20 Gallon Tank

[Pabs311]

not sure if petco sells that particular one. i know they do have a master test kit there, but i think it does every water param u could possibly imagine, lol. i think it's around $50 . i'll double check when i stop in after work.

thanks for the tip CKutz.

*update...

Checked petco, they are asking around $32 for the API kit (test ph, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite), it would cost me around $25 with my discount, which isn't bad. i might shop around to see if i can find it a little cheaper, or just wait till the end of the week (pay day ya know) to get it.

 

[CKutz]

sounds good. i hated spending that much on something that seems so simple..but there's not really anyway around it..and it is pretty much a necessity. especially when you're starting out. cause your tank is kinda in a delicate state for awhile, and things can go a little haywire, and it's important to be able to check those levels.

 

[Pabs311]

yea, the only benefit is that u usually get over 50 tests for one of those master kits, which is a little more economic than the strips (25 strips for $15!!!!).

and i'd rather spend the money on something like that rather than having to spend money to replace fish all the time because my water is outta wack.

 

[CKutz]

keep that logic up and you should have a very nice, healthy tank

 

[Pabs311]

thanks for the good words... i'll keep u posted on how things go!

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, the API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the one that I and probably the majority of beginners here in the beginners section use for our fishless and fish-in cycles and periodic testing thereafter. A number of members have pointed out that they've found these from this or that vendor on e-bay for apparently the lowest price, but not that different from what you're talking about there with your discount. Also, any of the major liquid-reagent-based test kits including Nutrafin Mini-Master and Salifert will be fine for this kind of testing.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Pabs311]

i looked around at some of the other test kits they had there, and the API was the least expensive... they had one there from Aqueon for $50!!!! i'm gonna check the other 2 LFS around me and see what they carry. the good thing about living in a fairly large city is there's plenty of LFS around for competative shopping.

 

[Pabs311]

ok so here's what i have for my final stocking:

3 swordtails
3 Platies
3 Corys
1 dwarf guorami
3 ghost shrimp

i think i'm gonna turn my tank into a fully planted tank too... maybe start that project within the next couple weeks

 

[rrfreak]

I would get 5 more Platys, 5 for sword tails, and 3 more corydoras.