Nitrate Test Kits - I'm getting three different results

btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
So, as many of you know, I've had off and on nitrate issues over the last month.
Still waiting to get Salifert Kits, but in the mean time, I've purchased another API kit and a SeaChem kit.
 
So now I have an issue, and I'm leaning towards believing the SeaChem kit since it comes with a reference solution to test as well, but I need reassurance here.
API test kit will read 10ppm one minute and then I can test 5 minutes later and get 0ppm, then I'll get 50ppm, it's all over the place, both the one I owned and the new one I just purchased are doing this. They're also doing this when either my husband or I test, so I don't think it's just one person doing it wrong, and they're basically idiot proof. For good measure, I made my sister in law test it and she got the same bizarre readings minutes apart from one another.
SeaChem's reference solution is supposed to read at 10 mg/L and it is, I checked it twice. When I test my nitrates on there, I get 2mg/L. I want to believe the SeaChem kit, but I need to be reassured. Everything in the tank is thriving.
 
Thoughts?
 
Do you guys like the SeaChem Nitrite/Nitrate Kit?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
I have API test kits, I never thought to retest one after the other...mine always says nitrates are at 40. I will try a double test tomorrow to see what happens.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I believe you are supposed to shake the #2 bottle really well before adding the drops. Have you been doing that at all?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
HMMM....My api nitrate test says 0...lol...so I think I'll go with mine

 
as far as ph....api stinks....I can never tell which color so I always average....I have salifert for calcium, alk and phosphates...I like the calcium and alk.....and after buying the phosphate kit ($20) I was told it's not great for phosphates
 
never tried a seachem test kit....I did try red sea...and BARF....they SUCK
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301636
I believe you are supposed to shake the #2 bottle really well before adding the drops. Have you been doing that at all?
Yes. I believe the bottle says to shake vigorously for 30seconds. At first I thought this was the issue, as both my husband and I can be very impatient sometimes, so I started using the kitchen timer and then shaking for a little bit longer, LOL.
You have no idea what I've been through with nitrate readings. Nothing in my tank was really doing that bad other than some corals (and I think it was a bad batch of salt rather than nitrates). I've been through hell trying to lower nitrates and everyone that has seen what I've done lately can't figure out why they were still reading so high. I guess they weren't after all bw %%
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301637
HMMM....My api nitrate test says 0...lol...so I think I'll go with mine

 
as far as ph....api stinks....I can never tell which color so I always average....I have salifert for calcium, alk and phosphates...I like the calcium and alk.....and after buying the phosphate kit ($20) I was told it's not great for phosphates
 
never tried a seachem test kit....I did try red sea...and BARF....they SUCK
API's phosphate kit is TERRIBLE. I ditched that long ago and went with salifert. The SeaChem one isn't bad either.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301634
I have API test kits, I never thought to retest one after the other...mine always says nitrates are at 40. I will try a double test tomorrow to see what happens.
 
I actually thought of you today when I went and bought a different kit and saw this.
 
 
slice

slice

Active Member
As a new hobbyist, I have 100s of questions. I've learned that if I hang around here long enough, someone will answer most of them in time.
 
I have the same problem as meowzer with API Ph tests. I can never get a discernible Ph reading. It always looks the same, more reddish than brownish, so I guess it is more towards 8.0+ than 7.8 or below. My LFS, who also uses API, interprets the reading as 8.0, so I don't sweat it, as long as the color I see stays consistent.
 
My nitrates stay at 20 or below, according to my test, however the last LFS test showed 5 ?!? I didn't believe it then, I still don't.
 
And there is always the non-zero, zero ammonia result, although I haven't seen that as much lately.
 
How old is old with test kits? The bottles have a stamp that says something like "01T0709". Is the last 4 the date? In this example, was it manufactured on 07-09 (July 2009)?
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301631
So, as many of you know, I've had off and on nitrate issues over the last month.
Still waiting to get Salifert Kits, but in the mean time, I've purchased another API kit and a SeaChem kit.
 
So now I have an issue, and I'm leaning towards believing the SeaChem kit since it comes with a reference solution to test as well, but I need reassurance here.
API test kit will read 10ppm one minute and then I can test 5 minutes later and get 0ppm, then I'll get 50ppm, it's all over the place, both the one I owned and the new one I just purchased are doing this. They're also doing this when either my husband or I test, so I don't think it's just one person doing it wrong, and they're basically idiot proof. For good measure, I made my sister in law test it and she got the same bizarre readings minutes apart from one another.
SeaChem's reference solution is supposed to read at 10 mg/L and it is, I checked it twice. When I test my nitrates on there, I get 2mg/L. I want to believe the SeaChem kit, but I need to be reassured. Everything in the tank is thriving.
 
Thoughts?
 
Do you guys like the SeaChem Nitrite/Nitrate Kit?
I was using the API test kits it showed me zero for nitrites, nitrates and ammonia. I had my water checked at LFS they said my ammonia and nitrates were high. The only other half decent test kit they had was Red Sea, I actually kind of like it only for the nitrites, nitrates and ammonia. For pH, KH, & phosphates I still use the API. Calcium I use Hagen, not crazy about it. I would really like to know what a better test set would be. Will follow along - thanks
 
 
plastercracker

plastercracker

Member
i had mentioned in another post that i tested salferet and api. i would open several new boxes and test the same tank with all different readings. i don't see any test kits being any kind of crystal ball. and these where nitrate test i was doing. i think ph and ammonia are pretty accurate. you should not have issues with ph as long as you use a good argonite sand bed at least 3 inches deep. i have used carbi sea argonite sand since day one. so the only thing you have to really have to worry about is ammonia which is no problem after the tank has cycled. nitrates are controlled by feeding schulde. i try to feed sea veggies daily or twice a day and i may miss a few days here and there. i have a 640 watt vho light that produces plenty of algae for them to feed on when not fed. i feed the lion grouper and eel large pellets 3-4 times a week. unfortunately i think my very hard to get clown grouper is wasting away because the lion is getting intimidating to him and not coming out to eat.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301693
As a new hobbyist, I have 100s of questions. I've learned that if I hang around here long enough, someone will answer most of them in time.
 
I have the same problem as meowzer with API Ph tests. I can never get a discernible Ph reading. It always looks the same, more reddish than brownish, so I guess it is more towards 8.0+ than 7.8 or below. My LFS, who also uses API, interprets the reading as 8.0, so I don't sweat it, as long as the color I see stays consistent.
 
My nitrates stay at 20 or below, according to my test, however the last LFS test showed 5 ?!? I didn't believe it then, I still don't.
 
And there is always the non-zero, zero ammonia result, although I haven't seen that as much lately.
 
How old is old with test kits? The bottles have a stamp that says something like "01T0709". Is the last 4 the date? In this example, was it manufactured on 07-09 (July 2009)?
 
I almost never believe LFS tests if they're higher than what you're getting at home, especially if it follows with a, "Oh, you can buy this to help with that problem." But if they're telling you that they're lower, that's worth looking into.
 
My API nitrate kits both read as follows as being made in Sept -Nov. of 2009. And as I type this I just noticed something interesting, here are all the lot numbers because there are two bottles for each:
Old kits:
Bottle 1: 17A1109 - So made in 11/09
Bottle 2: 18A0310 - So made in 03/10
New Kits:
Bottle 1: 17B0909 - made in 09/09
Bottle 2: 18B1109 - made in 11/09
wonder if the different time they were made has anything to do with this, since the bottles are not the same age???? %% Just a thought.
 
Anyways, I'm going with the SeaChem kits, they're supposedly much more accurate and considering they come with a test solution and that's reading correct, I lean towards the way of believing that.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by plastercracker http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301790
i had mentioned in another post that i tested salferet and api. i would open several new boxes and test the same tank with all different readings. i don't see any test kits being any kind of crystal ball. and these where nitrate test i was doing. i think ph and ammonia are pretty accurate. you should not have issues with ph as long as you use a good argonite sand bed at least 3 inches deep. i have used carbi sea argonite sand since day one. so the only thing you have to really have to worry about is ammonia which is no problem after the tank has cycled. nitrates are controlled by feeding schulde. i try to feed sea veggies daily or twice a day and i may miss a few days here and there. i have a 640 watt vho light that produces plenty of algae for them to feed on when not fed. i feed the lion grouper and eel large pellets 3-4 times a week. unfortunately i think my very hard to get clown grouper is wasting away because the lion is getting intimidating to him and not coming out to eat.
 
The issue is that I have a heavily stocked tank awaiting transfer to a bigger tank, but my house is taking FOREVER to be completed. The tank is okay as is, not overstocked, but it's full.
I use the same sand as you most of the time. This is not a new tank that is having this issue. Everything in the tank is doing well, but the nitrates read ridiculously high at some points and then low 5 minutes later.
A feeding schedule will help nitrates, but it's not going to cure the issue. I can not cut back on feeding anymore than I am, especially while I have a spawning pair of clownfish and I want to keep them spawning. I'm a the lowest limit I can go, any lower and I will have aggression at feedings and my clowns won't spawn anymore. Pellets always produce less nitrate than live/frozen foods, but I believe that pellets are inferior to live or frozen food and none of my fish accept them.
This tank is free of algae for the most part, although I believe now that I just transferred from 150watt halides to 250 halides, I'll see a jump in algae growth here shortly. I'm still acclimating the tanks to these new lights, so we'll see where that goes. I feed algae strips every day for my tangs, dwarf angels and blennies and there is a refugium with tons of Chaeto and Caulerpa running on this tank. I also have both a sump and a Fluval FX5 running for filtration. Purigen, carbon in a reactor as well as in a media bag and sponges that get rinsed at least weekly. There should be no reason for the inconsistent nitrate readings that I get and I do believe now that I have another kit it was a bad test kit all along.
 
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I hate to ask this...LOL...BUT if you are not having tank issues.....why do you keep testing your nitrates????
 
I rarely do...just did recently though...LOL...and they are 0.....or so the test says :)
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301886
I hate to ask this...LOL...BUT if you are not having tank issues.....why do you keep testing your nitrates????
 
I rarely do...just did recently though...LOL...and they are 0.....or so the test says :)
I actually used to test my tank daily, or at least every 3 days or so, especially since I have a heavily stocked tank.
We weren't testing for awhile (had some crazy stuff going on the past few months) and then we had a few LPS die, which I attribute now to a bad salt (which I've been discussing in another thread, DO NOT use Brightwell's Salt!). At the time, I really thought it was due to the neglect the corals were getting (feeding). So we started testing to be safe. It started out as whoever got home first for the evening tested the tank. But we were finding readings between the two of us and readings from day to day to be very inconsistent, so I started testing the tank morning and night and so did he. Still got insane inconsistencies. Went crazy adding a Fluval, turning the skimmer to run wetter, adding a refugium, all this to find out it's a bad kit bw
My tank is better off for it now though, so I guess some good came from it all.
 
As for the bad salt:
we weren't testing as much as we should for a while and all our numbers were out of whack from using Brightwell's salt. Change salts and eveything has evened out. I recently realized that my husband was dosing alkalinity instead of calcium on accident (label your bottles people) which made things only get worse and I think that this doubled with bad salt killed the corals more than the nitrate did
 
slice

slice

Active Member
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/379736/nitrate-test-kits-i-m-getting-three-different-results#post_3301873
 
 
I almost never believe LFS tests if they're higher than what you're getting at home, especially if it follows with a, "Oh, you can buy this to help with that problem." But if they're telling you that they're lower, that's worth looking into.
 
My API nitrate kits both read as follows as being made in Sept -Nov. of 2009. And as I type this I just noticed something interesting, here are all the lot numbers because there are two bottles for each:
Old kits:
Bottle 1: 17A1109 - So made in 11/09
Bottle 2: 18A0310 - So made in 03/10
New Kits:
Bottle 1: 17B0909 - made in 09/09
Bottle 2: 18B1109 - made in 11/09
wonder if the different time they were made has anything to do with this, since the bottles are not the same age???? %% Just a thought.
 
Anyways, I'm going with the SeaChem kits, they're supposedly much more accurate and considering they come with a test solution and that's reading correct, I lean towards the way of believing that.
I figured that was the manuf date, thanks for the confirmation. I still would like to know what folks think is a reasonable age of kits before replacing them.
 
As for my LFS, they are very good. They run a business of course, but they also try to screen customers to make sure they know what they are doing. The guy there who runs the tests for me is a "water nazi" who will refuse a sale if he isn't comfortable and thinks the customer cannot take care of the requested purchase. Goes something like this:
(water nazi to be read in Seinfeld's "soup nazi" voice)
 
"Hi, I'd like to buy some peppermint shrimp, please."
"Soooo....you want shrimp, eh? Well let me tell you something...I TELL YOU IF YOU WANT SHRIMP!"
"Um, well, ok...?"
"You got trates? Eh? You got trates?!?"
"Traits?"
"No, no, no <shakes head> NITRATES! You got nitrates?!?"
"Um yeah, I guess, um, maybe 40...ish..."
"WHAT! You got trates!! <shakes finger>NO! you do NOT want shrimp! NO SHRIMP FOR YOU!! Go look at Damsels."
 
 
Actually, this isn't all that far from the truth, my wife went to get some peppermints and Mike would not sell them until the wife got
me on the phone with him and described the tank params. That was early on, he now knows us well enough to trust us...a bit...
 
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