Test kits vs. test strips - Aquarium Advice

AquaBear · 06-17-2004, 03:15 PM

Hello forum!

I apologize if this topic has already come up. I tried to do a search through the forums, but my [acronym:679a433f98="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:679a433f98] keeps hanging when I do, so I'll just start a new topic.

I'm still working on getting my 16g [acronym:679a433f98="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:679a433f98] to cycle, and see many of you recommending the test kits (with all the test tubes and bottles) as opposed to those all-in-one test STRIPs, when testing the results. Does it really make that big of a difference? Are the strips not accurate? My dealer recommended the strips, probably because most folks find them more convenient, but I'd rather take the extra time and do the test tube thing if it's really more accurate.

Just looking to get a feel for what some of the established, experienced folks use. Thanks.

--AquaBear

grimlock3000 · 06-17-2004, 03:20 PM

Most will say the strips are less accurate. I use the strips myself for convenience and occasionally I pull out the test tubes and bottles to double check everything. I also compare the strips from one tank to another one to make sure the strips are consistent and the water parameters are close from one tank to another.

lmw80 · 06-17-2004, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimlock3000

Most will say the strips are less accurate.

I agree with this. I use the tubes/bottles for accuracy. You may want to keep strips around in the even that you have to do a quick test before you run out or something, but I personally would recommend for the weekly testing that you use the tubes/bottles.

grimlock3000 · 06-17-2004, 03:41 PM

I can see it now, by the end of the day the poll is going to be 25 tubes users to one strip user (me) :P

Anyway, when setting up a new tank or making large changes (substrate swap), I do use the tubes only. When just going for a quick test on a routine basis, it is just the strips though. I am not worried about seeing the difference between .25 and .5 ammonia, I would be worried if it was there at all

Basically I used the strips as a quick way to tell if anything has changed drastically throughout the week. Then if anything weird may be happening, I take out the tubes for the "real" measurement.

One other thing that sucks about the strips is if you dip them, then leave them out for too long without taking the measurement, you get all kinds of whacky colors

When I was setting up a tank with tubes, I would keep the previous day's tube and compare the new day's tube to see how the ammonia and nitrites were progressing.

revhtree · 06-17-2004, 04:13 PM

My Motto Is: Test Toobs For Noobs....oh ok, test toobs for everybody!

chasgood · 06-17-2004, 04:59 PM

I use the strips with 5 tests all in one. Just dip it and in 30 seconds you have a general idea how the tank water is doing. If I get any higher than normal readings then then the test tube kit is used.

revhtree · 06-17-2004, 05:43 PM

That sounds like a good idea.

AquaBear · 06-17-2004, 11:01 PM

That IS! Thanks for the tips everybody!

--AquaBear

View Poll Results: Do you use test strips or test tubes/bottles to test your water?
I use strips	3	20.00%
I use test tubes/bottles	12	80.00%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

06-17-2004, 03:15 PM	#1
AquaBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Aurora CO Posts: 155 Images: 3	Test kits vs. test strips Hello forum! I apologize if this topic has already come up. I tried to do a search through the forums, but my [acronym:679a433f98="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:679a433f98] keeps hanging when I do, so I'll just start a new topic. I'm still working on getting my 16g [acronym:679a433f98="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:679a433f98] to cycle, and see many of you recommending the test kits (with all the test tubes and bottles) as opposed to those all-in-one test STRIPs, when testing the results. Does it really make that big of a difference? Are the strips not accurate? My dealer recommended the strips, probably because most folks find them more convenient, but I'd rather take the extra time and do the test tube thing if it's really more accurate. Just looking to get a feel for what some of the established, experienced folks use. Thanks. --AquaBear __________________ In order of setup: FW1-16g, 5 Zebra danios, 4 Pristella Tetras, 4 Black Skirt Tetras, 2 Gold Barbs, 1 Brush-nose Pleco FW2-5g, 1 Baby Gold Marble Angel (raised from fry), 6 Zebra Danios SW1-75g, (80# [acronym:55d4caba8f="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:55d4caba8f]), Scarlett hermits, Turbo snails, Percula Clownfish (Gizmo), Oscellaris Clownfish (Whizzer), Indian Yellowtail Angelfish (Mikado), Royal Gramma (Orpheus), Black Sailfin Blenny (Casper), Yellow Tang (Pele), Racoon Butterflyfish (Raptor), Lyretail Anthia (Juliette) FW3-30g, 2 mated Gold Marble Angels (Oscar/Yenta) SW2-20g, [acronym:55d4caba8f="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:55d4caba8f], currently empty FW4-30g, currently empty FW5-20g, 2 Gold Angels (non-paired) SW3-35g (REFUGIUM for SW1) - EVIL ChocChipStar, Nassarius and Turbo snails SW4-55g, 4 BlueGreen Chromis, King's Crown snail.

06-17-2004, 03:20 PM	#2
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	Most will say the strips are less accurate. I use the strips myself for convenience and occasionally I pull out the test tubes and bottles to double check everything. I also compare the strips from one tank to another one to make sure the strips are consistent and the water parameters are close from one tank to another. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

06-17-2004, 03:41 PM	#4
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	I can see it now, by the end of the day the poll is going to be 25 tubes users to one strip user (me) :P Anyway, when setting up a new tank or making large changes (substrate swap), I do use the tubes only. When just going for a quick test on a routine basis, it is just the strips though. I am not worried about seeing the difference between .25 and .5 ammonia, I would be worried if it was there at all Basically I used the strips as a quick way to tell if anything has changed drastically throughout the week. Then if anything weird may be happening, I take out the tubes for the "real" measurement. One other thing that sucks about the strips is if you dip them, then leave them out for too long without taking the measurement, you get all kinds of whacky colors When I was setting up a tank with tubes, I would keep the previous day's tube and compare the new day's tube to see how the ammonia and nitrites were progressing. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

06-17-2004, 04:13 PM	#5
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,049 Images: 1	My Motto Is: Test Toobs For Noobs....oh ok, test toobs for everybody! __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

06-17-2004, 04:59 PM	#6
chasgood Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Moore Oklahoma Posts: 393 Images: 10	I use the strips with 5 tests all in one. Just dip it and in 30 seconds you have a general idea how the tank water is doing. If I get any higher than normal readings then then the test tube kit is used. __________________ 37 GL Setup June 4,2004. Rena Filstar xP1. 55watt [acronym:e159a76288="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:e159a76288] light and glass cover. 6 Tiger Barbs. 6 Aponogeton bulbs, 2 water lillys. 5 Serpae Tetra. Brichardi, Princess Cichlid. Electric Yellow or Yellow Lab. Clown Pleco. 1 platty. 5 Krib, one the father of the 20L Krib. 20L GL2 Sept,2004 setup. Powerfilter and biowheel built into the Eclipse hood. 6 Zebra Danios 6 Kribs. all born in the tank. Update 19 June 2005. Noticed new Krib fry. guess they werent all males.

06-17-2004, 05:43 PM	#7
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,049 Images: 1	That sounds like a good idea. __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

06-17-2004, 11:01 PM	#8
AquaBear Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Aurora CO Posts: 155 Images: 3	That IS! Thanks for the tips everybody! --AquaBear __________________ In order of setup: FW1-16g, 5 Zebra danios, 4 Pristella Tetras, 4 Black Skirt Tetras, 2 Gold Barbs, 1 Brush-nose Pleco FW2-5g, 1 Baby Gold Marble Angel (raised from fry), 6 Zebra Danios SW1-75g, (80# [acronym:55d4caba8f="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:55d4caba8f]), Scarlett hermits, Turbo snails, Percula Clownfish (Gizmo), Oscellaris Clownfish (Whizzer), Indian Yellowtail Angelfish (Mikado), Royal Gramma (Orpheus), Black Sailfin Blenny (Casper), Yellow Tang (Pele), Racoon Butterflyfish (Raptor), Lyretail Anthia (Juliette) FW3-30g, 2 mated Gold Marble Angels (Oscar/Yenta) SW2-20g, [acronym:55d4caba8f="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:55d4caba8f], currently empty FW4-30g, currently empty FW5-20g, 2 Gold Angels (non-paired) SW3-35g (REFUGIUM for SW1) - EVIL ChocChipStar, Nassarius and Turbo snails SW4-55g, 4 BlueGreen Chromis, King's Crown snail.

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