Dry test strip tests vs. liquid test kits

Dingo Dog · 11/04/2007, 09:14 AM

The purpose of this post isn't to debate the +/- of the various brands of liquid test kits available. As many of you long-time reefers know, that's already been done here at Reef Central. I'd like to get your feedback on the dry test strips vs. the liquid test kits.

When I test my NO2 & NO3 using the liquid kits the results are zero. When I use my dry test strips the NO2 shows zero but the NO3 shows a range of 20 or greater.

I've used diff brands of the liquid kits (Aquarium pharmaceutical, Tropical Marine and Salifert) and none indicate a reading anywhere near the equivlent indicated by the dry strips.

What's up with that?

Thanks in advance.

rbursek · 11/04/2007, 09:31 AM

check the experation date on the test strips, they maybe expired, ussually on the bottom of the container. I test wet and dry and yes by trites are zero on both but as a rule the dry test higher then the wet on trates.
Bob

Dingo Dog · 11/04/2007, 09:38 AM

Bob, thanks for your reply. None of the kits/strips are expired.

dendro982 · 11/05/2007, 07:02 AM

I started with dry strips, 5 in 1. Same data all the time.

Liquid tests show difference within 3 days. Results are very similar for different brands of liquid tests, but all are far from results of the dry strips tests, unexpired too.

My 2 cents.

Sepeku · 11/05/2007, 07:54 AM

I use dry strips too, the 5-in-1 kind. They also always, always, give a reeding of about 20 on the nitrates even though the wet kit doesn't always say the same.

Abso · 11/05/2007, 08:08 AM

My dry strip says nitrate is 0 but wet says totally different. Both not expired and i really got confused.

11/04/2007, 09:14 AM	#1
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Dry test strip tests vs. liquid test kits The purpose of this post isn't to debate the +/- of the various brands of liquid test kits available. As many of you long-time reefers know, that's already been done here at Reef Central. I'd like to get your feedback on the dry test strips vs. the liquid test kits. When I test my NO2 & NO3 using the liquid kits the results are zero. When I use my dry test strips the NO2 shows zero but the NO3 shows a range of 20 or greater. I've used diff brands of the liquid kits (Aquarium pharmaceutical, Tropical Marine and Salifert) and none indicate a reading anywhere near the equivlent indicated by the dry strips. What's up with that? Thanks in advance.

11/05/2007, 08:08 AM	#6
Abso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ankara Posts: 540	My dry strip says nitrate is 0 but wet says totally different. Both not expired and i really got confused. __________________ 60+20gl FOWLR Tank active till 20.11.03 10glNano

11/04/2007, 09:31 AM	#2
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	check the experation date on the test strips, they maybe expired, ussually on the bottom of the container. I test wet and dry and yes by trites are zero on both but as a rule the dry test higher then the wet on trates. Bob

11/04/2007, 09:38 AM	#3
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Bob, thanks for your reply. None of the kits/strips are expired.

11/05/2007, 07:02 AM	#4
dendro982 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,963	I started with dry strips, 5 in 1. Same data all the time. Liquid tests show difference within 3 days. Results are very similar for different brands of liquid tests, but all are far from results of the dry strips tests, unexpired too. My 2 cents.

11/05/2007, 07:54 AM	#5
Sepeku Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 356	I use dry strips too, the 5-in-1 kind. They also always, always, give a reeding of about 20 on the nitrates even though the wet kit doesn't always say the same.