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Can any one tell me if the small bottle of NO2 Nitrite in the Hagen kits(NUTRAFIN), is the same ingredients as the small bottle of NO3 Nitrate Hagen kits (NUTRAFIN).? Just that I have run out of NO3 to do the Nitrate, but I have NO2.

Hi,
I don't have those kits, but chemically, the answer
is no. NO2 is not the same as NO3.

Nitrite NO2 is the mid step in the change from Ammonia
(NH3), to Nitrate (NO3). In excessive amounts it is
harmful to fish. The chemicals used to test for
Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate are different, and using
one to test for another will either give no reading,
or false readings.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Nope, NO2 and NO3 are different things. I believe that the NO2 is just for nitrite, and NO3 works for nitrate only. Sorry, but I guess you'll just have to get another nitrate test kit. You know, it sort of bothers me that a nitrate test isn't included in master kits.] Write to your fish companies!

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks guys, I thought as much. Its annoying also that in these kits you have a large bottle and a small bottle. But you still have to use 5 drops of both bottles. So that of cause means you going to run out of the small bottle first. Be difference if it was 5 drops of the large and say 2 drops of the small. This would mean that both bottle would be empty at the same time, if not close to it. Both bottles should be the same size, or if not the same size, as least the same quanity. Like short and fat bottle and a long and thin bottle - both would hold the same amount.
Well looks like I have to add an Nitrate kit to my shopping list. darn these kits become expensive, don't they?.

What I find odd with these kits is that in the local stores that sell them, an individual test kit can run $12-$15 (Canadian dollars). But the mini-master kit is $25!!! I know which one I'll buy. Unfortunately, that won't help you because the nitrate kit isn't part of the mini-master kit.

Aquarium Pharm now has two different master test kits...one with a nitrAte one without....

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*

On a side note, the different size bottles are calibrated to a differnt drop size. Check it out next time you test. When the test asks for the same number of drops from two different size bottles, the drop size will be proportionate to the bottle size.

*smacks side of head* I never thought of that! I always wondered why the bottles were different sizes.

MrWelvrig,
I do not understand. I have a Hagen Nutrafin Nitrate test kit with NO3#2 10mls bottle,and a NO3#1 17mls bottle, and a NO3#3 10.5mls bottle.
The first two bottles are the same in diameter but the 10ml is shorter than the 17ml.
The instructions state:
Add 5 drops of Reagent #1 and 5 drops of Reagent #2 to the test tube. Insert cap. Hold in place with finger and shake well to mix.
Then add 3 drops of Reagent #3 to the test tube. Shake well to mix and wait 5 minutes.
So in the end you are going to run out of No3#2 first.
I've looked in the top nozzel of the bottle and even the hole leading into the bottles are the same size. If the small bottle's outlet was a smaller hole, than this would mean smaller drops. But both bottles are the same but one is shorter than the other.



Last edited by TigerAngel at 04-Oct-2004 16:33

I guess when I said "bottles size", what I should have said was "reagent volume". As we all know, package size is not always an indicator of the amount of product you recieve. How many times have you bought a bag of potato chips, for example, and opened the bag to see that it is only half full of greasy goodness.
As for the hole size, that is only half the problem. The hole in the tip of your bottle is accualy a cone shape. The inside, or base, of the cone along with the cone's height plays a factor in the final drop volume.
Also factored in is the viscosity of the reagent. Another example would be a bottle of delicious 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup. Holding that bottle upside down would have much different results than the same bottle filled with water.
In summation, a good product by a good company, like Hagen, is not out to cheat you. The easiest way we can find this out is by experience. I have spent many years testing swimming pool chemical levels with the same types of tests, and the same circumstances (different reagent volumes for the same number of drops), and have found that the bottles always run out at about the same time. Since I love to test my tank water, I have found that my aquarium tests run out at the same time as well.
Unless you are an uber-nerd like me (come on, I'm sure you could tell by now) I think this will put your fears to rest, but just in case you want more proof, I can send you the math that proves it

I now had 4 of these test kits including nitrite and nitrate, and always I run out of the NO2#2 / NO3#2 bottles first, way before I run out of the NO2#1 / NO3#1 bottles. Both kits state to use 5 drops of each bottle. So what am I doing wrong?
Luckly I have a LFS that sells just the single bottles, but they are miles away.

Tiger, when you get you new kit, keep track of how many tests the package says it should contain, and then see how many you accualy get. If you get the printed amount and still have some left over, I guess there shouldn't be any thing to get to concerned over. Like I said before, none of my kits have any one bottle run out way before or after the others, BTW, I also use the Nutrifin kits.
As for what could be causing you those results, remember to use even presure when squeezing the plastic bottles, don't sqeeze super hard either. If you have a glass bottle, make an as quick as possibe movement from straight up to straight down and back. Both bottles should be as close to vertical as possible when adding drops. As funny as this sounds, droping with the bottle tilted can affect drop size and ultimatly give you inaccurate test results.
If you do all these things, start roughing up any house mates until one admits to stealing your chemicals
Finaly, if you live alone, call in an exorcist

Hope this helps, also hope I didn't sound to rude or anything. Still kinda new to the whole computer "chat" type of thing, sometimes thing come out not so good as what I talking could have done.

My NO3 (nitrate) bottles call for 10 drops each...

I test so seldom for nitrates that they should outlast me.

--garyroland.

Thanks MrWelvrig, I do make the mistake and tilt the bottle. And I was just thinking along the lines about squeezing to hard. Perhaps beening a smaller bottle its harder to hang on to. Next kit I will do better. Making sure that the bottle is pointed as vertically as possible and not to squeeze too hard. Annoying all the unused bottles everywhere though. Hopefully my LFS has some spare NO3#2 bottles lying around. Just so I can use up the rest of the kit, then I'll start from stratch again.
Thanks again for the replys, and no you didn't come over rude. Helpfully yes.
garyroland I got such overstock tanks and have only plastic plants, so I'm keeping a close eye on all my water perimeters. Just to be careful (or paranoid).