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Aquarium owners test the water themselves with Tetra test strips. They can be used for both salt water and freshwater tanks. The outside of the bottle of test strips has color coded little squares that line up with the test strip. Each color indicates ph level, nitrites, nitrates, alkalinity, etc. After you dip the strip into the tank water you hold the strip next to the color codes. Then you can correct any water issues indicated. Quite simple.
Any of your local pet store chains will test water.
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