Recommandation for test hit for ammonia , nitrite and nitrate?

[Kelvin247]

What brand? State why would you recommend this product would be helpful

Thanks

[vipered]

API, one of the cheaper and reliable brands. However I've read about the nitrate color chart is hard to tell the color difference with the test tube results at higher ppm.

[Urban Aquaria]

I use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit too and it works well.

As vipered mentioned, i also agree that the API color chart for nitrate does tend to be abit more difficult to differentiate between the 40ppm-80ppm-160ppm readings (its basically different shades of red)... but i guess if you are seeing any reddish color on those nitrate tests, it indicates the levels are already too high and its time for immediate action to reduce the nitrate levels.

[stressed]

Does anyone have experience with test strips that is supposingly able to test for a multitude of parameters at a go? Does it work only with a certain degree of accuracy?

[Urban Aquaria]

Does anyone have experience with test strips that is supposingly able to test for a multitude of parameters at a go? Does it work only with a certain degree of accuracy?

I've used test strip based kits before and they tend to be less accurate in the measurements, when compared to test tube reagent based kits, the test strips have a much wider variation in measurement.

I guess if you are okay with the less accurate measurements they can be used, but if you need accurate measurements (ie. specific pH or nitrate readings) and the test strips show higher or lower values, then it may cause issues with how you balance the parameters.

[stressed]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes I guess if the user just likes to know if the parameters are "in" or "out" only then it will suffice for general guidance.