Ah, you've been holding out on us!...................
Over the years test strips have become available that are accurate enough for our purpose.
Fischer Scientific has a group of test strips I became familiar with in the lab for everything from alkalinity to nitrate and between.
Many strips out there may be produced with varying degrees of accuracy, (and by the same company) but since Fischer Sci was considered accurate enough for drinking water testing, and approved by the agencies I reported to, I still like to use them.
can you post a link to site where the right ones can be purchased? I'm real sure I would test more often with the simplicity of strips instead of drops in those dang little water tubes.