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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/28/2011 1:46:38 PM
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| I have recently bought Tetra easystrips to test my 10 gal tank. Used one , nitrites is high and the nitrates are low. I have been recycling 10% of my tank daily for a week and always the same reading. Label seems wrong colors not quite match? I have 4 red tux guppies in there. This is not a new tank. I had a API test strip 5-1. Leftover from the last set. it reads nitrites at pale 1 and nitrates at 40ish. The guppies seems fine smooth gills and fins. playfull. clear water. no ich spots. Bad label or not a good product?
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/28/2011 1:46:38 PM
Posts: 20,
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some photos.onclick:if_IFCohttp://board.fishchannel.com/Attachment770.aspxde(' ');http://board.fishchannel.com/Attachment771.aspx
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/14/2012 8:46:34 PM
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I've learned that test strips are not really that accurate, and I use to think they were great. But if you really want accurate readings then you want to go with the regular test methods. It was suggested to me I buy a API complete master test kit, Costs about $25.00 dollars. But it's been great so far, and my readings are so much more accurate, then my searchem test strips ever were.
My mind always tells me I'm young.......yet every morning when I get out of bed.......my body proves I'm very very old!
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/28/2011 1:46:38 PM
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| I guess the water fine I just found 3 snails in the tank. I,ll buy the API kit next time I,m in town. this off a snail post I read today.
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Senior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 7:42:55 AM
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[/quote]I have recently bought Tetra easystrips to test my 10 gal tank. Used one , nitrites is high and the nitrates are low. I have been recycling 10% of my tank daily for a week and always the same reading. Label seems wrong colors not quite match? I have 4 red tux guppies in there. This is not a new tank. I had a API test strip 5-1. Leftover from the last set. it reads nitrites at pale 1 and nitrates at 40ish. The guppies seems fine smooth gills and fins. playfull. clear water. no ich spots. Bad label or not a good product? [quote] Check the expiration date on the container of both your Tetra and API to make sure they are not out of date. Make sure you are using the freshwater scale on the container to compare. The colors on the container are benchmarks and your water might fall between those colors. Comparing the colors of the API kit to the colors of the Tetra kit is not valid. I agree with Ross, liquid tests are more accurate. But test strips are great for a quick test and provide readings close enough for what most of us need. I use both depending on how much time I have and the level of accuracy desired. One other thought, in every case involving faulty test strips it is my experience that they were either grossly out of date (sometimes even sold that way) or moisture got into the container and contaminated the indicators. Hope that helps. SGN |
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Moderator
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 6/21/2012 6:30:34 PM
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I agree with Steve -- the paper test strips are fine, and in many ways more accurate than the expensive reactor/reagent ones. If you think you're not getting correct readings, bring awater sample to a local fish store and ask them to test it for you.
***************************Local Fish Stores -- "The Heart of the Hobby"
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