Silly conversations.
Mom: The fish pond is SUPER acidic.
Misti: What?
Mom: I used the test strips for pH and nothing happened! The strip stayed the same color!
Misti: How does that mean acidic? Did you compare the results with what you get when you use the strips on tap water?
Mom: No...
Misti: You can't run an experiment without a control! How do you know the problem was the water, not the strips or how you were using them!?!
Mom: it's not an experiment, it's a fish pond.
Misti: What?
Mom: I used the test strips for pH and nothing happened! The strip stayed the same color!
Misti: How does that mean acidic? Did you compare the results with what you get when you use the strips on tap water?
Mom: No...
Misti: You can't run an experiment without a control! How do you know the problem was the water, not the strips or how you were using them!?!
Mom: it's not an experiment, it's a fish pond.