Recommended Test Kits

[Kissyboots]

I am on my last test strip right now and figured I would try something else. It's for my freshwater tanks. Is there a benefit of using the liquid tests instead of the strip tests? Anything that's cheap but worth it? Any recommendations? Thanks *SUNSMILE*

 

[alter40]

I use the API freshwater master test kit. Its around $15 and seems to work very well.

 

[brian1973]

I recently went thru this, I was using Jungle labs 6 in one test strips but I went with the recommendation of other board members and bought an API master test kit at Petsmart for 27.00, I compared it's reading to the strips and the strips were accurate enough that i am using them for quick tests, since i am anal and test it constantly, but they dont test for ammonia but for the price the API freshwater master kit is well worth it and easy to read for the most part.

 

[brian1973]

hey whered u get yours for $15...i got ripped off

 

[alter40]

Freshwater Master Test Kit

Thats not where I got mine but hey they are the sponsors so there ya go

 

[Kissyboots]

Looks good. How many separate tests can I get out of it?

 

[TabMorte]

I use the Nutrafin (Hagen) Master Freshwater Testkit which gets me 80 to 100 tests on PH, Ammonia and Nitrates. I had to buy Nitrates on its own though (for some odd reason they don't include it)

 

[brian1973]

the API I was told does like 200 but i dont know for sure, thats what I was told by another board member. it comes with PH, High PH (for reading above 7.8 i think), Nitrate, Nitrite, Amonia. I still use strips for chlorine.

 

[marvin]

lol my lps said he could get better results with the water in his mouth than strips api is the ticket

 

[pwrmacG4]

i have the api master kit.. works great!

 

[Wind_Danzer]

Same as the rest API master test kit and got it got 16 bucks at local store (not chain).

Works well and even has glass tester tubes, better then the original liquid tester I had.

 

[Kissyboots]

Well, I just got my API master test kit from the aquarium guys (thanks so much). Haven't used it yet but will next week. Looks cool though.

 

[Lone Wolff]

Just an FYI to anyone who can only get these online or your LFS wants way too much money for them...Walmart offers them via their Ship to Store option. You can avoid shipping costs that way if you do not have a large enough order from Aquariumguys to offset shipping costs.

 

[brooklynfish]

I use seperate API test kits. For Ph, I use wardleys test kit. For Api, this is how many tests you can get out of Amm., Nitrate, and Nitrite (as said on box):
Ammonia-130 tests
Nitrate-90 tests
Nitrite-180 tests

Edit: Almost forgot, I use API's tap water conditioner, which treats 740 gal.

 

[d3sc3n7]

Brooklyn's post right there, goes to show how well worth the $ the API kits are

 

[pmcsomething]

What kit can test the gH and kH as well? I am looking for a test kit that can do most of them tests. I like the API one but it seems to be missing ther gH and Kh.

 

[iapetus]

What kit can test the gH and kH as well? I am looking for a test kit that can do most of them tests. I like the API one but it seems to be missing ther gH and Kh.

I was sold Jungle dip tests when I first got my 10G tank. Most people shun the dip tests, but it did test gH and kH, as well as chlorine. I've since switched to the API Master Kit, but I did like having the gH, kH and chlorine tests.

 

[pwrmacG4]

Brooklyn's post right there, goes to show how well worth the $ the API kits are

so true.. I just tested my water multiple times a day for weeks and I barely used any!

 

[Wind_Danzer]

Well my API ammonia test part of the kit kicked the bucket in only a couple of months so now I have to see if I can just buy the little bottles or if I have to go with a whole seperate ammonia kit.