Water quality & ...

[bpb21]

I put this in the newbie forum b/c I'm sure this is a newbie question, but I never really noticed these things until a few days ago.

I'm talking about the 5 in one test strips that you see (especially in chain pet stores). They test pH, GH, KH, nitrite and nitrate all on one strip, in about 30 seconds. Or that's what they say.

Since I'm not too keen on buying five different water test chemicals, this is my kind of product - if in fact five in one testing is actually possible. I think I read somewhere that these aren't all that accurate (not naming any specific brands).

Of course, I just need a fairly close figure, I'm not trying to get to the moon on these things or anything. I still rely to a degree on the appearance and smell of the water - and the fish behavior.

Does anyone have any facts or opinions of these test strips?

 

[punkserb]

i have those from jungle labs. they seem to work....they better be working! lol!

 

[flintstone]

I have both the liquid-drop type and the strips. I use the liquid when I have major concerns and need very sensitive readings, like when the water seems funky and I am worried about one of my fish, or when I get really strange readings from the strips. I also use the liquids on a regular weekly basis to determine water changes...

However, I love the strips for days when I am in a hurry or too busy to mess around with all of the chemicals. They give me a "piece of mind" when I feel like I am neglecting my tanks. (using the liquid test kits on 5 tanks takes some time).

 

[parker313]

I have the strips from Mardel. They work just fine. I got them at PetSmart and saw one of the staff using the same test herself to test their own water. I got a separate ammonia test.

Oh - The nitrAte test on the strip takes 60 seconds to develop, but the rest are 30 seconds.

 

[Sky042]

they're somewhat accurate though not perfect. their biggest problem is sometimes the ranges for GH and KH aretoo wide.

 

[wetwetwet]

I often use the eSHa strips for a quick test/check...

....you can also cut them in half and they work just the same




www

 

[bribones]

i use the combi 5in1 test from tetra mainly for the pond but also for the tank and it seems to work very well,your never gonna get 100% results with home tests but it will tell you if your levels are too high which is what you want

 

[Artuk]

We just recently got the "Mardel Master Test Kit 50 Tests" test strips. We like these a lot. They are easier to read, very comprehensive, quick, and safe. With kids in the house the chemicals used in the liquid tests are a concern and was the original motivating factor in making the switch from liquid tests. The only benefit I could see in the liquid tests is cost, with the strips being a little more expensive per test.

I am sold on the test strips as a quick and safe way to see if something is wrong in the tank.

Regards,

Artuk

 

[boozybears]

I don't trust those strips. While cycling our tank I took some of our water to the local Petsmart to have them test it. My readings: amonia .5, nitrite 10, nitrate 10. Their readings: amonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 10. That's a HUGE difference. I made them do it twice just to be sure. They told me my tank was cycled but according to my liquid tests it took 2 more weeks for amonia and nitrite to go to 0.

Val

 

[bpb21]

I don't trust those strips. While cycling our tank I took some of our water to the local Petsmart to have them test it. My readings: amonia .5, nitrite 10, nitrate 10. Their readings: amonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 10. That's a HUGE difference. I made them do it twice just to be sure. They told me my tank was cycled but according to my liquid tests it took 2 more weeks for amonia and nitrite to go to 0.

Val

That's another point...I'm not using them for cycling a tank (or making sure that's done) so much as for maintenance. Plus, mine don't have an ammonia indicator (I use liquid for this, seperately).

But as far as accuracy goes, I read somewhere (maybe buried in the instructions, maybe on some website) that the KH has to be at least 110 to 120 or higher to get an accurate reading on the pH of the water. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but if it is, does this go for all water tests (liquid & strips) or is it just for this particlar one, or is this not even correct?

 

[Bol]

Many people claim that these test strips aren't accurate. In my limited experience, that wasn't necessarily the case.

However, as Sky mentioned, they're not at all precise. For instance, it does me almost no good to know that my pH is "somewhere between 7.6 and 8.4", or my KH is "somewhere between 250 and 440 ppm".

And, as mentioned, they are significantly more expensive (per test) than non-strip tests. But, convenience usually has a price.

I read somewhere (maybe buried in the instructions, maybe on some website) that the KH has to be at least 110 to 120 or higher to get an accurate reading on the pH of the water.

I've never seen anything like that, but what they may be hinting at is that at low KH (which most people will define as something like 'below 55 ppm') your water is insufficiently buffered and although your pH test result may be accurate, the pH isn't stable; so in effect it's a "false pH".

 

[ger87410]

It is in the instructions somwhere. We use those strips too, but we're going to be switching to liquid. They are not acurate at all.

 

[bpb21]

So the general verdict seems to be for a "quick & dirty" analysis, the strips will give you a workable range (I do have the Jungle brand strips). For more accurate results (or precise), use the liquids. Liquids are cheaper per test, but for the amateur aquatist (with one one or two tanks) there is certainly a price for convenience.

The liquids are generally accurate and precise though, right?