Test kits

[bluejam]

Hi everyone. Well, I finally have water in my 55 FOWLR, it's at 79 degrees, sg at 1.023 and will be adding 25# cured LR this sat. My HOB w/bio has been running all week. Installing two MJ1200 this weekend. AquaC Remora installed but won't run till this baby is cycled. Im excited, yet nervous!
I took a sample of water to one LFS and he said my pH was a bit high. I went to another and he said it was perfect but I had traces of Nitrite. There is nothing alive or dead. Just new coral sand fresh out of the bags.
I am not worried much but feel I'll just trust my own tests in the future.
Any reccomended brands/types?
Should I get a whole kit or separates?
I learned enough so far to test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH. Anything else?
How often?
Sorry for so many questions but I want to cover the gamut of testing.
BTW, we have wonderful water out of the tap here in Portland.

 

[logman17]

FWIW-

I tried 3 different test kits, Seachem, quick-dip strips, and now the hagen master kit.

The hagen is by far the easiest and accurate, IMO.

I got it from ebay, $50.00 or so, came in a hard carrying case with:
NO2, NO3, AMM, PO4, Iron, PH, CA, kH.
It works great, even has a set-up inside the case for putting the test tubes. Most take 2-5 mins, but the ammonia takes 20 to complete.

I think it will do around 75 tests each.

I would buy another one.

-Logan

 

[malkore]

My experience has shown that SeaChem kits are more accurate than Hagen, Aquarium Pharm, and Red Sea.

SeaChem or SaliFert test kits are preferred. If you wanna spend a lot of money you can look at LaMotte and Hach brands which are as close to labratory accuracy as the home consumer can get.