Aquarium
water test kits are an important item for hobbyists to keep on hand. The water
you pour into the tank has several characteristics that you need to consider.
These include the pH, how hard or soft it is, and any chemicals that may have been added that could endanger the fish.
In
addition, the fish introduce other compounds into the water that will slowly
reduce the water quality. Looking at the water tells you nothing about its
chemistry and very little about its quality.
Monitoring
water chemistry and water quality requires test kits. It is surprising how many
people will spend a substantial amount of money for an aquarium setup but balk
at spending a few extra dollars for three basic test kits -- ammonia, nitrite,
and pH.
There
are actually many more types of test kits available, but these three are the
minimum needed to check the water. Other kits test for nitrate, copper,
chlorine, dissolved oxygen, and more.
There
are differences in test kits that you will want to take into consideration when
choosing them. Some kits have liquid components, or reagents that test the water
and others have dry reagents. As a rule, dry reagent kits have a longer shelf
life and are more reliable than kits with liquid reagents.
