hey there.

[Mitch]

g'day mate good to see another aussie! i thought i was alone.

 

[Alien Anna]

ive heard nothing good about those maby im mistaken but get the ones with the test tube and the liquid testing, its much more accuret i think, it takez bout 6 minutes but for 5 minutes you are waiting

I'm surprised - I use them all the time, as a first test. Then I usually check anything suspicious with the more complicated tests. I've never had a problem with accuracy - except that the strips don't give you the level of precision some tests can give, and of course it only takes a minute per tank. But, if my strip shows nitrite, or a pH below 6, or nitrate above 50, I know I've got a problem and can investigate further.

 

[William]

Hey Alien Anna talk about long time no see!

 

[Alien Anna]

Hey Alien Anna talk about long time no see!

Hi - sorry, yes, the two-footed mammals in the house needed attention. I'm now the proud owner of two autistic kids (another one got diagnosed a few months back) and I've been a little busy with psychologists and Occupational Therapists and Learning Disabilities Advisors and goodness knows who else. Happy days...

I had to give up my dream of a cichlid tank and instead turned it into a livebearer tank with fancy guppies and mollies. Given the recent catastrophe during this heatwave (I was away and my neighbour didn't know what to do and I lost a ton of fish), I'm glad I didn't have any "26 quid per pair" cichlids. I was fond of those lyretail mollies, however, and Brillo the bristlenosed plec...

 

[William]

Hey Alien Anna talk about long time no see!

Hi - sorry, yes, the two-footed mammals in the house needed attention. I'm now the proud owner of two autistic kids (another one got diagnosed a few months back) and I've been a little busy with psychologists and Occupational Therapists and Learning Disabilities Advisors and goodness knows who else. Happy days...

I had to give up my dream of a cichlid tank and instead turned it into a livebearer tank with fancy guppies and mollies. Given the recent catastrophe during this heatwave (I was away and my neighbour didn't know what to do and I lost a ton of fish), I'm glad I didn't have any "26 quid per pair" cichlids. I was fond of those lyretail mollies, however, and Brillo the bristlenosed plec...

Sorry to hear of you're fish losses, but as you say it could have been a lot worst if you'd lost more valuable fish, certainly in terms of hitting your account. I hope that some survived and the great thing about them is they'll soon reproduce back to their original levels, assuming there are some females of each...

Also sorry to hear about brillo, he sounded a character, had you had him long? Its a nice name, I guess from brillo pads are they called for cleaning?

Anyway its really nice to hear from you, and good to see you around, and I know quite a few of the other "old hands" will say the same

William

 

[sg13commander]

Mitch-AHH! wow you are only the second aussie i have seen on this forum. i think our laid back attitude is showing! We are grossly out numbered!
Alien Anna- really sorry to hear about your fish i've only had mine a month and i would be sad if they died

 

[cichlidmaster]

Hi sg13 and welcome!!

A few comments if I may................

First about test kits.....

The tablet type of kits are probably the least effective. The tablets can be rendered useless if not kept in a comtrolled invironment. They can be affected by changes in humidity ect.

The test strip version are probably the second best way to go, but I believe the strips can be affected by the same things.

The liquid reagents in liquid test kits cannot be affected by these changes and are therefore IMO the best way to go.

Keep in mind however that even the liquid test kits have one drawback....age!!!

Make sure to check the expiration date on any test kit you buy.


Second......

Welcome back AA!! Good to see you again. So sorry bout the fish losses as well.

Last..........

sg13.....

You said you purchased a ph test kit as well as some equipment for hatching brines shrimp.

Is this the ONLY test kit you purchased?? If so it is probably the one you least need to monitor your water parameters during and after cycling your tank!!

Most fish will do fine in the ph of your tap water as they were more than likely in the same water at your LFS!!

Please consider getting at least a ammonia and nitrite kit.

CM

 

[sg13commander]

CM- i'm getting more money on wednesday (it is late fri. at the moment) and will be able to get more test kits when my finances free up i'll ask for the kits at one of three stores and shop around.