chronald mcdonald
Member
I got one of those aquarium test strips and it gives PPM readings for total alkalinity, total hardness, nitrite, and nitrate (it also gives pH but i have a digital meter for that and adjust this accordingly).
Anyway I keep reading that above 200-250 ppm one should use distilled water, or RO, etc. But 250-250 ppms for what category? Hardness? Alkalinity? Nitrite? Nitrate?
The strips showed my tap water's total hardness to be between 25 and 75 ppms, and my alkalinity around 40 ppms. I could not decipher the nitrate and nitrite readings because the strip colors go from white, to light pink, to hot pink (as ppms increase), but my readings for these were dark gray and light gray, respectively.
Are these strips useless? If not, are my readings within range or should I use distilled water?
Thanks in advance to anyone who helps. Truly appreciate it.
Anyway I keep reading that above 200-250 ppm one should use distilled water, or RO, etc. But 250-250 ppms for what category? Hardness? Alkalinity? Nitrite? Nitrate?
The strips showed my tap water's total hardness to be between 25 and 75 ppms, and my alkalinity around 40 ppms. I could not decipher the nitrate and nitrite readings because the strip colors go from white, to light pink, to hot pink (as ppms increase), but my readings for these were dark gray and light gray, respectively.
Are these strips useless? If not, are my readings within range or should I use distilled water?
Thanks in advance to anyone who helps. Truly appreciate it.