Test

Just done a strip test and results is this ok

Can you take a pic of the strip against the test pack guide showing what results mean??

That looks like an API strip, which doesn't do ammonia.
L to R Nitrate, Nitrite, pH, KH, GH. But we do need to see it against the chart on the tube, you match the colours and that gives you a result for each parameter separately.
Don't try to match them all in a line which is a common mistake with test strips.
You would be best buying an API master test kit, though their ammonia test strips would suffice for now.

Indeed, dip strip test kits do tend to be a little unreliable and sometimes inaccurate.

Mainly due to cross contaminations onto the stick itself!

And as for your picture of the dip stick test, virtually impossible to tell without the result colour chart next to it to tell what numbers readings are.

As kwi already mentioned a recommended water testing kit would be the API Master Freshwater test kit, a little more pricey than the dip strip kits but far more reliable and accurate as long as the tests are followed precisely according to instructions.

Pic taken from Amazon website -


There are other test kits out there that are more reliable such as lab testing kits which costs far more, makes your eyes water kind of prices

So therefore this test kit that we recommend is a much more economically viable option! You get what you pay for really when it comes to equipment for this hobby.

You'll actually find that master kit cheaper than the 5in1 and the Ammonia strips if bought together. And more tests makes it cheaper in the long run too.

kwi said:

You'll actually find that master kit cheaper than the 5in1 and the Ammonia strips if bought together. And more tests makes it cheaper in the long run too.

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Ah is it now, have never bought or used the strip test kit so that’s interesting that these are more expensive.

Seems that a few years ago it appears to be the case that API was more expensive than the dip strip test kit and now API is being used and bought more and more so prices have dropped, I vaguely remember buying API for first time and that was around £35, now it’s around £23- £24 as in my photo in earlier post. Cool!

Did not actually realise the ammonia test is not part of the 5 in 1, bit daft that really as one would have thought it would be included since it’s an important element for testing!

Anyhow there you have it, the API is cheaper!

The reason that ammonia is not included in 5 in 1 test strips is that it can't be made to work under the same conditions so ammonia has to be on a separate strip. The ammonia strip instructions say to dip the strip for 5 seconds while the 5 in 1 instructions say to swirl twice which doesn't take nearly as long as 5 seconds.

The liquid testers cost more to buy, but they do more tests so they work out cheaper per test.

Ch4rlie said:

Ah is it now, have never bought or used the strip test kit so that’s interesting that these are more expensive.

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They're about £15 a tube of 25 strips each.

£15 for 25 tests!
And the API has 800 tests for £24!

That’s a no brainer if there ever was one!

Edit - assuming it’s 800 tests total combined for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate that’s an average of 200 tests per each element !

Very good value imho !

Ch4rlie said:

£15 for 25 tests!
And the API has 800 tests for £24!

That’s a no brainer if there ever was one!

Edit - assuming it’s 800 tests total combined for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate that’s an average of 200 tests per each element !

Very good value imho !

Click to expand...

Thanks all for the advice I am going to buy API test instead