Nitrate Chemical Test

[ShinySideUp]

Does anyone make a nitrate test that is easier to read at higher levels than the API Master Test Kit? Once the nitrates get over 40 ppm the colour chart gets a bit ambiguous and I always have high nitrates usually (I guess) around 80ppm and I'd like to know exactly what the nitrate level is.

 

[RockyStafford]

My NitrAtes are at 80ppm at the moment, How will this affect my fish? Or my tank? Also, what is deemed as a safe level of NitrAtes? Sorry for hijacking your thread ShinySideUp but I feel I'm on the same boat as you mate.

Shaun

 

[Aquascaper]

40ppm or lower is considered safe.

OP try the Salifert range of individual liquid tests (or any others) they may be more distinguishable at higher levels but I doubt it as they will all use the same chemicals I would think.

You shouldn't really need to know the actual amount anyway, if it's over 40ppm you should do a water change.

 

[ShinySideUp]

40ppm or lower is considered safe.

OP try the Salifert range of individual liquid tests (or any others) they may be more distinguishable at higher levels but I doubt it as they will all use the same chemicals I would think.

You shouldn't really need to know the actual amount anyway, if it's over 40ppm you should do a water change.

I'm afraid that with the nitrates already in the tap water I would almost have to make a constant stream of fresh water to keep the nitrates below 40ppm.

 

[Tizer]

I've never worried about anything under 100 to be perfectly honest. my tap water is about 30-40 anyway.....AND THATS THE WAY IT IS YO.

 

[Aquascaper]

Was only pointing out what is generally considered 'safe', if you're tapwater is around 40ppm and you've had the fish for a while they will have adapted anyway. If you can't distinguish for nitrates over 40ppm very well then just keep to a regular schedule of water changes and it won't be an issue, until nitrates reach an excess of 100ppm there's not usually an problem anyway. I don't either testing nitrates at all in my freshwater tanks as an algae bloom would indicate a problem anyway.