Who Gives A Fish Forums

Silvan wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 5:18 pm I'm new to this, but my LFS said strips are fine. Got a 40 gallon with 3 young Discus, HOB filter, and no plants. Should I still switch to liquid tests?

Absolutely. Juvenile Discus are even more sensitive. Your HOB might not be enough flow, either. Aim for 10x turnover per hour and test properly.

Strips are trash. Liquid kits or digital testers only. My setup's a 75 gallon, 5 Discus, sump filter, and LED lights. Test weekly now but did daily for the first 3 months. Worth the effort.

My Discus tank's a mess right now. 50 gallon, 4 fish, and a cheap internal filter. Strips said everything's golden, but the fish look stressed. Guess I'll grab a liquid kit and hope for the best.

Liquid tests are a game changer. I run a 65 gallon with 7 Discus, canister filter, and blackwater setup. pH stays steady at 6.5, but only because I test properly. Strips just don't cut it.