Must Have Water testers??

**wongce** · 10th Sep 2011, 10:18

Hi,

Can someone recommend me some Must Have Tester?

I just bought a permanent Ammonia tester from seachem..i really don't know whether it is accurate or not... as it always show SAFE level...LOL .

**guppee** · 10th Sep 2011, 10:35

I would recommend the nitrate tester if you are into plants, which will inform you when nitrate is too high and time for wc, else algae will set in.
Also the kh tester if you are blowing co2 into the tank, to maintain the right level of buffering.

**Shadow** · 10th Sep 2011, 11:26

On contrary, for planted tank you dont need to get any tester as long as you do weekly water change. You might go away with once a month water change for big tank.

All this tester are normally for fauna. They are more sensitive to sudden change than plant

**wongce** · 10th Sep 2011, 11:40

thanks shadow for the reply..

**guppee** · 10th Sep 2011, 12:15

Originally Posted by Shadow

On contrary, for planted tank you dont need to get any tester as long as you do weekly water change. You might go away with once a month water change for big tank.

All this tester are normally for fauna. They are more sensitive to sudden change than plant

Really eh?
If that is the case I wonder why all the lfs who sell plants keep so many types of testing kits, but those lfs who sell fauna only, doesn't. They must be as mis-informed as me.

**Shadow** · 10th Sep 2011, 14:05

Give it a try, google info about "estimate index". It will give you better idea about nutrient. Forget about lfs, sorry to say but not many of them know what they are doing, the science behind it. Instead look around on different forums, if you like science, join the western forum.

**Shadow** · 10th Sep 2011, 14:14

Check out the plant requirement on the web. For example needle leaf java fern. Their ph requirement is 5 to 8. Another example is hairgrass, ph requirement 5 to 7.5. Meaning they have no problem with ph swing. Sure they do have sensitive plant but most of plants able to thrive in wide range of environtment.

**guppee** · 10th Sep 2011, 14:48

I'll reserve further comment, before this thread gets lamer.

**yepee** · 12th Sep 2011, 11:00

Hi

Well normally if you got chiller most of the plant can grow well. About test kit personally i feel it good to learnt it part of the fish hobby to get to know everything and test everything.There no right or wrong.I have never use a test kit for my planted tank but after i keep shrimp i start to buy tester kit...can be some kind of fun. but you only use them once a while....so if you have $$$$ to spent well it ok to know more about your water and tank through all these test.