Seachem28658 Alert Combo Pack white 6 x 3 x 4 inches

I am certain that I would have killed my fishy friends multiple times without these two detectors. There is no way I would be able to know how low the PH and how high the Ammonia levels were just from looking or smelling the tank. Even by following all the rules- non chlorinated water, removing plant rot, not over feeding, proper filtration, good fish and snail ratio per tank size and water changes. Even after a water change the Ammonia levels were so high. My snail was near death. I would have never have known the reason had my little friends died. I would have felt terrible and a like I was a failure. I still do not know the reason for the high Ammonia levels but the detectors have made it so easy to know if I have to adjust the PH with some baking soda (research amounts) too much will kill your fish quickly. Also, early detection bought me some time to get Ammo-Lock ( rid water of Ammonia in minutes) which I would not have had any idea of without them. I would have just been hoping and praying.

The ammonia alert is super helpful in teaching my daughter the need to change the water in her betta nursery weekly for her fry and reenforcing avoiding overfeeding. She just needs to watch the color daily. And she gets to see it become yellow again after a 50% water change. Great monitoring and teaching tool. Warning, if you are using leaves, cones, or wood for tannins in your tank for shrimp, it discolors the pH disc and makes it harder to be sure of the colors. In tanks without tannins added it is very easy to read and quite accurate. I highly recommend for beginning hobbiest or those who want an easy way for a daily check. Especially for nano tanks where balance can change quickly overnight or small betta environments. But great for all freshwater set ups. 1st two stained by tannins and need replacing. They do not match water tests. Package does come with 1 replacement for pH at 6 months time frame. Be sure not to throw away! Photos from 3 different set ups. 1st two are tannins stained and need replacing. Environments water test at a 7.0 to 6.8 range. Do not use pH cards in an environment with tannins.

Before claiming these are inaccurate, research total ammonia vs free ammonia. These will provide a different ammonia reading than strips or droplet tests because those are total ammonia. If anything, these are more accurate because they show only free ammonia (the ammonia that can hurt fish). Just be aware of you use an ammonia “reducer” this will show the ammonia is gone, which may lead you to think the problem is solved. Then the ammonia will be “back” right after the Prime or whatever wears off in a few days. I like using this during cycling, because that’s when you especially need a little ammonia present to start the cycle but not enough to harm fish. It’s also a good day to day visual reminder. I do still test total ammonia weekly. The pH is hard to read, it confoundingly goes darker and lighter and darker again around the circle and doesn’t match the dot well. But the point of pH is to be stable, not hit a specific number.This “1 year” pack includes 1 each and an extra stick on dot for pH because that one lasts 6 months. Good luck keeping track of that tiny dot. I wish it just had 2 pH wheels or was clear that it’s a starter kit and you replace the pH earlier. At any rate it’s a great value and very helpful *along with* more thorough testing, good knowledge of the nitrogen cycle, and frequent water changes.

I am using the PH and Ammonia alert combo pack in my 2 gallon quarantine tank, and it has been accurate for me, I know this because I am using this in conjunction with the API master kit. I had used these years ago and the price was right so I ordered these for peace of mind and for my lazy days. This is much easier then taking out water and testing these things individually waiting minutes, waiting for test results from liquid tests , and trying to figure out what color is what, when one color looks almost identical to the next. In the package there was a spare PH circle test so you can replace the ph circle when you've exhausted the one that's already installed. Also please read instructions for optimal safe and thorough results. It is not immediate it takes a few minutes when conditions change in the water, also don't touch the circle in the middle because you can possibly ruin it with the oils on your fingers. If you use it but decide you want to save, it can be done, again follow instructions. I love mine, it gives me peace of mind and that in itself is so worth it. The ph has changed color on me a few times like even I do water changes and after i use Indian Almond leaf, it's supposed to because IAL brings down ph after being in my tank after a few days, also when I do water changes because the water in the tank was brought down with the shrimp gravel and IAL which brings it down, so that also proves to me that it was working. It also may take a few days to work properly when 1st being Installed as the instruction statea.

My water parameters were fine, but I was paranoid about always checking it and it got these so I wouldn’t have to. It’s been a little over a week since I checked, and the sensor showed no ammonia/ safe. I checked this while I was working on my second tank and my master tester showed there’s 0.5 ammonia in the tank! So much for these things. pH is whatever, but the ammonia is the most important one.

First, of course these aren't going to be as accurate as a properly run liquid test kit. BUT, they are way easier, seem to be decently accurate, and give good at a glance info. Definitely something I recommend. If you have caridina shrimp or fish that need a specific pH, these are extra good for helping monitor and just for that little reassurance that the parameters are looking good wherever you glance at the tank.