Inaccurate Nitrate Test?

[P&J]

I'm fishless cycling, and my nitrite reading has been through the roof for about 2-3 weeks now. I periodically check for nitrate with my API liquid kit, but not too often because I don't think it's really important (I just want to see the nitrite gone). Tonight, I decided to check nitrate just out of curiosity because I want to know if my nitrite is processing yet. To my surprise, the test turned up 0-5ppm (hard to read those colors). I figured some nitrite had to have processed by now, but the nitrate hasn't moved at all.

I decided then to check the nitrate with one of my dip strips. I hadn't been using those because I heard the liquid is more accurate, and I find the colors easier to read. Well, the strip showed at least 80ppm (anything higher looks the same to me, so it could be even more). I know the strip is at least a little accurate, because it correctly showed 0ppm in the past as well as slowly increasing amounts during my earlier, failed cycle.

Where do I go from here? Am I possibly doing the API test wrong? It is quite complicated compared to the others in the kit.

Any advice? Thanks!

-P

 

[rdd1952]

If you don't get bottle 2 shaken well, the results will be bad. The product in that bottle will clump together (thus the need to shake) and give bad readings if not shaken well.

 

[5teady_2012]

If you don't get bottle 2 shaken well, the results will be bad. The product in that bottle will clump together (thus the need to shake) and give bad readings if not shaken well.

This is 100% right, when i first started using api test kit, my nitrate reading was perfect and i thought great, then when i took the time to read the instructions again properly, i realised i had not been shaking bottle 2 up, and did so then tested again and my nitrate was 40ppm lol...

So my personal opinion is... always read the instructions thourughly before using things

 

[rdd1952]

We're men. We don't need instructions.

Seriously, after they get a little age on them (manufacture date is on the bottle and they are supposed to be good for 3 years), it becomes more of a problem. If I haven't used mine for a while (close to 2 years old now), I always shake for a full minute instead of 30 sec.

 

[fry_lover]

sometimes i get tempted to stop testing for nitrate altogether, due to difficulties reading results on many, many different kits

so now i just get more realistic with the results,

its either Low, Medium or High lol, i dont really go for the 30,40,50,60 mg/l etc, i think its just a guessing game most of the time

ONE TIP, tanks with higher levels of nitrate seem to make the liquid turn darker faster, thats my experience

EDIT: also, i mainly use them to compare levels in my different tanks, as for what the actual readings are in mg/l i have no idea really!

Not strictly related to thread this, but i wanted to tell you!

 

[5teady_2012]

Personally i have stopped testing my nitrate levels, its pointless with my tap water

 

[P&J]

Thanks for all the responses! I suppose I'll just go back to watching the nitrite for now (even though I can't tell anything when it's off the charts!)

-P

 

[Chrispixx]

I just tested twice and there was no noticeable difference between shaking bottle #2 for 30 sec. or 1 min. But it might be advisable to shake bottle #2 for at least 1 min. if the kit has not been used for awhile. Also not reading the test results at the 5 min. mark exactly might give false results.