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Showing results for tags 'test accuracy'.
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Hi everyone, I've been using my Aquarium co-op test strip for about two weeks now and I'm loving them, but I've noticed the readings I get with them are different than the ones I get with my API test kit (not the strips, the tubes). I'm more inclined to trust the test strips than the API kit because I know how much testing goes into Aquarium Co-op products, but I was wondering if anyone had similar experiences, and what ended up happening.- 23 replies
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Fritz complete w/ water change--how long before next readings of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates reliable? -
A few hours after properly dosing ( based on directions) my planted tanks with Seachem Flourish, Searchem Nitrogen, (and Flourish Excel though it should be irrelevant), my API test kit indicates 0 ppm of nitrates. Should this be the case? If not, perhaps could it be a problem with the test kit? -
Most of the time when I test my nitrites, the first one looks like the bottom tube and the second time looks like the top tube. These tests were done literally one right after the other. I fill a beaker with aquarium water, then use a 3ml plastic dropper to fill my API test tubes. Then I shake the indicator solution, dispense 5 drops, cap and invert the tube for 5-10 seconds. Then I do it a second time. I rinse the tubes, shake them out, and let them dry until the next day. Test kit is not expired; I bought it brand new in August and just opened it in December. Why is it like this? It does this almost every time I test. I sometimes test 3 times. The latter two tests show up light blue, no trace of purple. So what’s going on? The only other test that gives me problems is the API nitrate test; it consistently reads higher than my Salifert nitrate test. If it’s relevant, the pH is 6.0 lately. I’m not sure why...I don’t have any fish in it and I do 10-50% water changes every few days. Just plants and snails. I have ADA Tropica and it was dropping my pH to 6.2-6.4 but lately more like 6.0. I am not sure which test to believe. The tank has been running for almost 2 months. Ammonia always tests 0 (since just over 3 weeks ago I guess). I’m just wondering what could be causing this...never had it happen that I can remember Thanks for your help! -
I've always questioned the accuracy of test strips and have often times received weird results from them. Yesterday, I tested my display tank for nitrates. I'm trying to keep it at a level of nitrates adequate for good plant growth. I figured this would be ideal for the test strips as I could easily test it daily. My test strip showed zero nitrates in the tank. While this tank doesn't have a huge bio-load, I do add fertilizer regularly so this result didn't seem plausible. I pulled out my API Master test kit which revealed a level of 80 ppm. Are these test strips just completely worthless or is it just me? Is there another way for me to quickly and easily test nitrates in a tank?- 5 replies
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