Alkilinity test has a little blue in the corner

Jungle test kit from walmart I test it and wait amount of time your supposed to wait, and 9 out of 10 strips the alkalinity line is 40 to 80 color and on the box is a little blue with the green and wondered why?

 

I'm not sure what the little blue in the corner means, as I've never used test strips. I recommend that you pick up an API freshwater master test kit. They are much more accurate than the strips. They are also more cost effective in the long run.

 

Agreed, the accuracy of strips cannot be trusted.

 

tHen what do I use instead of test strips?

 

If I can't use test strips then what kind if test is the API?

 

It's a liquid test kit.

 

How do I use a liquid test kit?

 

How do I use a liquid test kit?

1.) Fill the tubes up to the fill line with tank water.
2.) Follow the instructions and put the proper amount of drops in each tube.
3.) Cap the tubes and shake well
4.) Wait 5 minutes, then compare the colors of the test tubes to their corresponding color card.

 

Huh that's neat
so this is better than strips
and the only reason why petsmarts water tests are free,mhm
so this master kit how much? How many tubes does it come with?

 

Usually you can expect to pay $25-$30. You'll get about 150-200 tests out of it. This is a waaaay better deal than whatever you've been paying for 5, 10, or 25 test strips.

It's one of the few times in life when you get much higher quality for a much lower price. Enjoy it! ;D

 

Oh I will! Can I reuse the bottles
what about the drop things can I buy those again? And bottles?

 

Oh I will! Can I reuse the bottles
what about the drop things can I buy those again? And bottles?

The liquid test kit has bottles full of chemicals with dripper tips. You can't reuse those bottles. (I mean, I guess you COULD, but you'd have to get them really clean. :-\ )

It also comes with little glass test tubes that you use to measure tank water and measure the chemicals. The tubes come with little plastic/rubber caps to seal them for mixing. The tubes and caps are reusable, which is handy, because they're marked off for 5ml, which is a common measurement for medicines, fertilizer, etc.

If you're like me, the test kit will expire (after 2 years, I think) before you use up the chemicals. When you've used up the kit, or when it expires, you just go and buy a new master kit.

I think API does sell individual tests, if you run out of a particular test way ahead of the expiration time.

The master kit measures pH (it has two tests for this), ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

EDIT: There are some photos .