I was wondering if there is one tester that can test everything. pH, hardness, CO2 levels, iron, nitrates? or mustI buy one tester for each thing we need to check? if so, which do you suggest? any ideas?
For basic testing I recommend getting a digital pH tester, and perhaps a Nitrite test kit. For testing CO2 levels you can add a KH test kit. You can determine the CO2 levels by using the pH and KH levels on the CO2 chart. (google CO2 chart)
Hi Rattail, I bought a Hagen Test kit, which (I believe, until I'm told otherwise) that this will cover all the tests you need for the aquarium. It takes me about 35 mins to do all the tests, if you go in the right sequence.
Hi Rattail again! I have no idea. I bought my kit for R500.00 (which I am told is a bargain), compared to a price of over R900.00. If you go onto www.hagen.com I think you can get a price from there.
please clarify such a bold statement? how does one know if your pH or nitrate levels are too high? I think only by experience can you "read" the signs by simply looking at the tank and smellingthe water.
Test kits are unnecessary in *MY* opinion. Most kits are either old and stale by the time we get them or they are very difficult to read (for me anyway). If you use the 'Estimative Index' for dosing your plants with nutrients (Google it) there is no need for test kits. Perhaps a pH kit but even that is a waste of time. Even if you don't have the exact pH for the fish you are keeping it is always recommended to not mess with the pH anyway. So whats the point of even owning one? Keep in mind that I do know where the reservoir is that my water is coming from and once every 3 or 4 months they fax me a water report (I urge all of you to do this ). So just by looking at the report you can see that the water specs pretty much stay stable throughouit the year. It costs me nothing, test kits are daylight robbery in my opinion, chuck em
Cameron I hear what you say. I have not tested my water in 2years. BUT what about when you are planning to set up a higher tech CO2 system. I thought that pH and hardness are essential to obtain CO2 levels till you figure out how much CO2 to add? Neels
Indicator plants and fish. A cheap alternative, accompanied by CO2 & pH level indicators. I find these to work better and last longer than pH & KH test kits, no need for calculations, just everyday instant results.
Neels, quite correct, but even then I would only buy the KH kit and then perhaps a pin point pH monitor. Although expensive the pH monitor will last for years as opposed to those dodgy pH tests... Even then, on a high tech tank folks are usually using pH controllers anyway. I don't trust test kits, call me paranoid
I now remember and agree. I think it's essntial in the beginning, but once the aquarium has been established, tetsing is no longer necessary UNTIL YOU CHANGE something. I remember not testing my tanks either. I simply used to smell the water.
Rattail, I will agree with Cameron with reference to test kits, as Cameron says, they are either expired or old. South Africa has the best quality water in the world. using pH testers is useless,our water does not have enough buffering to give you the correct reading. The only way one can establish a correct reading is purchasing a digital pH meter which you calibrate with a 4.0buffer and a 7.0 buffer. It is the best and most reliable reading. Just a word of advice, you get pen type pH meters and you get monitors/controllers. The difference here is, the pen type is cheap, but will last you and average of a year, then you have to through it away( disposable).On the other hand the pH monitors/controllers have a seperate pH probe connected via a BNC connector to the unit, so when the probe becomes damaged or no longer give a true reading, one just replaces the probe. The advantage of using a controller type pH unit, is you set what level pH you want and this id connected to your CO2, and when the pH rises the system automatically engages the solenoid and releases CO2, thereby always having a stable pH. Getting into pH probes can be a lengthy subject, because the diameter of the sensor varies according to types. In other words the larger the sensor unit the more accurate and fast response on gets.
Thanks, Phillip. That sounds very expensive though.... My pH seems to stay the same from day to day despite it being a newly setup aquarium. I'd like to have a reliable measuring device, but as I said.... sounds expensive!
You can get a pen for about R350 (Hagen if I recall correctly). Prof Dirk, or was it Leslie that sells them? I can enquire for you if needs be?
Philip is 100% correct. The way that the pH probes determines your pH is by measuring current over the probe. In soft water this current is very low which means that you get unreliable readings. I am still saving up for a proper pH measurer as its quite important to measure the pH, especially in a tank with a high bio load. The nitrification process will keep on pushing the pH down and you can sit with problems if you dont stay on top of the situation. The milwaukee and Hannah range seems to be quite good. You can get the milwaukee range from www.spraytech.co.za
Heh. One of the postdocs had a pH meter in their pocket the other day when we were in the pub. We put it in drinks to see how acidic they were. Brandy and coke won.
