cant figure out my nitrate.

zheka757 · 09/18/2018, 09:30 PM

using new red sea test kit for nitrate. as soon as i mix it- it shows ether 20 or 50. and 9 minutes later collor dont change.
using my old soon to expire api nitrate test kit. it shows 0 for nitrate.
ammonia 0 nitrite 0. no algae going on in my tank and some corals that i have looks good to me. fish not stressed out.

homer1475 · 09/19/2018, 03:47 AM

Do you trust a new kit, or an OLD EXPIRED API kit that we all know isn't very reliable to begin with?

I know which one I would trust.

And yes when I had high nitrates, the color didn't change much after the 9 minutes either. Now that my nitrates around .25, I don't see the slight color variation until the 9 minutes is up.

mcgyvr · 09/19/2018, 04:36 AM

All of my API test kits are still accurate enough and all are expired 5+ years ago...
Anytime I do a test with my other test kits (Salifert/Red Sea,etc...) I always still do one with the API kits.. They always match even though API is expired years ago..

You need a 3rd opinion to know for sure.. Off to the local fish store with a sample of water you go..

homer1475 · 09/19/2018, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

You need a 3rd opinion to know for sure.. Off to the local fish store with a sample of water you go..

Why? So they can use the same crappy API kit that will say 0. Never seen an LFS use anything but API. Yes they work, just not very accurate.

And personally, if your using a kit that expired 5 years ago and validating a well known reliable kit with it, you do not deserve to be giving advise on test kits.

mcgyvr · 09/19/2018, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

And personally, if your using a kit that expired 5 years ago and validating a well known reliable kit with it, you do not deserve to be giving advise on test kits.

I've been using both in tandem for years so that I can answer questions about the validity/accuracy of API test kits with actual hands on experience vs simply stating that a widely used test kit is just "crappy" like others that seem to just regurgitate the myths of others..
I'm not validating the well known kits.. I'm validating the API...

If the questions/concerns are over the accuracy of expired or near expired API test kits then quite frankly that puts me as more experienced than yourself to answer this question

homer1475 · 09/19/2018, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I've been using both in tandem for years so that I can answer questions about the validity/accuracy of API test kits with actual hands on experience vs simply stating that a widely used test kit is just "crappy" like others that seem to just regurgitate the myths of others..
I'm not validating the well known kits.. I'm validating the API...

If the questions/concerns are over the accuracy of expired or near expired API test kits then quite frankly that puts me as more experienced than yourself to answer this question

Not regurgitating anything, used API for years, years ago as that was all that was available. Notice I did say they work, just not very accurate. My problem with the API kit(specifically the nitrate kit) it starts at 0 and the first point is 5ppm. Very hard to tell the difference in color and just not accurate enough for my needs.

Most reefers keep nitrates under 5ppm. What good would the API kit be if I keep my nitrates around 1 to 2 ppm?

And I would agree with you that even though API kits are expired, they still work just fine. Recently used an API ammonia kit I had to cycle a tank that was 2 years expired and read the exact same numbers as brand new kit.

I will stand corrected as the way you typed it out it seemed as though you were validating a new kit with an expired one.

Crooked Reef · 09/19/2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

Why? So they can use the same crappy API kit that will say 0. Never seen an LFS use anything but API.

Mine uses Red Sea for everything except phosphate. They use a Hannah checker for that. Actually two LFS near me do.

Either way I would get a third opinion. It’s possible the Red Sea has bad reagents though also possible the API is also bad. Registering 20-50 on Red Sea should not show a 0 on API, unless they register in different amounts like ppt and ppm. I would say a third test is in order just to narrow down which is bad.

sacremon · 09/19/2018, 10:41 AM

All I can say is that I have been burned twice in the past by expired nitrate tests (one was Elos, don't remember who made the other). Both times the tests registered very little nitrate when in fact it should have been off the charts. Perhaps some types of tests are less susceptible to age than others, but nitrate isn't one of them.

hkgar · 09/19/2018, 12:56 PM

I use the Red Sea kit, but usually test with salifert first to get an idea weather to use the hig range or low range instructions.

Try using 1 ml sample in 15 ro water.

zheka757 · 09/19/2018, 02:36 PM

thank you all very much for your comments. at the time when I was typing this thread i the api nitrate was still 0 but minutes later when I came back I wasent 0 anymore. it was more like 10-20 ppm. so bottom line is I spoke to soon and I do have nitrates in my system that I need to look into why. but yes I do agree I need 3rd opinion on this, since I don't know what is my actual number

zheka757 · 09/19/2018, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Try using 1 ml sample in 15 ro water.

sorry I'm not fully getting what you saying here.

hkgar · 09/19/2018, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zheka757

sorry I'm not fully getting what you saying here.

With the Nitrate pPro kit you can measure high ranges of NO3 (4-64). For the sample you use 1 ml of tank water diluted in 15 ml of RO water. It should be on the flip side of the instruction card.

Icewing726 · 09/21/2018, 08:45 AM

I'm using salifurt and API, only reason is I have no idea how to accurately compare the colors. Both read about the same.

09/18/2018, 09:30 PM	#1
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	cant figure out my nitrate. using new red sea test kit for nitrate. as soon as i mix it- it shows ether 20 or 50. and 9 minutes later collor dont change. using my old soon to expire api nitrate test kit. it shows 0 for nitrate. ammonia 0 nitrite 0. no algae going on in my tank and some corals that i have looks good to me. fish not stressed out.

09/19/2018, 03:47 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Do you trust a new kit, or an OLD EXPIRED API kit that we all know isn't very reliable to begin with? I know which one I would trust. And yes when I had high nitrates, the color didn't change much after the 9 minutes either. Now that my nitrates around .25, I don't see the slight color variation until the 9 minutes is up. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

09/19/2018, 04:36 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	All of my API test kits are still accurate enough and all are expired 5+ years ago... Anytime I do a test with my other test kits (Salifert/Red Sea,etc...) I always still do one with the API kits.. They always match even though API is expired years ago.. You need a 3rd opinion to know for sure.. Off to the local fish store with a sample of water you go.. __________________ Who me?

09/19/2018, 10:41 AM	#8
sacremon Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 446 Blog Entries: 29	All I can say is that I have been burned twice in the past by expired nitrate tests (one was Elos, don't remember who made the other). Both times the tests registered very little nitrate when in fact it should have been off the charts. Perhaps some types of tests are less susceptible to age than others, but nitrate isn't one of them. __________________ 300DD, MRC MR-3 skimmer with dual Becketts, two Reefbreeders.com value LED fixtures, MRC fluidized reactor with GFO & GAC.

09/19/2018, 12:56 PM	#9
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I use the Red Sea kit, but usually test with salifert first to get an idea weather to use the hig range or low range instructions. Try using 1 ml sample in 15 ro water. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

09/19/2018, 02:36 PM	#10
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	thank you all very much for your comments. at the time when I was typing this thread i the api nitrate was still 0 but minutes later when I came back I wasent 0 anymore. it was more like 10-20 ppm. so bottom line is I spoke to soon and I do have nitrates in my system that I need to look into why. but yes I do agree I need 3rd opinion on this, since I don't know what is my actual number

09/21/2018, 08:45 AM	#13
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	I'm using salifurt and API, only reason is I have no idea how to accurately compare the colors. Both read about the same.