Tigerfishy

So I have been reading on here about how the test strips do not give accurate results, but I always wondered how bad they really were. Armed with both the API Master Freshwater test kit and the Tetra Test Strip kit, I thought I'd do a quick test...

First I began with the basics: ammonia, nitrite & nitrate
AMMONIA
Liquid=0 Strips=No test, but a liquid test from Hagen also said 0
NITRITE
Liquid=0, Strips=0 (with a cycled tank, this was no surprise)
NITRATE
Here's where it gets interesting. I tested the night before water change day, but as we are all aware, in a cycled tank this does not mean much as readings should stay the same.
Liquid=10, Strips=50. I have never had nitrates at 50, and was shocked as I tested with the strips first and wondered what was going on in there. So thak you API for giving me CORRECT results!

I then went ahead and did pH, as this was the last test common to both kits
PH
Liquid=about 7.4 (in between 7.2 & 7.6), Strips=about 6.6 (in between 6.4 & 6.8).

I think these results speak for themselves and with such a massive difference between pH and Nitrates, it really is worth investing in the API kit. If you are going through a cycle and using strips, I can only imagine this is very confusing (going by the nitrate results in an established, cycled tank).

I am in no way saying that this is a scientific definitive test result, especially as I only tested once. However, if you are testing the water, you would only test once and I was basing it on the use it was intended for, i.e one test to see how the water is doing.

So anytime you think of using strips as a check, please use a liquid kit, the results may be well off if you don't, and you don't want to risk a cycle in progress or a sick fish being monitored for example.

dvc_r

Let me add a little more confusion to your test results. The following is a thread I posted a little while back when using two different API liquid tests.

Error when testing for nitrates

Hussain

Hi,

I had the same problem with the PH, and Nitrite..

API Liquid PH test says its 7.8 and the tetra strips reading was 6.8.. Before it was 6.8 it was 7.8 i did use Tetra PH/KH Minus and got that difference with the reading.

As for the Nitrite API Liquid Nitrite test says its .25 PPM but with tetra strips it was 0 German degree.

Don't know where is the problem and whats right. Maybe i have to buy tetra PH liquid test and see the results.

Tigerfishy

Ah yes dvc, the trials of Nitrate bottle 2 lol (I banged it, shook it and ended up dropping it eventually, it could only have helped. Think I forgot the nuclear stage, maybe that's where I went wrong)!!
Interesting though how even with only a few months between sets that there could be so much difference... And so much difference with strips and liquid.
Hussain, glad your results match!! I thought my tank was going crazy.

Hussain

Today test result picture. (Tank is still cycling).

Im not sure which one is the real :

Yours,

Attached Images

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	IMG_1397.jpg (129.3 KB, 122 views)

Nate McFin

Try making a know solution of ammonia and water to test and see which is closer. Say a 6ppm ammonia to bottled water. You really have to know the true value to understand the results. It is worth noting that neither of these are 100% accurate and are hobby level testing equipment.
I have also had similar results to yours with Ph and Nitrate with a non confirmed testing solution.
Interesting experiment!

dvc_r

Meenu

Interesting thread. Thanks for posting your results.

leekinks

Hi im new to fish keeping i had the tetra 6in1 strips i had my tank running for 3 weeks added some rasbora and cadrinals and within 24 hours the rasboras were dead and so were 2 cardinals. test strips showed levels were good but because of the fish loss i didnt think was right. It may have been that i introduced the fish to soon and the transport and shock of a new home was to much + i put the lights on i have since purchased the api master test kit and added some more fish. I seem to get a more rounded reading on my testing and things seem ok.

Meenu

Hi Lee, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It's always helpful to hear from people who have used both.

sirdarksol

This is an excellent idea.

FLGirl

Thanks for sharing. I have Jungle test strips still(5 in one and ammonia) that I had before my API kit. I did compare in the beginning but couldn't accurately tell you because it was awhile ago...Maybe to day I'll compare again.

Tigerfishy

Lol, I just did this out of interest really, but it's good to know it's not just me getting these random readings comparing the 2. It was quite scary, esp if relying on them to cycle...

FLGirl