Dry test strip tests vs. liquid test kits

[Dingo Dog]

The purpose of this post isn't to debate the +/- of the various brands of liquid test kits available. As many of you long-time reefers know, that's already been done here at Reef Central. I'd like to get your feedback on the dry test strips vs. the liquid test kits.

When I test my NO2 & NO3 using the liquid kits the results are zero. When I use my dry test strips the NO2 shows zero but the NO3 shows a range of 20 or greater.

I've used diff brands of the liquid kits (Aquarium pharmaceutical, Tropical Marine and Salifert) and none indicate a reading anywhere near the equivlent indicated by the dry strips.

What's up with that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rbursek]

check the experation date on the test strips, they maybe expired, ussually on the bottom of the container. I test wet and dry and yes by trites are zero on both but as a rule the dry test higher then the wet on trates.
Bob

 

[Dingo Dog]

Bob, thanks for your reply. None of the kits/strips are expired.

 

[dendro982]

I started with dry strips, 5 in 1. Same data all the time.

Liquid tests show difference within 3 days. Results are very similar for different brands of liquid tests, but all are far from results of the dry strips tests, unexpired too.

My 2 cents.

 

[Sepeku]

I use dry strips too, the 5-in-1 kind. They also always, always, give a reeding of about 20 on the nitrates even though the wet kit doesn't always say the same.

 

[Abso]

My dry strip says nitrate is 0 but wet says totally different. Both not expired and i really got confused.