Test Strip Accuracy?

[ScottR]

To put it simply he is saying that there is no way tap water is the cause.

If you are not okay with being corrected then do not make false or misleading statements in the first place.

Was I wrong in stating that tap water causes nitrates? Or that over feeding causes nitrates? Please feel free to correct me.

 

[Lasse]

I think it’s time I leave REEF2REEF. Too many big heads.

I´m sorry - I have sent you a PM - I´m not a native English speaker - sometimes things get Swenglish instead of English - please accept my apologizes


Sincerely Lasse

 

[ScottR]

I´m sorry - I have sent you a PM - I´m not a native English speaker - sometimes things get Swenglish instead of English - please accept my apologizes


Sincerely Lasse

I respect you Lasse. I have been following you long before I joined this forum. I replied to your PM. I just feel that I wasn’t wrong in my original statement.

 

[dbjonesjr]

Was I wrong in stating that tap water causes nitrates? Or that over feeding causes nitrates? Please feel free to correct me.

You are not wrong in either of those statements. However, I said misleading for a reason, and that is because there is no way that tap water would be responsible for 200 ppm NO3 in any developed country.

 

[ScottR]

You are not wrong in either of those statements. However, I said misleading for a reason, and that is because there is no way that tap water would be responsible for 200 ppm NO3 in any developed country.

Please quote me where I said 200ppm was possible in tap water. At no time did I mention that high of nitrates was common in tap water. Please read through this thread again before insinuating me as being disingenuous.

 

[ScottR]

OP - I’m sorry about this. I know it’s confusing. Let’s get back on topic.

 

[dbjonesjr]

Please quote me where I said 200ppm was possible in tap water. At no time did I mention that high of nitrates was common in tap water. Please read through this thread again before insinuating me as being disingenuous.

You seemed to credit tap water as being a possibility of 200 ppm NO3.

 

[ScottR]

You seemed to credit tap water as being a possibility of 200 ppm NO3.

Please read the thread from the beginning. I said that API tests are not trustworthy. I then mentioned that I have 25ppm on my tap water. I never ever mentioned that 200ppm is normal on tap water nor that would be a source. Was I wrong? Please let me know so I can correct myself.

 

[reefwiser]

All this over over a 2.5 "reef bowl" and the user is using 5 in 1 test strips which are completely useless for any testing. Especially the fresh and salt verizon.
First this size of tank will require a high degree of care. As the parameters are easily changed with a small volume of water. If the user wants to find out the values of their tap water maybe ICP test it.
But when someone starts out with a "pico" tank they need to be aware of the razor edge that they are walking on. It is not for a user that is just starting out. People see PICO tanks and say cool so I can do it too.
But know one tells them the precautions the those that have a tank like this do to keep the water chemistry stable.

 

[ScottR]

All this over over a 2.5 "reef bowl" and the user is using 5 in 1 test strips which are completely useless for any testing. Especially the fresh and salt verizon.
First this size of tank will require a high degree of care. As the parameters are easily changed with a small volume of water. If the user wants to find out the values of their tap water maybe ICP test it.
But when someone starts out with a "pico" tank they need to be aware of the razor edge that they are walking on. It is not for a user that is just starting out. People see PICO tanks and say cool so I can do it too.
But know one tells them the precautions the those that have a tank like this do to keep the water chemistry stable.

I’d expect a more humble answer from a #reefsquad member to be honest.

 

[reefwiser]

 

[candelloro]

I have owned a smaller marine tank than this one in the past for 5 years and had no issues with keeping parameters in check. Just had a friend test my water today and my nitrates and nitrites are nowhere near as high as the test strips showed yesterday
Currently nitrates are at 5 ppm and nitrite at 0

 

[ScottR]

I guess #reefsquad are here to bully, not help?

 

[ScottR]

I have owned a smaller marine tank than this one in the past for 5 years and had no issues with keeping parameters in check. Just had a friend test my water today and my nitrates and nitrites are nowhere near as high as the test strips showed yesterday
Currently nitrates are at 0.5 ppm and nitrite at 0

Sorry. Trying to help you. Hope we can get back on track. Some people tend to be less helpful. Usually the R2R people are more kind. I’d look into getting Salifert kits for more accurate testing.

 

[candelloro]

Guys I’m not new to this hobby lol I just wanted some input as to why my nitrates suddenly showed up as 200 ppm on the test strips in the span of 2 days. Please don’t go at each other’s throats for this. So lesson learned for me, get an accurate test kit.

 

[ScottR]

Guys I’m not new to this hobby lol I just wanted some input as to why my nitrates suddenly showed up as 200 ppm on the test strips in the span of 2 days. Please don’t go at each other’s throats for this. So lesson learned for me, get an accurate test kit.

Back to the issue at hand, I’d get a salifert kit. They’re trustworthy. Never mind the comment from reefwiser. Not helpful. That’s not why we come here. Good luck. Keep us updated.

 

[candelloro]

Back to the issue at hand, I’d get a salifert kit. They’re trustworthy. Never mind the comment from reefwiser. Not helpful. That’s not why we come here. Good luck. Keep us updated.

That’s the one my friend uses. I just had him test my water earlier and nitrates and nitrite are at where they should be (5 ppm and 0ppm)

The tank I used to own was a 1 gallon cube with a clown goby and I’ve never had any issues with parameters despite the tiny size of the tank

 

[Lasse]

I have owned a smaller marine tank than this one in the past for 5 years and had no issues with keeping parameters in check. Just had a friend test my water today and my nitrates and nitrites are nowhere near as high as the test strips showed yesterday
Currently nitrates are at 5 ppm and nitrite at 0

OK - good that you test with another kit - I was afraid that the tank was not cycled - but if you read 5 in NO3 and 0 NO2 - it is probably cycled completly. To be honest - the only of the "compare colour tests" i 100 % relay on is the NO2 test - they seldom show wrong (if not strips however ) Just curious - what do your strips show today

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ScottR]

That’s the one my friend uses. I just had him test my water earlier and nitrates and nitrite are at where they should be (5 ppm and 0ppm)

The tank I used to own was a 1 gallon cube with a clown goby and I’ve never had any issues with parameters despite the tiny size of the tank

great. Glad to hear it worked out. Post pics my friend.

 

[candelloro]

great. Glad to hear it worked out. Post pics my friend.

I’ll post pics after I add my first corals today. I have a thread dedicated to this 2.5 G build if you want to follow along with it. I never knew test strips could be so inaccurate