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Is it better to use the strips that you dip in the water or the test kit with the chemicals and you have to mix it??? I was just wondering.

Also what should I be testing in my freshwater aquarium??? Nitrate, nitrite, pH and anything else???

I will be planting my aquarium soon, is there anything I should be testing for???

And when you are starting an aquarium and cycling it, Nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are the main things to test for??? I might be starting a new aquarium, but I am not sure.

I would just like to set things straight when it comes to testing the water since I have heard a lot of things when reading the threads about water testing.

kj fishy-finn <*)))><
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I personally think the liquid tests are more accurate. They can be a little hard to read sometimes, but definitely more accurate than the strips. Two good brands are Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and Hagen.

In a new tank, you want test kits for pH, nitrAte, nitrIte, and ammonia.

In a planted tank, you also want a KH/GH (carbonate and general hardness) test.

I think that's it! /:'

*Kristin*

Liquid tests are far better. Strips are almost always inaccurate. Only useful for telling you if things like ammonia and nitrites exist not what the number is.

All you really need is a ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate kit but KH and GH come in really handy and if you have some extra cash a phosphate test can sometimes be insightful but definitley not necessary.