Hello everyone! I'm having difficulty reading my water test strips. If you look at the attached photo, the KH square is blotchy and could be a couple different colors. Most of the time the pH and and GH squares are blotchy too. Do I read the darkest color or lightest? Am I waiting too long to read? Not long enough? Bad batch? I'm following the instructions exactly, swirl for 3 seconds, keep flat, then read after 60 sec. This picture was taken right at 60 seconds.
Any help is appreciated as I'm trying to balance a planted tank and I just don't have confidence in the water conditions to know what adjustments I can or should make.