The best Nitrate Test Kit

[tegee]

Let's leave this bacteria discussion in a Vodka treads:love1: Test kits should be here tomorrow and will post result Friday evening.

 

[tegee]

Well the Elos kit finally got delivered and I had a chance today to test all three kits. The API and Elos both cam out about the same; reading in the 15-20 range. The only exception was with the Salifert and that read about 2.5-5.0. Do not know why it read much lower than the other two? The instructions state, on the low range readings, to read through the side and than divide by 10. The is at least how it tested out.

In any event I will continue to test mid-week this week to see if there is any changes with the three different kits, but I at least wanted to post something to nibble on. I am please with the Elos kit, first time Nitrate for me, but the color variation is still tough to make out like the API and Salifert. The color charts are too close in colors and not easy to read IMHO.

Attached ae some pics to see what's up. If my nitrates continue to climb I will make some decisions on what I should do. Likely I am in the process of a new tank build and that should help with new sand, flush the rock and major water change, etc.

Thanks for all the help and I look forward to any insight......

 

[Boomer]

The best Nitrate Test Kit

You need to be careful when you make that comment when I'm around I can show you Nitrate test kits, yes test kits, that cost as high as ~ $600, they use a test kit in conjunction with a Nessler Tube/Nesslerizier. In the early 90's just the Nessler unit was almost ~$400 and the NO3 - kit ~$100. Or others that use CIE Iluminator Comparators, both that use optical glass lens, not plastic like others.

Nessler Comparator

CIE Iluminator Comparators

 

[Billybeau1]

Boomer, we are talking "hobby grade" here. Yours do not qualify.

I just finished my 8 kit nitrate study. My head hurts. I will chew on the results and post in a new thread.

Good job tegee. Nice picks.

 

[tmz]

Tegee, thanks for the pictures. I use the salifert and api regularly and don't get the variance you do. They are pretty close in my experience.

 

[Boomer]

Boomer, we are talking "hobby grade" here. Yours do not qualify.

I looked and could not find the word "hobby" in the text

 

[Billybeau1]

:lol2:

 

[tegee]

Tegee, thanks for the pictures. I use the salifert and api regularly and don't get the variance you do. They are pretty close in my experience.

Interesting. Are you taking the "low end reading" and dividing by 10 as the instructions state? Because if I do not divide by 10 than the reading/color is about the same 20-25ppm.

LMK

 

[tegee]

What are everyone's thoughts regarding the use and/or purchase of a Nitrate Monitor? If my nitrates stay in the 5-15 range is it really worth spending the $$$ on a monitor?

 

[bertoni]

If your tank looks the way you want it to look, a nitrate meter is a lot of money for little gain. Generally, I think nitrate test kits are sufficient for hobbyists. If you have a color-blindness problem and coral problems, the meter might be a good investment.

 

[redfishsc]

Interesting observation. My experience with vodka,is the same. \It holds nitrates in the sub 5ppm range but not much lower. Maybe it would if I dosed more but more than 24ml per day of 550g gives me too much mulm and stringy bacteria.

I have dosed carbon off and on for the past 6 months (mostly sugar as sucrose or glucose) as well as running a refugium that is about 10% of my system volume size, and I have no trouble at all keeping nitrates at 0.0- 0.25ppm.

I stopped dosing carbon for a while since I suspected it was killing my montipora species, but proliferation of bryopsis and a lesser amount of standard GHA has "forced" me back to dosing glucose. I never once read nitrate above 0.25ppm even after I stopped dosing carbon. I believe the refugium is doing well, it's full of chaeto.

I think with all of the vodka threads and reducing nitrates and such, it is time to test nitrate kits. It is about time to put this all to rest.

I'm on it.

After all, you all know I'm a testing fool. :jester:

Looking forward to the results.

My API kit will show a "bright yellow" meaning basically 0-5ppm, meanwhile my Salifert will show a 0.0 or 0.25, depending on how recently I fed and how much.

 

[tmz]

tegee, I take the low end reading viewed through the side divided by ten.When nitrates are higher I look through the top with no division.

 

[tegee]

tegee, I take the low end reading viewed through the side divided by ten.When nitrates are higher I look through the top with no division.

Thanks tms, that is what the instructions say to do. I do not know if that is what others are doing because it is stated all the way do bottom and not all that clear, so just double checking.