AquaCare Aquarium Water Mini Test Kit

Maidenhead Aquatics

The AquaCare Mini Test Kit is exclusive to Maidenhead Aquatics. The Mini Test Kit includes our Ammonia, pH and Nitrite liquid tests. Testing your water is a must for freshwater fishkeeping, our kits include 40 tests that should be carried out weekly or any time you are concerned about the health of your fish. Our AquaCare test has been specifically designed for the potential use of first-time fishkeepers meaning that the tests are easy to carry out and understand. Ammonia is excreted by the fish as a waste product. Ammonia is most toxic to fish when the pH is alkaline and the temperature is high, so it is most dangerous in cichlid or marine aquaria. Any ammonia present in the aquarium water will cause major health problems for the fish. Toxic ammonia can build up in aquaria where there are not sufficient beneficial filter bacteria to deal with the total waste from all the fish in the aquarium. Toxic nitrite can build up in aquaria where there are not sufficient beneficial filter bacteria to deal with the total waste from all the fish in the aquarium. This situation can commonly arise in new aquaria when new fish are added when the filter bacteria have been disrupted (e.g. during cleaning) or following incorrect use of aquarium medications. pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the water in your aquarium. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14. Very acid water is pH 1 and very alkaline water is pH 14. Neutral water that is neither acid nor alkaline is pH 7. Different species of aquarium fish require different pH levels. Fluctuations outside these preferred values can cause stress to the fish. If the water becomes too acid or alkaline the fish soon die. It is important to regularly test the pH, as pH can occasionally rise in new ponds, and older aquaria tend to acidify over time. How to test your water: Ammonia: take a 5 ml sample of aquarium water into the test tube. Add 5 drops of the reagent Ammonia 1 and 5 drops of Ammonia 2 and 5 drops of Ammonia 3. Replace the test tube cap and mix. Wait 10 minutes, and then compare the colour of the sample to the colour scale provided. Zero ammonia is represented by a yellow colour. Any hint of green in the sample indicates the presence of ammonia. Nitrite: take a small 5ml sample of water from your aquarium. Shake the nitrite solution well, and add 5 drops. Once finished wait 2 minutes and match the water colour to the colour chart on the reverse of the box to find out your aquarium’s nitrite level. A level of zero mg/l(ppm) should be maintained at all times. Ensure the test tube is clean. Should you see an unusually high reading of Nitrite in your water, we would advise that you contact your local store in the first instance for help and advice. pH: ensure the test tube is clean. Take a 5 ml sample of aquarium water into the test tube, preferably using the syringe provided. Add 5 drops of the pH 6-9 reagent, replace the test tube cap and mix. Compare the colour of your sample to the colour scale provided. There is no definitive correct pH for all aquarium fish. Should you have any further concerns regarding your water quality please visit your most local store with a water sample and our friendly staff members will do their best to help and advise you on further