Tetre 5in1 Test Strips

[xing]

I've bought some of the tetra 5 in 1 test strips as they seemed a good buy (25 strips fro testing NO3, NO2, GH, KH and PH) but I'm a little concerned the results aren't particularly accurate. Every test I do reveals the same results

NO3 always 100ppm (both before and after 25% water change done weekly)
NO2 always nil
GH always >10
KH always 0 (even though I have CO2 injection)
Ph always 6.4

I've tested my tap water (northwest UK) and this shows identical results other than NO3 which reads 10ppm and Ph of 6.6.

I seriously doubt my tap water has a ph of 6.6 (i always thought it was around 7) which makes me doubt the other results, especially the KH figure, considering I'm adding CO2 (home made system, 2x 2litre bottles changed alternate weeks, bubble count of around 3 per second) and No3, which never seems to alter regardless of water changes.

My tank is around 50Uk gallons and 50% planted with 1.8wpg (reflected). all stem plants (elodea, cambomba etc) growing well, but amazon swords, crypts less well (slower growers?). I've started to suffer with hair algae in last couple of weeks on bog wood and leaves but before I resort to chemicals I was trying to pinpoint other causes. From the results I would guess low KH and high NO3. Photo-period is 5 on, 2 off, 5 on.Am I thinking right and if so what should I do?

Would I be better off with separate tests?
How do I combat hair algae?
how do i reduce No3?

TIA

 

[F.O.H]

i use to use tetra 5 in 1 and it use to work for me i agree its not as precise as some of the more expensive types but its good for what its wort.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I found them useless- hardly accurate to tell you ammonia, nitrite and nitrae are 0 when they're all at lethal levels...

 

[mark.w.jones]

1. Absolutely useless and false economy. I don't deny that they appear easier to use to get a quick result but I have got different readings off of 2 different strips I did at the same time even though I was careful! You also only get 20 in the kit whereas a liquid kit will do hundreds.

e.g.

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...a-test-kits.asp

Tetra 5in1 Test Kit £7.96 for 20 tests

40p per test


http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...d-test-kits.asp

API Freshwater Master Test Kit £18.25 for 700 tests (Recommended by majority of members at TFF)

3p per test

You Decide



2. Hair Algae Cures. Not easy. Make sure you have planted up at least 50% of substrate with real plants. You need some fast growing plants within this to help outcompete algae for nutrients. Try and limit light to only 10 hours or less per day. Make sure to limit excess nutrients by doing a a gravel vac and water change weekly. Finally, amano shrimp are a good investment as they make little or no impact on stocking levels. They are not a guaranteed help thou as they only eat some hair algae species. Also, dont feed too many algae, sinking foods as they'd rather eat that than algae any day.

3. Nitrate NO3 can only be reduced by water changes and obviously wont go any lower than that of your tap water.