6 in 1 water test strips???

Radicaljbr · 02/24/2021, 12:40 PM

Any recommendations or thoughts on these six and one test strips? They test everything from pH, nitrates, nitrates, ammonia, water hardness. Just curious what everyone’s thoughts are for using them it says it is also recommended for saltwater fish tanks

Oldreeferman · 02/24/2021, 01:21 PM

They are better then nothing to get a general idea and ok for most freshwater applications but they are not very accurate for saltwater apps where you want precision and easy to read from one lvl to the next. They are ok on a new setup where you are monitoring the beginning of ammonia and nitrates etc
I did a test using them in the beginning and they work somewhat but not precise when put next to real test kits on anything and they don't read low amounts well just high.
Plus on saltwater one usually has to use RO water anyway (water hardness), and PH is maintained by ALK mainly so test strips end up pretty useless once a tank is mature and needs precise measurements for dosing setup etc.
Id only recommend them for freshwater use if you want success in a Reef tank, if only a FOWLR saltwater tank probably ok since params are lower and simpler.

markovkaa · 02/25/2021, 12:26 AM

I got a pack of them for free and I tested so many water with them and didn’t learn anything.

clevername · 03/06/2021, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markovkaa

I got a pack of them for free and I tested so many water with them and didn’t learn anything.

would agree with that. Someone said "better than nothing" is like saying if your staving would you want a grain of rice or nothing?

Oldreeferman · 03/07/2021, 03:13 PM

Yep they are useless for marine, ok for most fresh tho, but trying to be polite....LOL

Sk8r · 03/07/2021, 05:15 PM

They're good to have on hand for a fast look at a situation, but never rely on them for water-balancing. I have freshwater and a pond, so they come in handy more often, but for maintaining a marine tank, a weekend testing of alkalinity at least (bellwether of other problems) will keep you out of trouble. It's the fastest test (I use Salifert) and if it's off, test magnesium, which is the fussier test) If it's off, first bring magnesium up to snuff, THEN the alk buffer, last of all the calcium. So you don't need to run every test every time if your water is in balance as I have in my sig line.

02/24/2021, 12:40 PM	#1
Radicaljbr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 1,293	6 in 1 water test strips??? Any recommendations or thoughts on these six and one test strips? They test everything from pH, nitrates, nitrates, ammonia, water hardness. Just curious what everyone’s thoughts are for using them it says it is also recommended for saltwater fish tanks

02/24/2021, 01:21 PM	#2
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	They are better then nothing to get a general idea and ok for most freshwater applications but they are not very accurate for saltwater apps where you want precision and easy to read from one lvl to the next. They are ok on a new setup where you are monitoring the beginning of ammonia and nitrates etc I did a test using them in the beginning and they work somewhat but not precise when put next to real test kits on anything and they don't read low amounts well just high. Plus on saltwater one usually has to use RO water anyway (water hardness), and PH is maintained by ALK mainly so test strips end up pretty useless once a tank is mature and needs precise measurements for dosing setup etc. Id only recommend them for freshwater use if you want success in a Reef tank, if only a FOWLR saltwater tank probably ok since params are lower and simpler. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

03/07/2021, 03:13 PM	#5
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Yep they are useless for marine, ok for most fresh tho, but trying to be polite....LOL __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank

03/07/2021, 05:15 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They're good to have on hand for a fast look at a situation, but never rely on them for water-balancing. I have freshwater and a pond, so they come in handy more often, but for maintaining a marine tank, a weekend testing of alkalinity at least (bellwether of other problems) will keep you out of trouble. It's the fastest test (I use Salifert) and if it's off, test magnesium, which is the fussier test) If it's off, first bring magnesium up to snuff, THEN the alk buffer, last of all the calcium. So you don't need to run every test every time if your water is in balance as I have in my sig line. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/25/2021, 12:26 AM	#3
markovkaa Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 16	I got a pack of them for free and I tested so many water with them and didn’t learn anything.