master testing kit question

[Zagz]

I have decided that I will purchase a master testing kit instead of the individual kits my [acronym:1bc151e85e="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:1bc151e85e] had advised me to purchase. Of course they make more money by me buying individual kits. My question is aside from ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and [acronym:1bc151e85e="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:1bc151e85e], what are the most important things to test for? That way I can make sure the kit I purchase has all the necessary tests in it.

[jersysman]

The master kit has everything you mentioned. It also comes with a high [acronym:ba454d4e13="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:ba454d4e13] test. Sometimes it is good to know the [acronym:ba454d4e13="Carbonate Hardness"]kh[/acronym:ba454d4e13]/[acronym:ba454d4e13="General Hardness"]gh[/acronym:ba454d4e13] of your water. That test kit comes separately.

[gheitman]

I just bought the Hagen Master Test Kit and it included tests for high and low pH, [acronym:26f67345d7="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:26f67345d7], [acronym:26f67345d7="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:26f67345d7], Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium and Iron. I got it for $39.99 plus shipping from www.bigalsonline.com.

[RoK]

AP master test kit is much cheaper and has everything you need, if you want the [acronym:b525f0694f="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:b525f0694f] and [acronym:b525f0694f="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:b525f0694f] kit it's only $4.49 more for both.

[TomK2]

Really, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, high and low pH are all you really need. The hardness tests aren't all that much help, unless you are manipulating the water or have tap water that is one extreme or another. I bought the hardness tests out of curiosity, it was only 4 dollars or so. Once cycled, you will only use nitrate and pH.

[Zagz]

I got the Ap master kit today and all water parameters are good. Ammonia 0ppm, nitrites 0ppm, nitrates 10ppm, [acronym:72187f0482="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:72187f0482] 7.4. All my fish are happy and they all eat out of my hand when I feed them by hand, I make a point of not doing it too often so they don't think it is the only way to eat. One of my black mollies prefers to nip my fingers though [acronym:72187f0482="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:72187f0482], I don't know if he is doing it on purpose or just missing the food. I am very happy that my babies are happy and healthy!