Hello I'm having bit trouble with the testing kits
at my LFS I only find tester for
ph
kh
ci
cu

all over only found one LFS with ammonia test kits it said test for nh3 and nh4 ammonia from brand name API is that one, the one I should be getting?

can't find any nitrite and nitrate tester yet, from here I learned I need ph nitrate and nitrite tester but all I can get now is ammonia tester so now I'm changing about 20% of water every 1 or 2 days to make sure water are not poisoning with ammonia. adding anti-chlorine to bucket of tap water and run a powerhead in it for few minutes before putting it in the tank hoping no chlorine in it so the beneficial bacteria won't be killed.

no algae grown at all yet it's over 2 months time no major cleaning just regular gravel vac, filter cleaning and water changes but the tank are so called overstock
4 giant gourami 4 Oscar 2 Hujeta Gar and a pleco
biggest are the pleco all others 4 inch and below

should I just test ph and ammonia only? so when I'm not seeing ammonia it would be like beneficial bacteria should have ionized the ammonia to nitrite and to nitrate when I see 0 ammonia ppm? it's tested before water changes

I'm still keep searching for test kit, the LFS said they are not going to import anymore test kits he said 10 pack of test kits took him 1 years to clear he is better of selling glass tank and plastic cover at least they are more demand, sad sad I had search over 10 LFS.

with low ammonia does it means the tank is cycled?

ammonia should be zero, as well as nitrites.
Can't you order a masterkit API on the internet?
That should work!

I had never tried credit card, I have one but only used for air-tickets online
internet security here sux ISP not does not has a fire-wall, will try to find a safe web to ordered it or while in MAY go checking up some aquarium when I go to the Capital

will go get ph tester tomorrow
if ammonia is 0ppm would that means water is cycled?

Hi ,

I agree with Noddy, you will be able to buy Api master kit on ebay. If you set yourself up with paypal,this is very secure. Api master kit really is the real deal,tests for ammonia, nitirite,nitrate and ph.

In answer to your question about testing only ammonia and ph, in my opinion you should test nitrite and nitrate as well. Nitrite is very toxic and even high nitrates can stress a fish. It does sound as your tank is cycled. You say it has been running for 2 months, I would have thought you would have at least high ammonia levels if not, considering the ammount of fish you have. I was wondering what size your tank is, because with those fish will quickly pollute the tank unless you have really good filtration. A properly cycle tank should have ammonia and nitrite as nil with a small ammount of nitrate. All the ph reading is good to know,the most important regard is that is doesn't fluctuate.

Anyway happy fishkeeping and I hope you can get the test kit you want. I find it really adds to my enjoyment of keeping oscars. Keeping the water parameters is almost as satisfying as watching the fish.

Regard,

Nigel.

Paypal is very secure, or you could find shops selling testers on the net and phone them and buy it

www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl368...6695%23%23-1%23%23-1 ~~q617069~~nc3684-def-USD-18535%23%234%23%23i&query=api&hits=12&offset=

here is where i got mine, cheaper than LFS


its the API master kit

searching many LFS found nitrat tester
JBL brand, LFS said it's German made brand should be alright but
it seems like it's been in there for ages and she's so happy that I wanna buy it
I dunno that if I do it right it show 1 ppm nitrate
come with 2 test tube and 2 for mixture, the instruction said 10 ml tank water to each empty bottle

and mix with first reagens powder and second reagens liquid and shake 1 min and wait for 10 minutes I did both reagens to the first bottle
and since shake it's already at the colors of 1ppm and after 10 minutes it's till the same so I waited longer 30 minutes it's still the same
1ppm

why does it need 2 bottle when I only mix them in first bottle? for comparison with the mixture bottle or??

I dunno the result is accurate or not but I have been changing water very frequently once every 1 or 2 days about 20-30% water changes. should I try not changing water for a week or more and test again to see if the tester is accurate?

or should I try to test it with rain water so I should get 0 nitrate for sure?
also the mixture bottle 1 after mixture it look a bit cloudy or it should be light clear?


and thanks a lots mylutino, for the URL but it only deliver within United State

JBL nitrat tester around USD15.79 50x test
API Ammonia tester around USD9.71 130x test

the one here is more expensive is it?
this is by far the last nitrat test from that LFS and she said, she will not import water testing kid ever, no demand for it, will got to Malaysia Capital on MAY for courses I think there should be more tester I can find, I live in a small town SOB SOB

for the time being I'll try to search for it on the internet like E-bay hope I get a good deal there, need to find one who are willing to post it to me.


==========================================================================

local LFS 11 arowana in 1 tank 6 feet
this LFS does sell ph and kh test kit but, he actually said I should add ph tester to my tank OMG, he really knows nothing about test kit
------------------------

nitrat testing
------------------------

JBL nitrat test kit
------------------------

API ammonia test kit
------------------------

Im a little confused from your post. Follow the instructions to the letter, if you dont mix long enough or dont use exactly the right proportions then you will get a false reading

product above looks good, is it accurate?

I have never used the jbl testers but the api testers are great

sorry for the the hassle
follow the instruction does it correctly but, dunno if that tester works cos I don't find any expiry date. the 2nd bottle label seem yellowish could be very old

worry about that tester does not work





JBL Nitrate tester is the only nitrate tester I can find at the moment, so better than nothing tested, so I tried it out hopefully it works

I will say one thing, that tester in the pic thats made from seachem, might be good. Seachem manufactures the best water conditioner (in my opinion) called Prime and maybe their testers are good too!