Jump to content

Water Test Kits


agbart

Recommended Posts

Hi all, getting ready to set my tank up and was hoping that I could get some suggestions on test kits for the water. I'm not exactly sure which ones I need and was wondering if there is just one kit I could buy that would cover everything. I live in the middle of nowhere so I have to buy from the web and have it delivered. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GH KH a API freshwater master kit tds pen it all depends on how crazy you want to get and what shrimp your keeping also

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not gonna get to crazy just want to keep the shrmp alive. I'm planning on stocking it with the long arm shrimp out of the local river here. Are test kits a must have or can I get away without them. I'm a complete noob to this and I'm having a bit of information overload at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would prob just get a API freshwater master kit test the water parameters from where your going to collect the Macrobrachium Australiense from and get your tank as close to that as possible KH and GH would help

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally myself, I grabbed the SERA freshwater kit. I started needing refills for my other tests, and noticed they use heavy test beakers, and not that silly thin, filmsy, easy to break tubes API have.

Comes in a nice case, with little spots to hold the beakers as you test.

4001942040037C.jpg

I have used a couple kits, and single tests. SERA's tubes are reason alone.

Here is a pic

430798_10151376184992160_1192386954_n.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Bailey had it right. Its important to test the GH/KH of the water that you catch your shrimps in. Once you find out whats needed you then may need to buy buffers or water softener but you won't know until you test the water. I very rarely us an ammonia or nitrate test kit. My problem for fish losses was due to stress because my tap water has zero GH/KH

I hope that hasn't added to your dilemma.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not really adding to my dilemma just the amount of cash I have to spend, lol. All this info is great and I appreciate it a lot. The water in the outside taps in my town is pumped straight from the river untreated so I could just use that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
Personally myself' date=' I grabbed the SERA freshwater kit. I started needing refills for my other tests, and noticed they use heavy test beakers, and not that silly thin, filmsy, easy to break tubes API have.

Comes in a nice case, with little spots to hold the beakers as you test.

[img']http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/4/4001942040037C.jpg

I have used a couple kits, and single tests. SERA's tubes are reason alone.

Here is a pic

430798_10151376184992160_1192386954_n.jpg

i also a fans to Sera test kits, although I did not find a complete set like yours. Woww.

i bought sera Amonia kit, nitrit kit, nitrat kit, and PH kit. Love the big tubes too.

They help me understand the update conditions of my tank.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is it bad that I have only broken one API tube but every single sera tube I have had...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some might, I would call it "gaining experience & experimentation" lol :victorious:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Join Our Community!

    Register today, ask questions and share your shrimp and fish tank experiences with us!

  • Must Read SKF Articles

  • Posts

    • sdlTBfanUK
      Time for another update! The PH this morning is 6 and KH 0-1 (you can't measure zero obviously). I plan to check everything tomorrow and then a water change on satuday. At the moment the TDS is 190 which should drop to 170 after a water change and then 150ish after the following/next weeks water change. Last time I checked GH it was 6, but again I will do ALL the tests tomorrow. I had to resort to using a PH/KH- product (AQUACID) to get to where these parameters are now but as the water I use has PH6, GH0 and KH0 I assume/hope I won't need to use that from here on, but will see if the parameters stay stable for the next week and have a PH alert disc in the tank which should indicate any significant change. I don't like using these sort of products as a general rule and wouldn't if there were any shrimps in situ and that product has raised the TDS at about .5TDS per drop. I may well order some blue bolts towards the end of next week (the road to the house will be closed for a month from 3rd June so it is next week or wait another 6 weeks) and see how that goes. I plan to drip acclimate them overnight this time so as to not rush that as it shouldn't get cold indoors overnight anyway this time of year. This all depends on the tank parameters staying stable for the next week (aside from the mentioned TDS adjustments with the water changes), though the GH  may drop a tiny bit with using just RO to reduce the TDS but that is fine, and even could be a bonus. I did manage to find some nice floating plant that I had before (good old ebay), and will try and get a photo of that at some point to attach, Azolla red I think it is called? Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed for now but all appears to be going well at this point! Snails seem to be doing well at least.   
    • beanbag
      That shrimp itself survived the molt just fine, but left about half dozen eggs still in the shell. I haven't measured KH in a really long time, but assume it is zero since I don't have any rocks besides a few small pieces of lava rock.  Maybe you have unwanted rocks in your tank?  My tank is the "long" style which I really like because I have a HMF on one end, and a pump outlet spout that shoots water all the way to the other end.  I have no idea how many shimp it can support because I don't really understand waste management in a tank.  Shrimp poop eventually turns into mulm, but then what?
    • sdlTBfanUK
      As at time of this post the SL Aqua is available from this UK website, https://gbeeshrimp.co.uk/product/z1/
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Just in case someone may be looking for the SL Aqua it is available from this UK website at time of this post, https://gbeeshrimp.co.uk/product/z1/  
    • sdlTBfanUK
      Thats a great photo, beautiful blue bolt, I hope it survived the molt without dropping the eggs! I think I can just about see some black dots (eyes) on the central egg but can't be 100% sure. I used to (and plan to again) do weekly water change of 10-15% but if you do too large or quick (not drip in new water) that would likely trigger a molt. What KH are they in, my new setup is sitting at (and refusing to budge) KH 3 and PH 7.5 so I may have to settle for neocaridina shrimp this time as opposed to the caridina I want, though not looking/deciding just yet, give the tank a bit more of a run in! Tap water here starts at kH 14, tds 320, when filtered goes to KH 0 and PH 6 but when put in the tank keeps going to KH3 and PH 7.5 despite 3 x 50% water changes???? You may be at 'maximum capacity' with only 20L tank especially if the tank is a cube type rather than shallow type?
×
×
  • Create New...