Question: Parameters

[dryopteris]

Hi, first of all I'm posting this from my phone so apologies if this has been asked before.
I have these test strips that test for pH, hardness, carbonaten hardness, nitrate ,nitrite , and chlorine but not ammonia.
Now is my question: if all these parameters are right, do I really need tot test ammonia levels seperatly? Because all these things are more or less intertwined, is it possible tot predict or even calculate the ammonia levels from the other readings? And if not is it better to use these strips or to use test strips for ammonia alone?
Thanks in advance!

 

[auntiejude]

Test strip aren't very accurate. While you are cycling your tank you really need liquid test kits, including ammonia. Once your tank is cycled and 'mature' you can use the test strips to monitor for when water changes are needed.

It is not possible to calculate any of the parameters based on other readings.

 

[keiko]

I suggest you get a liquid test kit. Api freshwater master test kit for example has the most important tests (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) and you can get it pretty cheap on ebay. I have it and paid under 30€ for it, including postage (for comparison, I paid about 35€ for my test strips). I also use test strips to quickly monitor my mature tanks - liquid tests roughly once a week or week and a half and test strips a couple of times a week when I just want to be sure everything's fine.

With test strips you need to be sure you store and use them properly. Even if you just forget to close the cap the test strips would be ruined. Also you have to dip them in the water enough but not too much and you need to use a stop watch to take the time between dipping it in the water and reading the results. Even just a few seconds off could change the result. Test strips can be accurate, you just have to make sure you're using them right.

And about the ammonia. It's the first step of the cycle so there's no way you can calculate it from the other readings. If your tank is not cycled or the if the cycle has crashed ammonia could be sky high and all the other readings fine.

 

[dryopteris]

Thanks for the quick replies, I will be searching for a liquid test kit