Are Test Strips Any Good?

[wombat1100]

Has anybody used this type of testing equipment, are they any good , accurate? or just a waste of money?
Dazz


http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_...;products_id=66 (http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=66)


http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_...;products_id=67 (http://www.livefish.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=67)

[mac_man_luke]

wondering that myself

I use a ph/alkalinity test strip just to do the occasional test and it appears pretty accurate but some have very slight colour differences

[wombat1100]

Well I received my new test kits in the post yesterday and tried them out straight away, how easy is that , just dip and read! :biggrin:
Now i guess i will have to get my water tested at my LFS and compare the 2 readings to see the accuracy. :unsure:
The ones i got are the http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/images/thumbs/tn_Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_Test_Strips_5in1.jpg (http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1469&name=Aquarium+Pharmaceuticals+Test+Strips+5+in+1) Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Test Strips 5 in 1
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Test Strips Ammoniahttp://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/images/thumbs/tn_Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_Test_Strips_Ammonia.jp g (http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1472&name=Aquarium+Pharmaceuticals+Test+Strips+Ammonia)
I purchased them on line from

http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au at nearly 30% less than the price at my LFS and they were delivered to my door! :biggrin:

Now I know that people are going to say that I'm not supporting my LFS by doing this , but at that big a saving how can you not?
Besides I know that some of us are trying to manufacture there own chemicals so I guess thats not supporting the LFS either!!! :p

My only complaint would be that the GH test strip indicator only goes up to 180ppm and with a cichlid tank I would have liked to know how much above that my water is, :( also I now check my KH as it is on the 5 in 1 i am checking another water parameter that I have never checked before :biggrin:
Dazz

[aquariumleasing]

Well I received my new test kits in the post yesterday and tried them out straight away, how easy is that , just dip and read! :biggrin:
Now i guess i will have to get my water tested at my LFS and compare the 2 readings to see the accuracy. :unsure:
The ones i got are the http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/images/thumbs/tn_Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_Test_Strips_5in1.jpg (http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1469&name=Aquarium+Pharmaceuticals+Test+Strips+5+in+1) Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Test Strips 5 in 1
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Test Strips Ammoniahttp://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/images/thumbs/tn_Aquarium_Pharmaceuticals_Test_Strips_Ammonia.jp g (http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1472&name=Aquarium+Pharmaceuticals+Test+Strips+Ammonia)
I purchased them on line from

http://www.theaquariumshop.com.au at nearly 30% less than the price at my LFS and they were delivered to my door! :biggrin:

Now I know that people are going to say that I'm not supporting my LFS by doing this , but at that big a saving how can you not?
Besides I know that some of us are trying to manufacture there own chemicals so I guess thats not supporting the LFS either!!! :p

My only complaint would be that the GH test strip indicator only goes up to 180ppm and with a cichlid tank I would have liked to know how much above that my water is, :( also I now check my KH as it is on the 5 in 1 i am checking another water parameter that I have never checked before :biggrin:
Dazz[/b]

Sorry about this late reply. I have tried 2 types of strips including the API ones and cannot rely on them. I found most strips in the box were ok but the occassional one was pathetically wrong! Got a refund.

Drops or probes for me! ...John