Brand names of good test kits

[kittymoore]

DOes anyone have a good list of brand-name test kits for FW acquarium newbies? Is there a good Internet source for these kits and other supplies? My local acquarium guy is too interested in selling his own advice. Please help... :D

[Allivymar]

I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals liquid tests. Reliable, at least in my experience. They come with vials and reagents; you can pick em up at the [acronym:711841e76b="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:711841e76b] without needing any input from your guy *grin*

[lmw80]

I also use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. The liquid tests take a little longer...the nitrate test, you gotta shake a minute here, have it sit for 5 minutes there, lol. As Allivymar said, it's well worth it. Lol, sometimes I like to pretend I am a scientist with all those vials!

My boyfriend uses the test strips from Mardel. They aren't as accurate....more like "in the range of". They are a lot quicker though. Dip one in and read the results.

[ADCISCO]

I have used both dry and liquid Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test. I like the liquid because its just faster. Dry tabs you have to shake until they disolve. But I think that the dry tabs might be more accurate...not sure...have had a strange situation with that in the past 2 days...one verses the other. One says perfect and the other says Whoa....AMMONIA! So I personally like the liquid for the fact that it is an instant result.