PH Test & Adjuster Kit

Man this is all so confusing?! There are so many kits out there since I left which should I pick when starting up a tank? Do they all work the same or are some kits better than others? Any help on the subject would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

Even here.... we have a lot of experts who will (definitely) respond to your query..... but .... since it is early morning (12h38).... please be patient.... everyone is asleep..... BUT.... watch this spot in the morning (note to members..... I just know you all have the answer)......

 

lol i suggest you create 1 thread, maybe call it "My first tank or something" where you can ask all your questions else you gonna be lost jumpin from one to the other, but then again its your choice, this is also good... to answer your question and im sure a lot will not agree with me on this, from my point of view i would rather spend the money on other things,, if you keep your tank maintained you shouldn't end up needing those kits and if you feel your fish are not too happy maybe take a sample to you LFS and they should be able to give test your water. unless you know there are serious problems with the water in your area.. just my opinion...

 

I dont know about adjuster kits, but for water testing I use the Salifert test kits....they've served me well and alot of people seem to like them.

 

People were recommending me this test kit:

 

hi all can any one maybe give me a quick run through on the difference between a drop cheker and a ph test as i understand that the both measure ph?

 

@Infected Mushroom Firstly, Stay far away from any of those adjuster kits (ph up, ph down). Adjusting pH levels are a bit more complex than most lfs would admit. There are much safer ways to adjust pH levels, but being a beginner I would recommend that you stick to your tap water pH, unless it is out of the normal ranges (6.0 to 7.5 pH).

As for pH test kits, the drop sets work well, but you may have problems noting the exact pH levels (I am a bit colour shade blind, so I eventually bought an electronic tester. VERY important thing about pH drop checkers are the expiry date, and they only last about 6 months.

@manicmonkey As far as I know drop checkers are a type of pH tester, you also get electronic pH testers and pH paper test strips.

 

PS: I have noticed that a few members recommend that buying test kits are a waste of money and that you don't really need them. I couldn't DISAGREE more with this.

Imagine driving a car without an instrument panel. The car may be driving fine and it may have been running without any problems for a year or two, but during all this time you will not know how much fuel is in the car, you won't know what temperature your car is running at, you won't know if you're oil is too low, etc. In my view that is very irresponsible and dangerous.

 

Neels, I could not agree MORE with what you say. !!
Unless you KNOW EXACTLY what your water parameters are - then how can anyone know what conditions the fish are living in?
So, I would recommend that everyone should invest in GOOD quality electronic Ph meter. Everyone should also know exactly what the TDS ( Total Dissolved Solids) of our water source is - be it tap water or borehole water that we use. A TDS meter is handy to have, but not a necessity, as you can get your LFS to test the water for you - probably testing the TDS twice a year should be fine. The same applies for Ph testing - but then you have to go off to your LFS every time to do that. Ph is very variable and can change so quickly - sometimes with devastating results, so to have your own meter is vital to determine immediate results.
Test kits for Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia are relatively cheap so you should never be without one.
Quite frankly, ( and I am sure everyone on here will agree with me) , that knowledge of water chemistry is the single most important factor of fish keeping. Once you know that, then you can give your specific species of fish that you intend keeping, the exact conditions for their optimum health and longevity.
We can all spend hundreds ( or Thousands - I did not just say THAT !!!) of Rand's on buying fish, but we don't want to spend money on good equipment - does not make any sense to me.
Get your water conditions right and then fish keeping becomes a pleasure as opposed to a expensive headache and heartache.

 

@Infected Mushroom - Don't worry too much about testing your water unless you are setting it up for the first time. Good maintenance and regular water changes will keep those nasties at bay. Just remember to dechlorinate your tap water and get bacteria in a bottle to help your good bacteria. You can also get the Seachem PH and Ammonia alert disks which sit inside your tank permanently and are a quick visual check that things are ok.

By the way, I have the Sera Master test kit but I haven't tested my tank in awhile. When I started my tank I messed with my PH etc but as has been said above..as long as it's stable and within a range your fish can handle stick with it and don't fiddle. HTH

 

Okay I am a but confused now guys, should or should I not get a test kit and if so would a normal one do or is a electronic one a must have. Also remember guys I am a newbie here, so it is baby steps for me.

 

Bottom line : If you have got the cash I say get them. If not then just use your LFS regularly if you have any doubt about your water conditions.
The trouble is what happens if you get home, see a problem and your LFS is closed and you REALLY need them.
The Seachem discs are not that expensive and a VERY GOOD investment - get those 2 recommended above for sure I reckon. They are very good and quick indicators of things starting to going wrong.

 

As a start, why don't you look at the all in one test strips. Apparantly not as accurate as the solution method but for your requirements it would be fine. I've never used them but I've read you can cut them in half and double the amount of tests you can do.

 

In my opinion, a pH test kit is the most critical of all the tests, with the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate following in that order.

The Api tests I have used for years and have found them to be the most reliable for me. I do not believe the test strips are even worth the paper they are stuck onto. I trust the pH pens even less, as these are often out of calibration, and inaccurate. If you really want an electric one, you will need a lab grade, and only then would I consider them accurate. (And these cost more than some of our total tank set ups!)

So yes, get yourself that test kit, and slowly add on the other 3. (Alternately Api Masters have a complete kit with all 4 in one box... about R550 for the kit... money well spent)

Regards

 

Thanks for the great advice guys, I decided to get a PH test kit just to be on the safe side. Next month I will invest in a Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate kit.