Gunther wrote:

Finally, this same LFS guys says that despite what I read in
the local papers, Sunnyvale (where I live) water has used
chloramine for the past 15 years, so it's probably not an
issue in this case.

Yah, at work I've seen chloramine signs over the past year or two
(ammonia readings after dechlor), so I tend to believe the LFS on that
count.

As for the AP being junk? I haven't had any problems. I use AP, one LFS
uses tetra and the other uses AP.

One thing to remember expectation-wise is that the test kits probably
aren't exactly accurate, meaning you are going to get some variance in
readings between the different manufactures and different chemical
tests. They should be in the same ballpark, but don't expect LFS
chemical tests to give 2 significant figure accuracy.

In most hobby applications we're really using them as relative
indicators. i.e. 0 ammonia or detectable ammonia. Twice as much
nitrate as before. etc...

For that purpose they're "just fine."

Given the above, I have a (well justified) personal belief that AP
nitrate test gives a false positive when there are nitrites in the
water. AP claims otherwise, but I find it hard to argue with my own
measurements...

-D
--
"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving
that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the
proof." -Galbraith's Law