Water testing kits
- Thread starter Gershom
- Start date
I'll be honest (going to get beat up here) I had problems reading the API test bottles never tried the test strips. My tank is very mature going on 10 years plus I'm over filtered only have a 9in female Festae and 11in male Midas in a 125, with 3 80% WC a week.
I haven't tested my water in over 4 years
I haven't tested my water in over 4 years
Sometimes, one must tailor the test kit, to sensitivity to individual colors.
If you are slightly color blind in the red (pink) hues, you may want to chose a kit with a green colormetric.
To me the API liquid tests are easy to read
pH (left) using the high range reagent reads about 8.2, nitrate undetectable
The strips are a ittle less obvious , but coinside.
I believe Apera make strips that use a more green distrinction
There are probes that read the numbers for you, if needed.
If you are slightly color blind in the red (pink) hues, you may want to chose a kit with a green colormetric.
To me the API liquid tests are easy to read
pH (left) using the high range reagent reads about 8.2, nitrate undetectable
The strips are a ittle less obvious , but coinside.
I believe Apera make strips that use a more green distrinction
There are probes that read the numbers for you, if needed.
Duane—
Your last pic, for a chloride level—is that reading the color of the liquid? I’m guessing that is a piece of professional equipment.
I looked for (inexpensive) electronic testers and got the impression they were really using just conductivity, then maybe gave readouts in other ways. I have a TDS meter (which I use constantly), and I suspect it does that.
Do you know of other types, that actually measure alkalinity or hardness?
Your last pic, for a chloride level—is that reading the color of the liquid? I’m guessing that is a piece of professional equipment.
I looked for (inexpensive) electronic testers and got the impression they were really using just conductivity, then maybe gave readouts in other ways. I have a TDS meter (which I use constantly), and I suspect it does that.
Do you know of other types, that actually measure alkalinity or hardness?
My method is...
Use API drip kit when I need accuracy...
Use test strips when I'm confirming consistency...
I like that I can just dip the strip and a few seconds later I get readings across the board. And if everything looks like it's supposed to, I am confident things are what they're supposed to be.
But if something is off on the dip strip... Or if I'm investigating a suspected problem... Or if I'm playing with adjusting something... I go to the API drip tests to see what they real numbers are.
That said... I rarely use either anymore...
Use API drip kit when I need accuracy...
Use test strips when I'm confirming consistency...
I like that I can just dip the strip and a few seconds later I get readings across the board. And if everything looks like it's supposed to, I am confident things are what they're supposed to be.
But if something is off on the dip strip... Or if I'm investigating a suspected problem... Or if I'm playing with adjusting something... I go to the API drip tests to see what they real numbers are.
That said... I rarely use either anymore...