The Puffer Forum

Okay, I can never remember the guidelines for this.

When you are testing your brackish water with the various test kits out there such as nitrate, ammonia, etc, when do you switch from freshwater to saltwater tests/readings?

Is it anything under 1.010 freshwater and above that salt or does the guideline vary depending on the brand?

Thanks a bunch, I'm trying to put together a basic brackish article and I can never remember this part.

I too use AP tests, for the same reason. For the few AP ones that differ from FW to SW, I do the SW ones for above ~1.013. Most of the kits only have less or more intense colour grading for FW vs. SW.

The AP test kits are the same from fw to sw. The color cards are all that differ. As long as you have both sets of cards, you only have to buy one test kit for all.

puffernuke wrote:The AP test kits are the same from fw to sw. The color cards are all that differ. As long as you have both sets of cards, you only have to buy one test kit for all.

I do believe the pH and/or ammonia reagents differ, don't they?

Thanks guys, that helps a ton.

I have dip strips and the ammonia test and they just have different color charts but I wasn't sure if other tests had completely different setups for fresh vs salt.

The AP test kit requires 2 bottles & the FW, only 1, so how can they be the same?

Ya, that's what I said too. I think the pH and ammonia reagents for FW/SW are different.

Well, there are 2 ph tests; 1 for low pH & 1 for high. I use the high one for SW & the low for FW.

Okay, and medications and things like Biospira go along the same guidelines, correct? In the 1.010-1.012 area start using the saltwater version?

FW BioSpira 1.000 to 1.010
SW Biospira for 1.008 and higher

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31

Thank you!