Aquarium Co-Op Multi Test Strip Tests with known solutions (videos inside)

[Cory]

Hey all, while moving I found a couple of solutions I could use to make a quick video about our test strips. Just thought I'd make them for the forum to put people's minds at ease to the accuracy. By no means is this a scientific controlled environment. Instead it's much closer to your home use.  These are just some unlisted videos that can help when people are wondering about the strips around on the forum.

Nitrate Test 150ppm:

 

Ph Test 7.0

 

[Isaac M]

This is very helpful @Cory! I retired my API liquid test kit the minute these test strips arrived at my doorstep. Really enjoyed seeing a small part of the testing process. Thank you for what you have done to make this hobby better and easier to enjoy. 

I am not sure if this has been done already but this should be pinned somewhere on the forum for people to find easily.

[Hobbit]

Thanks for mentioning this in the live stream! I hadn’t seen these yet.

I’ve found that I really need to set a timer and read these right at a minute because some of them do keep changing.

[tonyjuliano]

While I’m pretty much addicted to using liquid tests for my weekly testing, I am finding the test strips invaluable for doing quick daily tests to monitor initial cycling.

As the number of tanks in my possession increases, it’s very likely that they may be more suitable for my weekly testing too.

I do wish that they would also test for ammonia, but definitely understand that this is impossible due to the nature of the chemistry required.

[Streetwise]

@tonyjuliano, your wish item exists! It is a separate product because of the different reaction time:

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-ammonia-test-strips

Cheers!

[tonyjuliano]

1 minute ago, Streetwise said:

@tonyjuliano, your wish item exists! It is a separate product because of the different reaction time:

https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/aquarium-co-op-ammonia-test-strips

Cheers!

Thanks, but I realize that.  I was referring to the “nirvana” which would be “all parameters in a single strip”, but Know that wouldn’t be possible.  If it was, someone would be making tons of money.

[Streetwise]

I’m just brainstorming here, but maybe a double-ended test strip would be a cool product, with one end for a short immersion, and the other end for a longer immersion.

[BMBLSAD]

Ok. So. Wow.  Brain exploding. 🤯

I have been stressing over my nitrates since I started keeping aquariums about 4 years ago.  I have used the API test kit religiously nearly every week to test all parameters in my 6 tanks.  My nitrates were almost always in the 40-80 range (although the color is really hard to tell).  No matter how many water changes or how much water I changed or how well I gravel vac'd or how much I cut back the fish feedings, I could not get my nitrates to hang in the happy range. 

To get free shipping from AC, I tossed in a bottle of the test strips on a whim.  Each time I tested my water with the strips, the nitrates were in the 10-25 range while API was giving me the usual 40-80.  I thought, huh how could Cory's strips be so far off the mark? (dumb me, I know 🥴).  Seeing the video he posted above with the tests solution? - well, that's what blew my mind.  The API test kit is going to the back of my fishkeeping cabinet and the test strips are moving to the counter.  Thanks Cory.