Treat Lfs Water Tests With Caution.

[Arimus]

After being told by a local LFS that my water was fine I got an API master test kit today and found it wasn't

NO3 10
NO2 2
GH --
KH --
Ph 6.6
NH3/4 0.25
NH3 0.000

The bit that worries me is my nitrite reading.... the ammonia when I work out the content rather than the combined reading is as close to zero as possible without being 0 (Something like 0.00001 to be exact) .


(I've based a lookup table based on an ammonia/ium table from this forum).

 

[timmystood]

Well every test kit will come back with different results. It's also possible that the Nitrite has gone up since you got your water tested by the LFS. Chances are they use a different test kit and also it might be human error - i.e. they put the wrong amount of drops in the test tube etc.

However, I do agree that you should get your own test kits ideally. The LFS tests are good in an emergency, if you can't afford a test kit or if you want a second opionion.

Warning people not to trust LFS who do water tests is a bit broad though.

 

[Arimus]

True... just abit annoyed as its put my fishys at risk

8 Platies and 5 danios...

(I know 8 Platies is probably overstocking but I'm getting a 25 Imp. Gl tank very soon so once it is up and running I'll have a shifting of stock).

Other than water changing is there anything I can (should?) be doing?

(And off topic q - is it platies or platys for the plural - I've seen it both ways all over the place)

 

[andywg]

I have found that the API test kits are the least accurate of the liquid ones. The nitrate test in particular is shockingly inaccurate.

If the lfs uses a different test kit I would be more inclined to use that result as true.

 

[Arimus]

Hm, the API one seems to be the one recommended on here alot...

 

[timmystood]

True... just abit annoyed as its put my fishys at risk

8 Platies and 5 danios...

(I know 8 Platies is probably overstocking but I'm getting a 25 Imp. Gl tank very soon so once it is up and running I'll have a shifting of stock).

Other than water changing is there anything I can (should?) be doing?

(And off topic q - is it platies or platys for the plural - I've seen it both ways all over the place)

Water Changes will be fine. I would be inclined to do a 25% water change every few days until your test kit says that NO2- is 0. A level under 0.3 will be ok short-term.

LOL! Platies or Platys? I'm sure there is a proper term but I tend to use both! I think as long as people know what your on about then that's fine!

 

[andywg]

Hm, the API one seems to be the one recommended on here alot...

I used to rate it, but I have had it test two samples from the same tank at the same time as 0 and 160ppm. It reads massively high on a number of things, and I have even had RO+salt come out at 1.0ppm ammonia on the SW tests. I don't trust that at all.

I even bought a second nitrate test bottle in case I had a bad batch, and the second one read just as far off the scale.