had fish only type tank, I know I wuld probably use those
three kits much more often.......I rely on my live rock and live sand.

On Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:18:33 GMT, "wolf" ">
wrote:
>><>Roy,
>><>what do you do after a water change regarding CA and ALK tests, how many
>><>days, hours do you wait, then when is teh next check after?
>><>
>><>
>><>"Roy" > wrote in message
...
>><>>I like and prefer, Seatest and Fastest kits to check Ammonia, PH,
>><>> Nitrite and nitrate.. For Calcium and Alk I like salifert kits. I do
>><>> not need any additional kits as I dose with nothing but 2 part
>><>> B-Ionic.
>><>>
>><>> Whatever is on the label you add in the oine of supplements to a tank,
>><>> you also need to test for.......just keep that in mind.
>><>>
>><>> You will find some of the cheaper test kits will show a slight trace
>><>> amount of ammonia, even though there is none. Make sure you get a pH
>><>> test kit for sal****er as most freshwater ph tests kits do not go high
>><>> enough for sal****er use.
>><>>
>><>> YOu may also want to consider a refractometer for checking SG as its
>><>> as important if not more so than some of the test kits after awhile. I
>><>> rarely use my nitrite or nitrate or ammonia rest kits, same for my PH.
>><>> My tanks stay stable and as long as there is aheap of live rock and
>><>> sand its highly unlikely any ammonia or nitrites are going to occur.
>><>> As long as things look fine and are growoing and flourishing, and my
>><>> Xenia are doing fine, the tank is fine IMHO.....
>><>>
>><>>
>><>> I use my Calcium and Alk kits once a week or two.
>><>>
>><>>
>><>> On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 14:46:41 -0600, "Harry Ohanian"
>><>> > wrote:
>><>>>><>I am wondering what brand test kit is most accurate.
>><>>>><>Looking to start a new tank and need the basic kits just to be sure
>><>>>>which is
>><>>>><>best and most accurate.
>><>>>><>HARRY
>><>>>><>
>><>>
>><>> --
>><>> \\\|///
>><>> ( @ @ )
>><>> -----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------
>><>>
>><>>
>><>> oooO
>><>> ---------( )----Oooo----------------
>><>> \ ( ( )
>><>> \_) ) /
>><>> (_/
>><>> The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....
>><>

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[wolf]

they were called Quick Dip

"wolf" "> wrote in message
nk.net...

> these strips that you dip and its 5 in 1 for freshwater, 1 is eliminated
> for salt. it gives you nitrate, nitrite, ph, and hardness all in 1.
> just dip, wait 30secs and compare chart. no drip bottles, salt spoons,
> etc... then get some salifert kits for the accurate measures later on down
> the road when the basic kit gets less than half empty or after you think
> your system is cycled...
>