Strips versus liquid tests

[kayaaandjaden]

Testing....testing....
I was wondering how safe would it be to use strips instead of the liquid tests kits. They are very time consuming.
I have just read somewhere that you don't have to test for ammonia after the tank has cycled....but doesn't that put you at risk for a spike to go unnoticed? So, I was thinking that maybe certain test strips would simplify atleast -some - of the testing, what do you guys think about it? Safe or not?

 

[mg426]

I am not a big fan of test strips. I had some once and compared to a Saifert test kit the results are all over the place.

 

[bertoni]

I haven't tested ammonia in a tank for years. If something were to happen that might cause a lot of die-off, I'd likely start testing ammonia. After the tank has been stable for a few months, I wouldn't worry unless I was adding new animals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm not a fan of strips either. I'd get liquid reagent tests.

I wouldn't bother to test for ammonia in an established tank. It doesn't just spike unless you cause a problem in some unusual way. Like Jonathan, I haven't tested ammonia in my main tank for years. More than 10 years, in fact.

 

[kayaaandjaden]

That is good to know, otherwise I would have been testing for ammonia right along with everything else
This is actually what prompted the ammonia to begin with....
I set up a quarintine tank with some fully-cured LR rubble that came in the shipment(thanks to some poor handling from UPS there was tons of it.) And I put a thin layer of live sand onthe bottom. I watched it for about a week and a half and then ran a set of tests, everything came back great....0-nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, I think it was 7.8 ph. So, after about 6 more days, I tested again....same results, so we went and picked up our first clown. I tested yesterday and the ammonia was high. I am going to test agian now, but I am not sure what to do. I am going ot add a little RO as there has been a little evaporation. At what point should I worry, and if the AM get too high should I possibly transfer him to the main tank? There isn't anything in there except a few snails, a little red lobster that we haven't seen since Sunday when we put him in a few cleaner hermits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If there are no other fish in the main tank, you can risk adding it, although you might end up adding parasites to the tank if it is infected. If the ammonia jumps in the QT, you can add something like Amquel.

FWIW, I've set up QT tanks just like you describe and the fish were fine, although the rubble and sand may have been more established being older.