API master test kit

[Barday]

Hi All I got my API master test kit about a week ago, and I was wondering if anyone else uses them here - I know cheese specialist does coz she advised me to get it....thanks for that!

Anyway my problem is with the nitrite test. I'm not sure if I am reading it/ doing it properly. I'm always getting the same colour which is red. I have tested both tank water and tap water and get the same results - something which indicates a level of 40 This cant be right can it?

 

[Talisman]

do you still have your old Nitrite test (not the new api one) try that and see if that is scary too!

 

[Barday]

No, I lost it which is why I bought this one!

 

[Barday]

Maybe I'm just colour blind, and I cant tell the difference between the different shades of red!

 

[LadyMinion]

Is it definitely nitrIte you're talking about or could it be nitrAte?

The reason I ask is that I have real trouble telling the difference between the shades of red on the nitrAte test and it is quite high straight out of the tap too.

 

[MXPX4318]

hmmm I have an API test kit and my father also has one at the house to test my 29g water and both read just fine and accurate.... Red nitrIte test? hmmm mine is blue to purple to hot pink to burgandy. my nitrAte test is yellow to orange to red, if that's what you're talking about, make sure to shake the bottle VERY well, then add the 10 drops and shake the vial VERY VERY well, and the 2nd bottle VERY VERY Well (like 1 minute each) and then add the 2nd ten drops to the vial, and shake for ATLEAST a minute, and let it sit for 5 minutes or so, if you don't shake well it can give you very inaccurate test. so try that (if you are really talking about nitrAte and not nitrIte)

 

[Barday]

NitrAte it is! ) Sorry all!

So what do you think Lady Minion Duff tests of just high levels of NitrAte in outr water - The thing is when I was using the Tetra 5 in 1 My levels were pretty low

 

[Barday]

Thanks MXPX4318 - I do shake the bottles pretty vigorously - I made the mistake of not doing it the first time and I got a negative nitrate result - Then I read the instructions, did exactly what it said and it went sky high!!!

 

[MXPX4318]

hmmm I dunno then.

 

[LadyMinion]

NitrAte it is! ) Sorry all!

So what do you think Lady Minion Duff tests of just high levels of NitrAte in outr water - The thing is when I was using the Tetra 5 in 1 My levels were pretty low

It looks like we are unlucky enough to live in areas with high nitrAtes. I can honestly not tell the difference between the shades of red so it could be anywhere between 40 and 80ppm.

The good news is that I don't seem to have had any problems with my fish in all the time I've been keeping them. I have tried every method of lowering the nitrAtes in the book and they just haven't touched it.

It is also possible that your test is faulty. The best way to determine this is to get your lfs to check your water and see what they say. Also ask them what their nitrAtes are like and if they have any problems.

 

[CFC]

It is most likely that you have a high nitrate level in your tapwater, at certain times of the year the nitrate in our tapwater here in West London can go as high as 80ppm. Tetra 5 in 1 tests are next to useless for measuring nitrate levels, the liquid tests are the most accurate commercially available tests.

 

[Barday]

Thanks for the replys all - So basically there's no point doing a nitrate test because even if i did have a spike I still wouldn't be able to tell right!