I am told liquid drops are better than strips. General consensus on both? best value on both? multiple test kit vs. purchasing separate individual kits?
thx:help:
thx:help:
Best economical accurate test kits available?
- Thread starter sushiray
- Start date
Like many other members, I stand by the API liquid master test kit. It has the essential tests in it and is very accurate. There are other tests available by API such as phosphate, and I believe things like calcium, etc...
Strips simply don't do the job. Using them is like playing russian roulette.
Strips simply don't do the job. Using them is like playing russian roulette.
I use API too. If you are going to buy some from Petsmart or Petco, find the online price and print it out. It will be cheaper then the price in the store. I'm pretty sure they both honor the online price, you may just have to ask for the manager. I know Petsmart will, I can't remember with Petco.
API for me too. If your tank is cycling you could save a little by getting a master test kit online. If you are cycled it may be cheaper to just buy ammonia and nitrate kits. I hardly ever bother to check nitrites.
BettaFishMommy
finkids make me happy :-)
even though the API master test kit may seem a little pricey, it is well worth the money to know that your tests are accurate and your fish are healthy. 'nuf said.
All I've ever heard about strips being bad, seems to be hear-say.
I used tetra brand drops for years. Then started using strips for about the last 8-10 yrs now.
After comming here and hearing all of the negativity towards strips. I bought another (Tetra)Laborett kit, to go along with the API Nitrate kit I already had. I found no major difference between the results.
And sense I don't know anyone with something(drops/strips/electronic) calibrated. I don't know which one or both would be off by .03 mg/L.
I can say, I now remember a few things that can make the drops inacurate.
The first problem I ran into was the "uhhhh, was that an actual drop or an air bubble covered with 1/32 of a drop?" thing.
Dog barks!!! Hummm was that the 4th or 5th drop?
Why does my syringe say thats 5 ml, but now the API test tube shows it as more than 5 ml?
Here are the Instructions for an API Nitrate test:
Like, say...
1. "Fill a clean test tube..."
Is it really clean? How and with what did this become "clean"?
2. "ensure uniformity of drops"
See, bubble problem mentioned above.
4. "Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results."
I'd bet, if you watched 10 people do this step. You have ten different results. Which isn't very good sense... "This step is extremely important...".
6. "Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for one minute. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results."
Hummm? one whole minute. Hoping the dog don't bark. I know the kids I'm around can ask three questions a minute. And now the phone is ringing. Hummm was that 33 seconds, now?
And now that I've lost count. I have to wonder if a minute and 14 seconds will mess with the accuracy of the test I just spent 10 minutes on.
8. "Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use." Really? That will make it "clean"?
And where/how do we disspose of this chemical, concoction? Down the drain, to mix into the rivers and streams. That most of us seem to be concerned about polluting.
Test Strip Directions:
Dip in and remove from water.
Hold lvl. (I made a simple DIY holder for 3 strips out of 2 clothes pins and a rubber band)
wait 30 seconds for all but Nitrate.
wait 60 seconds for Nitrate.
The only reasonable drop test kits I know of. That would be best for most of the people around here. IE multiple tanks.
Is Seachems test kits. Which use a plate to do 6 tests at one time. But I haven't seen them mentioned.
IDK where this big accuracy delima is comming from.
People(99.9%+) are told to use whatever their tap water is, for their tank. Nothing technical there.
If we see ammonia or nitrite we freak out and change water. It doesn't matter much of the how much, we change water.
If our Nitrate gets a lil high we change water. And after 6 months of weekly changes(after cycled). We have a good idea if we need to change 20% or 35% to bring it down to our acceptable lvl.
Just My thoughts, experience and probably the opinion of very few around here.
P.S.
When using strips.
Open bottle.
Remove one strip.
Replace Cap, tightly.
Dip the strip.
I used tetra brand drops for years. Then started using strips for about the last 8-10 yrs now.
After comming here and hearing all of the negativity towards strips. I bought another (Tetra)Laborett kit, to go along with the API Nitrate kit I already had. I found no major difference between the results.
And sense I don't know anyone with something(drops/strips/electronic) calibrated. I don't know which one or both would be off by .03 mg/L.
I can say, I now remember a few things that can make the drops inacurate.
The first problem I ran into was the "uhhhh, was that an actual drop or an air bubble covered with 1/32 of a drop?" thing.
Dog barks!!! Hummm was that the 4th or 5th drop?
Why does my syringe say thats 5 ml, but now the API test tube shows it as more than 5 ml?
Here are the Instructions for an API Nitrate test:
- Fill a clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested (to the line on the tube).
- Add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 1, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to ensure uniformity of drops added to the water sample.
- Cap the test tube and invert tube several times to mix solution. Do not hold finger over the open end of the tube, as this may affect test results.
- Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results.
- Now add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution Bottle #2, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops to the water sample.
- Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for one minute. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results.
- Wait five minutes for the color to develop.
- Read the test results by matching the color of the solution against those on the Nitrate Test Color Chart. The tube should be viewed against the white area beside the color chart. Color comparisons are best made in a well-lit area. The closest match indicates the ppm (mg/L) of nitrate in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use.
Like, say...
1. "Fill a clean test tube..."
Is it really clean? How and with what did this become "clean"?
2. "ensure uniformity of drops"
See, bubble problem mentioned above.
4. "Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results."
I'd bet, if you watched 10 people do this step. You have ten different results. Which isn't very good sense... "This step is extremely important...".
6. "Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for one minute. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results."
Hummm? one whole minute. Hoping the dog don't bark. I know the kids I'm around can ask three questions a minute. And now the phone is ringing. Hummm was that 33 seconds, now?
And now that I've lost count. I have to wonder if a minute and 14 seconds will mess with the accuracy of the test I just spent 10 minutes on.
8. "Rinse the test tube with clean water after each use." Really? That will make it "clean"?
And where/how do we disspose of this chemical, concoction? Down the drain, to mix into the rivers and streams. That most of us seem to be concerned about polluting.
Test Strip Directions:
Dip in and remove from water.
Hold lvl. (I made a simple DIY holder for 3 strips out of 2 clothes pins and a rubber band)
wait 30 seconds for all but Nitrate.
wait 60 seconds for Nitrate.
The only reasonable drop test kits I know of. That would be best for most of the people around here. IE multiple tanks.
Is Seachems test kits. Which use a plate to do 6 tests at one time. But I haven't seen them mentioned.
IDK where this big accuracy delima is comming from.
People(99.9%+) are told to use whatever their tap water is, for their tank. Nothing technical there.
If we see ammonia or nitrite we freak out and change water. It doesn't matter much of the how much, we change water.
If our Nitrate gets a lil high we change water. And after 6 months of weekly changes(after cycled). We have a good idea if we need to change 20% or 35% to bring it down to our acceptable lvl.
Just My thoughts, experience and probably the opinion of very few around here.
P.S.
When using strips.
Open bottle.
Remove one strip.
Replace Cap, tightly.
Dip the strip.