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I am having a real problem getting an accurate result with my current Nitrate test kit. I have the aquarium pharmeucticals Nitrate test kit, and for anyone who has this test it is nearly impossible to distinguish 40ppm to 160ppm So my question is, can anyone give me the name of another Nitrate test kit that is easier to read. Thanks for the replies in advance.

There's a two bottle Nitrate test, NO3, that the same company makes...

This test comes with color charts for fresh and saltwater that is easy to match.

Ten drops from No. 1 and ten drops from No.2 bottle in the test tube will reveal the nitrate content.

--garyroland.

I'm pretty sure Jessnick's talking about the 2-bottle test from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, because I have the same problem. 40, 80, and 160 ppm on the card are vitually indistinguishable to my eyes.

Then again I have fairly bad colorblindness, which severly inhibits my ability to distinguish certain combinations and shades of colors. Usually it's not a problem with the AP test kits, except for this one. But it's pretty much been a non-issue for me since I don't recall my nitrates ever testing above 20ppm.

Last edited by AndyCLS at 21-Oct-2004 15:17

Yes indeed...

The colors become close when the ppm's increase into the red/orange area.

--garyroland.

I am talking about the two bottle test. Any others that are easier to get more accurate readings?
I thought I had pretty good eyes too, but not with this test. Something that is not helping my cause is that my tap water contains 7ppm of Nitrate.

Last edited by Jessnick at 21-Oct-2004 15:33

Last edited by Jessnick at 21-Oct-2004 15:34

I gauge this kit by - if the results are red.. the nitrates are too high!!

Whether its 40ppm or 140ppm surely you'd usually want to get the readings down by fresh water changes..? Splitting hairs?

Well what i'm trying to get is a more accurate reading of how much they are rising per day. Going by this test, which I am not comfortable with, they're going up 10ppm a day!!!! I am just trying to get a better understanding of how much they are rising, plus like I said my tap water is already 7ppm! I'm basically doing WC evry 3-4 days:%):%):%)

Last edited by Jessnick at 21-Oct-2004 17:35

FYI...

"Nitrate (NO3) is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen found in many food items in your everyday diet. Generally, the concentration in the ground water is low. The major adult human intake of nitrate is from food rather than from water."

"Vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, beets and carrots contain significant amounts of nitrate. Drinking water normally contributes only a small percentage of the total nitrate intake."

Nitrates in drinking water...

"Although low levels of nitrates may occur naturally in water, sometimes higher levels, which are potentially dangerous to infants, are found. Illinois has adopted a drinking water standard for nitrate of 10 milligrams per liter (10 mg/l) as N (nitrogen). This standard is mandatory for public water supplies and is used as a guide for private water supplies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also uses 10 mg/l as N as a mandatory national standard for public supplies under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The 10 mg/l standard expressed as nitrogen (N) is equivalent to 45 mg/l expressed as nitrate."

--garyroland.

Ok after doing some reasearch of available test kits. I've come up with two possibilities. The first is Red Sea brand Nitrate test kist and the second is Tetra Test brand. If anyone has used or is using either one of these test kits let me know what you think? Thanks

ohh this is helpful i have the same problem with the same test kit

I have just ordered the Red Sea brand..i'll let you know what I think.

Last edited by Jessnick at 23-Oct-2004 15:31

thanks

Ok so now I wait for my new test kit. I have been using the log books in FP and was wondering if anyone was interested in taking a look at them and telling me if the rise of Nitrates per day is right or makes sense? I feel like it's just too much on a per day basis. Because of the test I had and it's inacccuracy, I started to test every other day to try to get better and more conclusive results. Anyone interested please pm me so that we may brainstorm this a little and figure it out? Thanks in advance!

I use the Tetra brand here at work. It works just fine although it is a 4 step process (3 liquids and a powder) which really isn't so bad. It measures 0 mg/l 12.5 mg/l 25, 50 and 100. Once you hit 50 and 100 its a little hard to distinguish (even for my very good eyes) about as hard as it is when you get over 40 on the AP tests.

Steph

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I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West