View Full Version : Nitrate test strips vs. Nitrate chemical test kits
Have purchased a Nitrate test kit which is using chemical to test the range of nitrate ppm in the tank water.
However find it extremely troublesome to constantly do the test a few times in order to get some form of proper reading.
Have never tried the test strip , so just curious if it would give an instant readout of the value in ppm in the tank water ?
If so would really save a lot of hassle in testing the water parameters.
leafhorn
02-02-2003, 01:12 AM
I used test strips before, the tetra 5 in 1, very convenient, dip in tankwater, take out and dry for a minute or two, then 5 readings at one time.
paper kit not so good, the chemical still the best.
S|aO_|aNG
02-02-2003, 05:34 PM
The Problem with Paper test kits and Chemical test kit is tat...
Paper ones are more convient. Juz Dip and tats it. Few reading come out at the same time. But the bad thing about it is tat. Its VERY EX! And moreover, its not very accurate. The colours are hard to identify giving u headache all the time.
Chemical ones is more accurate when giving u the result compared to the Paper ones. Its cheaper oso. But the oni bad thing is tat its very troublesome. Hehe!
So there are pros and cons about all of them. But i myself prefer the chemical one better. 1stly, its cheaper. 2ndly its more accurate. Hehe! :D
Originally posted by benny
Went and buy the Sera one instead as it's much better.
benny, you mean Sera also has an ALL-in-One test strips kit ?
Roughly how much you got it for ?
Sigh...might just stick to my chemical test kits then...just very troublesome , sometimes lazy to test water also haha :D
leafhorn
03-02-2003, 11:13 AM
Yah, the paper strips color with the chart always different tone one, hahaha, but once you get used to paper strips, you can tell the color roughly.
Sera have a box set of chemical test which one box have 5 different chemical tests for No2 No3 Ph Gh Kh, like a mini master test kit. 5 in 1 strips I not sure.
Guess those all-in-1 test strips good for general testing , but not really good if you plan to get an exact reading.
Should be sufficient for occassional testing though :)
Stick to my chemical test kits then :D
BEWARE!! Alot of them(paper test) had expired, check the date.
Ecalyte
04-02-2003, 12:48 AM
As you get more experienced in fish keeping, you will learn not to use the nitrate test kits unless you're cycling the water in your tank. Simply because anything wrong in the water can be seen first by the fish's behaviour. If nothing seems amis, it's more likely that the water is fine...
imo.
leafhorn
04-02-2003, 02:23 AM
Originally posted by Ecalyte
As you get more experienced in fish keeping, you will learn not to use the nitrate test kits unless you're cycling the water in your tank. Simply because anything wrong in the water can be seen first by the fish's behaviour. If nothing seems amis, it's more likely that the water is fine...
imo.
Agree, but good to have the basic test kits around, sometimes you need them to find out the root of problems.
cloud79
04-02-2003, 03:01 AM
No matter how gd a detective is, he still needs evidence to support his prediction. In this context, it will be useful to have test kits with you. Even experienced aquarists can also face problems with tank water and these test kits can come in very handy to deduct what exactly is the prob! :)
kevinlaikf
04-02-2003, 04:05 PM
I used my reusuable test kit which is free...
My nose.
A simple smell at the tank.. you will know the presence of ammonia or not.
A strong unpleasant smell would prompt you to change water.
And over times.. you will know the frequency required to do a water change..
Originally posted by kevinlaikf
A simple smell at the tank.. you will know the presence of ammonia or not.
A strong unpleasant smell would prompt you to change water.
And over times.. you will know the frequency required to do a water change..
Haha you're right...thats a good test for ammonia...but if it really smelt that bad , the ppm levels are already very high ! yikes ! :D
Originally posted by Ecalyte
As you get more experienced in fish keeping, you will learn not to use the nitrate test kits unless you're cycling the water in your tank. Simply because anything wrong in the water can be seen first by the fish's behaviour. If nothing seems amis, it's more likely that the water is fine...
imo.
Yep bro , but i want to test for the exact values of the water parameters to compare/experiment with something :)
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