talofa

Just wondering if others have used it and what they thought of it. Just picked up a set of 25 strips.

pinkfloydpuffer

Yep, I used it... the nitrate test gave me a reading of 30 every time. I ditched it for the API master test kit, and I've never looked back.

Lucy

Hi welcome to Fish Lore.

A lot of the members find the strips to be inaccurate. I use the API master test kit. It's a liquid kit and very reliable.

talofa

thanks for the tips, ill be sure to check that out. this forum has been helping me learn a lot about fish keeping.

talofa

checking this API Master Kit out and it does not include tests for alkalinity, water hardness tests, and nitrate. do you guys use separate tests for those?

Shawnie

it does include it for nitrate ...the master kit that is...ive never tested for alkalinity or pH on my tanks...most fish will acclimate to differences and depend more on a stable reading than one that flectuates

Lucy

I test my ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Ph only a couple of times.

AlyeskaGirl

I cant get a freshwater master kit here were I live, I just looked online and about chocked on shipping rates....I live in alaska and shipping is always more!!! It sux!! Shipping for the kit was 19.99!!! and the kit was about 17.99!!! Silly is all i say...... all my fishstore carries are those teststrips and I dont like them......so I've been keepin a close eye on my fish and doin weekly water changes, cause I'm not gettin accurate test readings on anything at the moment.....

Lucy

The kit plus shipping is about what I paid at a LFS. Expensive, yes! But well worth the peace of mind knowing the parameters are stable. The kit lasts a long time too.

talofa

i got mines from an amazon third party merchant, costed about $24 with shipping ($18.45 + $5.75) to Hawaii and only took 5 days. Merchant was Absoloutely Pets

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255NCI

AlyeskaGirl

Oh thanks, I'll go check it out......

talofa

yep, us in Alaska and Hawaii always get screwed with this continental US (48 states) shipping mess. many times they will not ship or if they do, they charge an arm and a leg.

pam916

A lot of fish stores will test your water for free, so if you are concerned that your test kit may not being accurate, I would use it to test my water and then take a sample of your water to a store and have them test it and then compare the results.

talofa

yep, could/couldve done that. just wanted to see others opinions from their own personal experience, and consensus seemed to point toward API master kit.