what water test strips do you use? are they very accurate?

mm i think most people here would recommend using a test tube drop kit.

I used to use the Jungle Labs 5 in one test kit. It was kinda inaccurate and kept changing colors after the test. The product itself was cheap, but you only got lik 25 tests (I think?) I bought the Aquarium Pharmaceutical's Freshwater masterkit and I love it. Its abut $15 if you shop smartly, but you get over 700 accurate tests Just don't get any chemicals in the tank or fabric etc

i personally use AP water test, but i always wondered if those test strips were accurate or not. thanks for everyones input..

i have used test strips for my pool water they were soso. belive best way is the test tubes with the right media

I have a bottle of teh Jungle Lab test strips and I like to keep one around. Yes - they are somewhat difficult to read - the colors on the pH are particularly difficult to tell apart, but they do serve a very useful purpose.

In a tank that you just have a quick question about the viability of the cycle, the kH, gH or even the pH within reason, they are excellent. One quick dip, a few moments later you can tell right away if the tank needs attention.

I like the AP drop kits the best for more accurate readings, but they too, are only as accurate as your eye allows. Nitrate levels on the drop tests is tough to tell apart. But if you realize the limitations of the test, there is really no problem with it.

I tend to think in the dip tests ANY color on the nitrite is bad. ANY color other than a tinge on the nitrate means change the tank. kH needs to stay in the middle range - or it needs ammending. pH, too, needs to stay in a color "family" or I know I need to test it further. The dip tests give you kH and gH, something that is very important for me, for I ammend RO to the kH I wish.

The drop kits, too, are only so accurate. Any RED on the nitrate is too much. Any COLOR on the ammonia or nitrite is too much. pH is particularly tough for me - the pH tends to land right in the reading between the "low pH" bottle and the "high ph" bottle, making it difficult to know what to believe. kH requires a test that I rarely use in the drop kit. gH is used even less.

USe the tests as a signal that something needs to be changed - but do not assume that a dip test or a drop test will truly give you an accurate, specific numerical reading.

In a nutshell, the dip tests tell you quickly if something needs attention. You have to do a different ammonia dip test for the strips do not include ammonia - so in a cycling tank, I would use the drop tests. The drop tests tell you a bit more accurately what is happening with a few different parameters - it is easier to use them when cycling a tank - you can do only ammonia or only ammonia and nitrite if you wish every day. They are cheaper in the long run too.