Test Kit

My LFS told me to buy these test strips for quick easy test, so I did, but I dont see Ammonia, it only hast Nitrites, nitrates, PH, ALK and Hardness. I looked all weekend at three differnt LFS's and cant not find an ammonia tester, am I miaasing somehting here.

Thanks,
Razorack--

 

You really don't want to use the test strips not very acurate! Everyone here will tell you different kits to get and what they like but you have to find what you like. You want test kits that are going to take water from the tank and test that in test tubes. I personally use aquarium pharmicuticals or API! Get rid of your strips.

 

The test strips that my LFS uses as a "quick test" showed my nitrates as 20ppm on my cycling 150G. When I told him to recheck it with a real test, it turned blood red, way past 200ppm. Without batting an eye, he grabbed the carton of strips and they went right into the trash can. I also use the API kits, both SW Master and the Reef Master kits. Seachem is good too. Salifert is good, but they really don't have an "all in one" kit like the others.

 

+1 on strips being garbage. I use API for everything but MG, and for that I use Red Sea

 

API is a decent entry level test, but many people end up upgrading to a more "higher" end brand per se. I use Tropic Marin for most of my tests and Red Sea for the rest. There is much debate on test kits and there quality and is a higher price worth it. Yes, and no on the higher price tag. Its a mix between you get what you pay for and paying for a brand such as "NIKE" or whatever. Salifert is very popular but I know last summer or so they were having QC issues and with the ever rising price of the Euro(until lately) the price tag seems to be ever rising. Elos is another "higher end" test that alot of people rave about but every one I've talked to that used them didn't say they were any more impressive than say Salifert. I know Red Sea is used by quite a few coral "farms" and wholesalers if that has any weight.
Long story short the liquid reagents are going to be more accurate than a strip, but at the end of the day all test kits are hobbyist grade and until we all start buying Hach or Merck test kits we will all have some inconsistency and quality issues.

Good luck

 

I have been using the Seachem and Salifert test kits... both are very well documented and the results seem to be consistant/repeatable.

Based on Dr. Fragenstein's comments... I will go back and take another look at the Red Sea brand.

 

Me2

 

It's funny, ELOS makes some nice things, but I have heard that their skimmers are junk. I know it's off subject, it just came to mind.

 

I used the strips for my hot tub and they are junk even for that. It was way off when I had the pool place test the water. I think mine got a little wet from humidity and they stopped working. Now I use the test tube ones.