Need a Better Test Kit

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Kittiee Katt

Kittiee Katt

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Aug 1, 2015
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Hi all, I'm currently using the API master kit. It works well enough for most things, but I have a small problem... My betta is old, because of this I've been doing largeish (50-70%) pwc daily on his tank to keep his nitrates below 5ppm... That's my problem, the API kit doesn't register anything between 0-5ppm (and if it does, my eyes can't tell the difference in the colour) so I don't know what his nitrate is, all I know is its under 5ppm.. Is there a nitrate kit out there that will measure 1ppm, 0.50ppm ect? I test my tanks before and after each water change and write the results in my 'fish book', but its a little hard writing down results that I can't see..

Can anyone suggest a test kit (or the like) that will measure below 5ppm?

Thanks in advance. :)

Post Script: I know I don't "have to" worry too much if his nitrates are under 5ppm consistently, but my OCD likes to know what's going on in my tanks. :D
 
if your nitrates never get higher than 20ppm, fish is in good water. and betta tuff fish, apply your OCD to oil changes and tire PSI. Kidding no offence meant. :)
 
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pops said:
if your nitrates never get higher than 20ppm, fish is in good water. and betta tuff fish, apply your OCD to oil changes and tire PSI. Kidding no offence meant. :)
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None taken. :) The nitrate in my bettas tank hasn't been above 10ppm in months, but I want to know exactly what it's at, because I'm weird like that. :D
 
I don't think a betta's gonna care whether it's 1 ppm or 5 ppm nitrate TBH. All excellent water quality compared to the conditions they're normally found in, in the wild or in pet shops. If you have time to do daily water changes for a betta for <5 ppm, I'd recommend spending your time and money elsewhere eg., a large tank with large fish??
 
THQ said:
I don't think a betta's gonna care whether it's 1 ppm or 5 ppm nitrate TBH. All excellent water quality compared to the conditions they're normally found in, in the wild or in pet shops. If you have time to do daily water changes for a betta for <5 ppm, I'd recommend spending your time and money elsewhere eg., a large tank with large fish??
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I just want him to be happy for his last days, and like to know what's going on in my tanks. :) As for a large tank with large fish, I have a 400ltr tank and the changes on that are a c*** as it is, and anything bigger would probably go through the floor. :D
 
Kittiee Katt said:
I have a 400ltr tank and the changes on that are a c*** as it is. :D
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Do you use a python? May save you time.

I don't, but I use a submersible water pump and a hose from the faucet to refill. Takes 30 mins to do a 80% water change on my 650L tank.
 
THQ said:
I use a submersible water pump and a hose from the faucet to refill. Takes 30 mins to do a 80% water change on my 650L tank.
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That's exactly how I do them... Almost. But its a little more complicated than that...

While my hubby empties the tank (hose attached to power head leading out the window) I have to lock my 3 cats in my bedroom so that we can open the door up to get the hose in to fill it up, without them getting outside and getting hurt. Two of them will come when I call them, but one of them HATES being locked away, even if it is only for 30-40 minutes.. So I have to try to coax her out from 1000 different spots just for her to take off to another one. The tank is empty before I even get her away most of the time.. Its exhausting... Then there's the poop syphoning and algae removal... I don't think I could handle a bigger tank atm. I have plans to upgrade my 4 foot one, but only to another 5 foot (400ltr).
 
LOL so a lot of the work is actually getting the cats out of the way. Can u not run the hose through a window instead?
 
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