How do "Dip"-Type Test Strips work vs Chemical Tes - Aquarium Advice

TheChad · 02-17-2006, 03:31 AM

Hey all,

As all of us do, I test my water constantly. But I find that somtimes I don't test my water as often as I maybe should because it is such as hassel to use the Chemical test kit..

Do the "Dip" Type test strips work just as good? Are they accurate?

I know they are more expensive, but would be worth the difference for me, and will allow me to do my water test as often as I should.

Thanks,

-TheChad

TCTFish · 02-17-2006, 04:25 AM

The thing that dip tests lack are numbers. You want to know the numbers.

stainless_wm · 02-17-2006, 04:30 AM

Ive never tried them, All I know is what I read on here,,,,, Most Common thought,,,,,They are not recommended.

robertfah · 02-17-2006, 09:47 AM

I've heard from several people (including those who work at DrsFosterSmith.com) that they are not accurate. Like TCTFish said, you want numbers and the strips don't provide them. Now they're probably good if you test 2x or more a week and your water quality seems good, then you can get a 'rough' reading from the strips, but that's probably all.

DragonForce · 02-17-2006, 10:53 AM

The dip tests are fine for everyday testing IMO. I have 3 tanks so it is not practical for me to sit there with salifert test kits everyday and drop 1 drop at a time into a vial till I get my readings.

For my mantis tanks I like using dip test kits and just change some water every week. With my LPS reef I need more exact readings to keep everything nice, especially since I just added a BTA. For a SPS reef I would probably not use anything other than salifert test kits.

02-17-2006, 03:31 AM	#1
TheChad Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Warrensburg, IL Posts: 446	How do "Dip"-Type Test Strips work vs Chemical Tes Hey all, As all of us do, I test my water constantly. But I find that somtimes I don't test my water as often as I maybe should because it is such as hassel to use the Chemical test kit.. Do the "Dip" Type test strips work just as good? Are they accurate? I know they are more expensive, but would be worth the difference for me, and will allow me to do my water test as often as I should. Thanks, -TheChad

02-17-2006, 04:25 AM	#2
TCTFish Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,470 Images: 20	The thing that dip tests lack are numbers. You want to know the numbers. __________________ http://www.tricitytropicals.com ------------------------------------ We, as a people, know so much more about outer space than we do about our own oceans. This lack of knowledge can very well spell the dangers that lay in wait for us. The oceans surely would swallow us before a rock comes down to smite the planet of it's life. Nov/2004

02-17-2006, 04:30 AM	#3
stainless_wm Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 131 Images: 1	Ive never tried them, All I know is what I read on here,,,,, Most Common thought,,,,,They are not recommended. __________________ Monday is a lousy way to spend 1/7 of your life-Garfield the Cat In a perfect world, we would have gills,,,,,and opposable toes.-- Me

02-17-2006, 09:47 AM	#4
robertfah Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando Posts: 195	I've heard from several people (including those who work at DrsFosterSmith.com) that they are not accurate. Like TCTFish said, you want numbers and the strips don't provide them. Now they're probably good if you test 2x or more a week and your water quality seems good, then you can get a 'rough' reading from the strips, but that's probably all. __________________ 155 gallon, bow-front tank. 2 Yellow Tangs, 2 Perc. Clowns, and 1 Citrine Yellow Goby

02-17-2006, 10:53 AM	#5
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	The dip tests are fine for everyday testing IMO. I have 3 tanks so it is not practical for me to sit there with salifert test kits everyday and drop 1 drop at a time into a vial till I get my readings. For my mantis tanks I like using dip test kits and just change some water every week. With my LPS reef I need more exact readings to keep everything nice, especially since I just added a BTA. For a SPS reef I would probably not use anything other than salifert test kits. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

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