water testing methods

["Steff Zimsen" <zot at umit_maine.edu>]

Hello All,

I've been lurking since November, when I rescued a big 
carnivorous ugly nocturnal fish that needs a 30gal tank.  
Obviously I need something to look at besides Sparky the electric
catfish, so I now have a lovely planted African biotope tank, too. 

Since I'm a geek and used to using pH test strips in the lab,
I got test strips to keep track of my new tank water conditions: 
NH3;  NO2 & NO3; GH KH & pH; and Cl- for water changes. 

Quick to use, reasonably sensitive, and when bought in 
100-strip packages from big online suppliers, not so horribly 
expensive per test. 
Nearly as easy as reading the LCD thermometer on the side of the tank. 
And at least 2 brands are available.
(Besides the box of narrow-range pH strips from Fisher Scientific 
that somehow made its way from the lab to my water-testing bin.)

The longest test takes 1 min for the color to develop; 
I can do all my testing in 5 min.

The color comparisons don't tell me whether I have, for example, 
0.24 rather than 0.26 ppm NO2, but then, I don't really need to know that. 
A reading of "closer to 0.25 than 0.5 ppm" is fine with me.  
(Remember "significant digits" in high school science classes?)

Scary-expensive when bought from the LFS  in 25-strip packages though.  
On the other hand, now that all the nitrifying bacteria have made
themselves entirely at home, I only test about every week or two, 
so I'm not using up strips very fast anymore. 

Now, keep in mind that I'm testing for the health & safety of the fish, 
not the fastest-possible growth of the plants.
So, finally, here's my question:  
why are you people messing around with titrating kits?
What do you get from them that dip-&-read strips don't give you? 
What concept am I unclear on here?

Steff Zimsen
too far inland in West Lebanon, New Hampshire
but at least without chloramines in the tap water 
(Dear EPA:  Hey! Don't put chloramines in that! We *drink* that! Love, Z)

PS  Many thanks to all the list contributors who have made 
setting up & caring for the aquatic critters far less confusing and 
mistake-filled than it would have been without you. 
And to Actwin for public access to the archives!