water testing?

FloridaPride · 01/28/2007, 09:30 PM

I noticed on the liveaquaria site that there were test kits that use paper strips instead of using chemicals and test tubes. Will the test strips get the job done or are they not worth using?

Xandernfs · 01/28/2007, 09:36 PM

From what i've read/seen, the test strips aren't worth a crap. Most people use chemicals & tubes. I know i do. Testing is very imporant and you prolly don't want to skip out on that.

DaveAngie79 · 01/28/2007, 09:41 PM

CALL ME A REBAL BUT I ONLY TESTED FOR ABOUT THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AND OTHER THAN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS STABLE SO I QUIT AND THATS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND SO FOR NO PROBS

WaterKeeper · 01/28/2007, 10:14 PM

Skip the strips. They are about the worst possible type of colorimetric testing. Get a good wet chemical test kit such as Salifert. Even then look into a pH meter and a refractometer to test salinity. Armed with that you won't be yelling your head off like Dave.

drummereef · 01/28/2007, 10:16 PM

Save your money and buy quality testkits, like Salifert.

hans1976 · 01/29/2007, 07:19 AM

Salifert............

Salifert Prices

markandkristen · 01/29/2007, 07:48 AM

yep i used hagen and every other cheap kind.
then i got salifert and realized why they were so awesome

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 08:56 AM

Just to be fair, as I'm a friend of Habib's, are kits from Hach Chemical. They are more geared to people with lab experience but offer many more quality test kits than anyone else.

virginiadiver69 · 01/29/2007, 09:10 AM

I am new to this so I like to have my LFS confirm my readings by doing there own test on my water after I test mine. To do this you would want to use the same type of tests that they do. In my case it is Salifert. I would guess yours does to.

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 09:15 AM

Well, I would imagine a Brain Surgeon would have access to a large medical lab so I'd use their resources.

You can test you kit accuracy using standards. Randy's Chemistry forum articles tell you how to make many of them yourself. I'm sure Habib can also help if you ask on the Salifert forum. I guess I could also start a thread on how to make standards and how to use standard additions to test kit accuracy and precision. All I need do is get around to it.

virginiadiver69 · 01/29/2007, 10:05 AM

I think many would be grateful if you did start a "standards" thread. In the mean time would you point me to the Salifert forum?

As far as my "occupation" description goes... That's just me having a little fun. Last week I was an international playboy, next week I may be a sanitation technician or an astronaut.

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 10:19 AM

As an EPA certified Class IV wastewater treatment operator I am a Sanitation Technician

Here's how to reach the Dutch Boy The Salifert Forum. Habib is one of our RC chemical wiz-kids and can help answer your questions on testing protocols.

For all you other aspiring Kitchen Chemists see my chemical test kit threads located in the sticky at the top of this forum. They'll give you some idea of how those thing actually work.

FloridaPride · 01/29/2007, 11:22 AM

thanks, you guys are very helpful. I love this place......

WaterKeeper · 01/29/2007, 11:30 AM

Naw, you just love my sweet disposition.

virginiadiver69 · 01/29/2007, 12:30 PM

thanks for your info waterkeeper

danch · 01/29/2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
Well, I would imagine a Brain Surgeon would have access to a large medical lab so I'd use their resources.

Hmm, that kind of a lab _might_ even be able to tell you how much phophorous is actually in your water (as opposed to our test kits which shrug and say "Nope! No orthophosphate!")

01/28/2007, 09:30 PM	#1
FloridaPride Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 59	water testing? I noticed on the liveaquaria site that there were test kits that use paper strips instead of using chemicals and test tubes. Will the test strips get the job done or are they not worth using?

01/28/2007, 10:14 PM	#4
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Skip the strips. They are about the worst possible type of colorimetric testing. Get a good wet chemical test kit such as Salifert. Even then look into a pH meter and a refractometer to test salinity. Armed with that you won't be yelling your head off like Dave. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/28/2007, 10:16 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Save your money and buy quality testkits, like Salifert. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/29/2007, 07:19 AM	#6
hans1976 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 3,239	Salifert............ Salifert Prices __________________ Jeff PAST CTARS President Past MASNA Treasurer

01/29/2007, 08:56 AM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Just to be fair, as I'm a friend of Habib's, are kits from Hach Chemical. They are more geared to people with lab experience but offer many more quality test kits than anyone else. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/28/2007, 09:36 PM	#2
Xandernfs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: STL Posts: 730	From what i've read/seen, the test strips aren't worth a crap. Most people use chemicals & tubes. I know i do. Testing is very imporant and you prolly don't want to skip out on that.

01/28/2007, 09:41 PM	#3
DaveAngie79 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenwood, IN Posts: 662	CALL ME A REBAL BUT I ONLY TESTED FOR ABOUT THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AND OTHER THAN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS STABLE SO I QUIT AND THATS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND SO FOR NO PROBS

01/29/2007, 07:48 AM	#7
markandkristen Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winterhaven, fl Posts: 4,081	yep i used hagen and every other cheap kind. then i got salifert and realized why they were so awesome

01/29/2007, 09:10 AM	#9
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I am new to this so I like to have my LFS confirm my readings by doing there own test on my water after I test mine. To do this you would want to use the same type of tests that they do. In my case it is Salifert. I would guess yours does to. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

01/29/2007, 09:15 AM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Well, I would imagine a Brain Surgeon would have access to a large medical lab so I'd use their resources. You can test you kit accuracy using standards. Randy's Chemistry forum articles tell you how to make many of them yourself. I'm sure Habib can also help if you ask on the Salifert forum. I guess I could also start a thread on how to make standards and how to use standard additions to test kit accuracy and precision. All I need do is get around to it. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 10:05 AM	#11
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I think many would be grateful if you did start a "standards" thread. In the mean time would you point me to the Salifert forum? As far as my "occupation" description goes... That's just me having a little fun. Last week I was an international playboy, next week I may be a sanitation technician or an astronaut.

01/29/2007, 10:19 AM	#12
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	As an EPA certified Class IV wastewater treatment operator I am a Sanitation Technician Here's how to reach the Dutch Boy The Salifert Forum. Habib is one of our RC chemical wiz-kids and can help answer your questions on testing protocols. For all you other aspiring Kitchen Chemists see my chemical test kit threads located in the sticky at the top of this forum. They'll give you some idea of how those thing actually work. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 11:22 AM	#13
FloridaPride Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 59	thanks, you guys are very helpful. I love this place......

01/29/2007, 11:30 AM	#14
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Naw, you just love my sweet disposition. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

01/29/2007, 12:30 PM	#15
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	thanks for your info waterkeeper __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator