Unfortunately, there are also downsides. The strips were thrown into a resealable, to large plastic bag, which means that the tender strips swirl during transport criss-crossing around. Therefore one must be very careful when removing a strip. Already a single finger contact with the test field to the chopsticks, distorts the test result! I can not imagine that a simple, sealable plastic tube is so expensive that you would have to replace it with this bag to me.
The next problem is even more important: the reading scale to associate the color result on the strip a water hardness, is extremely inaccurate. Since you get two of these scales (one on the bag and printed on a sheet) and both have completely different color values, I know simply do not know where to read now. Clarification: The colors of the scales are similar in principle (yellow / brown) but the colors differ in detail significantly. In addition, the really fit any of the colors that create the test strip to the scale. As a little imagination is sometimes asked.
Sad truth: The strips are very differentiated, appear to be very accurate, the lousy reading scale makes this accuracy canceled out. Had rods and scale accurately matched, would have an equally cheap as accurate measuring instruments, with which up to 9 degrees of hardness were determined. (5 color values and 4 intermediate values)
Conclusion: You can use the test strips and determine its water hardness halfway. But more than three levels (soft, medium, hard) are not possible. This is sufficient for household use, unfortunately not always.
The dealer I asked for an explanation, which is now to use the two different scales because I, but never received a reply.
