Opinions on Aquavital Test strips?

[becky46]

My LFS carries these and really likes them. I hear people rail against test strips in general, but does anyone have any experience with these more "professional" strips?

Ref: BRS link

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, even if the strips are totally accurate, the claimed specifications are too crude to be particularly useful:

Specifications

• Alkalinity Range: 0 to 20 dKH (3dKH increments)
• Calcium Range: 0 to 500 ppm (100 ppm increments)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For example, if it looks closest to 400 ppm, it might be 350 to 450 ppm, and alk is ridiculous if the picture I see online is correct. it jumps from 6 to 10 dKH with only a small color change.

 

[becky46]

For example, if it looks closest to 400 ppm, it might be 350 to 450 ppm, and alk is ridiculous if the picture I see online is correct. it jumps from 6 to 10 dKH with only a small color change.

Gotcha, yeah, I have a half used container and the color change between 6 and 10 isn't that great. Thanks!

 

[Sleepydoc]

We often say that consistency is more important than the actual number but with a stated accuracy of 3 dKH and 100 ppm of Ca, you can’t even gauge consistency.

It’s too bad - being able to test several parameters quickly and easily is really attractive, but with such poor accuracy there’s not much point.

 

[Dr_Carl]

All the above being true, the pH, nitrite, and nitrite do appear to be accurate. If your goal is to monitor those parameters over time in support of more forgiving livestock- then go for it!!!

 

[Wyvern]

I bought some (saltwater test) strips, they are absolutely worthless, says my nitrate/nitrite is 0 and PH and calcium is unreadable.

Making adjustments based on strips is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Dr_Carl]

I bought some (saltwater test) strips, they are absolutely worthless, says my nitrate/nitrite is 0 and PH and calcium is unreadable.

Making adjustments based on strips is an accident waiting to happen.

Were those from Aquavital? If not, what brand were you using?

 

[Wyvern]

Were those from Aquavital? If not, what brand were you using?

Forgot what brand, I threw them away.