Water testing options on a budget

To be clear, I completely agree with recommending that fishkeepers purchase a test kit. However, I occasionally get the impression that new, young or low income people who join here looking for help, balk at the price of a test kit. I can understand that. Especially if they've just spent a lot of money on stuff that they believed was all they needed to get started. It's even worse if it's stuff that we then have to tell them they didn't need to spend money on in the first place!

So...I don't want to not advise newcomers to get themselves a liquid test kit, but I want to know whether there are other options we can be suggesting so as not to scare them away as soon as they walk in the door

 

I usually suggest looking for sales for the liquid water test. Also amazon usually has it for only $20.00 which is usually cheaper then in a store.

I'm not sure what else would work, stripes seem to be not accurate and many don't include ammonia.

 

I'm always happy to help people prioritize needs, and I know we've had some members go that route. In all honesty, if they are looking to get things going quickly for lower cost and haven't cycled the tank, TSS is probably a good suggestion. Then you have a few weeks where you really can't test the water and get any good results.

Many stores will also run tests for free, though they usually use strips. I think, however, that suggesting people get that done if they can't afford the kit right away, and then either having them write down numbers or take pics of the tests results, can be extremely helpful.

Failing all of that, regular water changes (daily or every few days depending on the stocking level) for 1-2 months until the tank "should be" cycled and a close eye on the fish for any signs of ammonia or nitrite poisoning would probably be the best bet.

 

Yeah, I've suggested all of those at one time or another, but I thought it best to open up the discussion and find out what's on other members' minds. I don't want to be the only one suggesting alternatives, too!

 

The other things I suggest is how to get the other equipment, including the tank at a lower cost so they can then afford the liquid water test. I kind of recommend getting just the tank, not a kit, then getting filter and so forth through sales, craigslist and ebay.

 

True, though it's often the case that people asking for help do so after they've got the equipment and they're having trouble.

 

True, though it's often the case that people asking for help do so after they've got the equipment and they're having trouble.

That's true as well. It's a difficult situation, and I know how hard a budget can be. I pretty much got my equipment bit by bit paycheck by paycheck.

I know their are some tell tale signs of fish getting ammonia poising, and/or high nitrites that you can see without a test. For example red gills. I suppose some could go by such symptoms and do water changes until fish no longer show them until able to afford water test.

 

If you're fishless cycling... I've done just fine with test strips. They're not accurate to within a 10th of a ppm or anything, but I was always able to fishless cycle just fine with readings of "something" and "nothing."

 

If you're fishless cycling... I've done just fine with test strips. They're not accurate to within a 10th of a ppm or anything, but I was always able to fishless cycle just fine with readings of "something" and "nothing."

I agree. I use strips during fishless cycling and for a quick check in my tanks. If I see an unexpected reading I break out the liquid test kit.

It is cheaper to just get the ammonia test and I use that up more quickly than the others in the kit as well so I am buying it separately anyway to replace. strips + ammonia test kit is better than nothing and has served me well.
I am very attached to my fish so the liquid test kit gets used often as well, but especially during a cycle, I am testing almost daily once ammonia starts processing so being open to using a combination of both is my recommendation.

Also, the liquid test kits on Amazon are a lot cheaper. As well as a lot of other fish supplies so referring someone to Amazon may save them enough money to take the plunge. My filter media is half the cost versus lfs and there is so much more that is cheaper.

 

I am a college student and fought the test kit. I ended up going with API liquid master kit once Iost a fish to ammonia poisoning. My sister didn't have a test kit with her 29. She just brought the water into petco and they tested it. Ended up being fish in cycle I think (tank just sat for a week empty minus water). She knows her way around fish and what a cycle is. I think it's highly recommended just it's going to be up to the person. I'm actually glad this discussion is happening as people in my position are not always able to get the things people say we need.

 

I'm actually glad this discussion is happening as people in my position are not always able to get the things people say we need.

And that is exactly, I think, why Aquaphobia started the thread This hobby seems like it will be simple and inexpensive to start with, but then the cost of things really adds up quickly.

Something that I really like that is similar is the Seachem things that you stick into the tank (for ammonia). The . Are they perfect, no, but they'll definitely let you know if there's a concern. I am, however, far less impressed with the pH ones, as those never worked correctly for me. They don't have one for everything, but they're a decent quick check on ammonia.

I think the "need" idea is also relative in many cases. Do you "need" a test kit, no, you can go to the store and get testing done or whatnot. However, would I want to not have one, also no, since I want to know what's going on in my tanks in case I see any issues and hate relying on someone else to do it for me. Once the tank is cycled, barring any odd changes, you can generally assume the cycle will hold. I could easily see where a few people could actually get away with sharing a test kit if a few people were getting into the hobby at the same time.

Alternately, if your still in school, you might be able to check to see if the biology school had test kits that they would let you use to test water.

Decorations are another place that I think it's really simple to cut costs if needed... and lights.