test strips

[tb_bucs]

do these work and how reliable are they

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They might be useful for ammonia as a rough warning in case it rises, but I would not rely on them for anything else you need to measure in reef aquarium water.

 

[Vapour1ze]

test strips are crap, ive used them in the past like 3 or 4 different brands, and compared to a actual test test, and the results were way different,

just my input.

 

[Ricunger]

How about HACH test strips?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Which ones?

pH test strips are fine, but have typically very poor precision, usually not enough for reef tank purposes.

 

[Condiman]

Now for me I use them just to keep an eye on things but I use liquid tests once a month to make sure things are good.

 

[ngn8dogg]

Ive noticed the Ph strips are pretty accurate but everything else on it sucks

 

[nikkipigtails]

The LFS I used to work at used test strips to test everything. I found them to be inaccurate, at best (and I never recommended them to customers...probably one reason why I got fired). You could test the same water twice and get different readings for the same thing you're testing for. Then, there's when the little square doesn't change completely in the center, it's two different colors.

Go with the test kits that make you look like a mad scientist!

 

[EnderG60]

they work for quick and dirty measurments. but I wouldnt trust them for accuracy on anything.