Full Water Test Kit

[markandjanice]

can anyone recommend a full water test kit for a tropical fish tank setup? i'm wanting to buy one and not sure which one to get. i want to be able to test EVERYTHING so will need the glass cylinders

i'm in england also.

thanks

 

[KittyKat]

If you're slightly on a budget, then an API master test kit and the "GH and KH" kit set will cover you, both together should come to around 30 pounds or so. If you don't have a budget limit, apparently Salifert kits are better, but they really are considerably more expensive per test.

 

[markandjanice]

If you're slightly on a budget, then an API master test kit and the "GH and KH" kit set will cover you, both together should come to around 30 pounds or so. If you don't have a budget limit, apparently Salifert kits are better, but they really are considerably more expensive per test.

hi kittykat, is this the item: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

 

[Grant1897]

If you're slightly on a budget, then an API master test kit and the "GH and KH" kit set will cover you, both together should come to around 30 pounds or so. If you don't have a budget limit, apparently Salifert kits are better, but they really are considerably more expensive per test.

hi kittykat, is this the item: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

That's the one

 

[markandjanice]

If you're slightly on a budget, then an API master test kit and the "GH and KH" kit set will cover you, both together should come to around 30 pounds or so. If you don't have a budget limit, apparently Salifert kits are better, but they really are considerably more expensive per test.

hi kittykat, is this the item: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-Master-test-kit-/260669737422?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3cb12089ce

That's the one

ordered! thanks

 

[KittyKat]

…and this is the other half: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-GH-KH-Test-Kit-/260550776897?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3caa095841

 

[markandjanice]

…and this is the other half: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-GH-KH-Test-Kit-/260550776897?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3caa095841

HI KITTYKAT, ive ordered the full kit at £21 what does this do sorry if sounding thick here? if i need it i'll get it but what does it do that the full kit doesnt?

 

[KittyKat]

…and this is the other half: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/API-Freshwater-GH-KH-Test-Kit-/260550776897?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item3caa095841

HI KITTYKAT, ive ordered the full kit at £21 what does this do sorry if sounding thick here? if i need it i'll get it but what does it do that the full kit doesnt?

It's not the full kit that you ordered, it's just the ones that API call "master test kit" The description in that auction says: "Contains test kits for pH, High Range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate.".

The two most important kits are ammonia and nitrite, the next two important ones are GH and KH, and the least important two out of the common kits are pH and nitrite. These 6 make up the "full" standard kit. The hardness tests (KH and GH) are not included in the "master test kit" product, so need to be bought separately.

On top of that, some people also test for various plant nutriets, CO[sub]2[/sub] and oxygen, but these are not really of much interest to most people.

 

[markandjanice]

ah ok i got ya...i'll have to get that one after payday, for now i have the most important one tho i guess, but i will get the other also

 

[KittyKat]

ah ok i got ya...i'll have to get that one after payday, for now i have the most important one tho i guess, but i will get the other also

Should be fine, in the mean time, you can figure out what the hardnesses are and how to interpret them The hardness is actually really useful because the KH indicates whether you are likely to have a pH crash or not, and GH is the general hardness, so it helps you pick the right fish for your setup.

 

[markandjanice]

ah ok i got ya...i'll have to get that one after payday, for now i have the most important one tho i guess, but i will get the other also

Should be fine, in the mean time, you can figure out what the hardnesses are and how to interpret them The hardness is actually really useful because the KH indicates whether you are likely to have a pH crash or not, and GH is the general hardness, so it helps you pick the right fish for your setup.

great kittykat, thanks for the help i feel am a little more "gen'd up" on it now