Nutrafin Test Kit.

[Angel 0249]

I have been using for the last 4 weeks + the API test kit.
I have been getting a reading of between 0.25 up to 1.0 on my Ammonia readings. :wow:

This morning i did another test of my stats and the Ammonia reading came out as 1.0 :eek:

So i decided to go to my local Garden centre,which is very well known and keep some wonderful fish with very clean and maintained tanks, to have my water tested.

They used a test kit called Nutrafin to check my stats.

Readings are as follows

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
PH 7.5
Nitrate 0

When using my API kit readings are as follows

Ammonia 1.0 :eek:
PH 7.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

The only difference as i can see is the Ammonia levels using the Nutrafin kit.

Has anybody used one of these Nutrafin test kits,and how reliable are they?

My main concern is that i am having a very high reading of Ammonia using the API kit and a reading of 0 Ammonia with the Nutrafin kit.

Should i not be getting any Nitrite readings by now also.?

Which one should i trust to get accurate readings?

[jm1212]

how old is your tank?

how old is your test kit?

[meow91]

I have an api kit that also always shows .25 ammonia but when I take my water to the lfs ,and I have taken it to three, the ammonia is 0. I think therer might be a bad batch of kits out maybe??? The rest of the kit works fine though.

[marc515192]

I have an api kit that also always shows .25 ammonia but when I take my water to the lfs ,and I have taken it to three, the ammonia is 0. I think therer might be a bad batch of kits out maybe??? The rest of the kit works fine though.

Are you just reading the comparison color charts. I have the nutri fin tests and for ammonia I need to also test my PH and make the comparison based on PH range. Example Test kit results 1.2 in a PH range of 7.4 the results are actually 0.02. I have ordered the API master kit so we'll see if any big differences. Point is don't just match the color read to see if other comparisons need to be made for accurate results.

[ScottoMacD]

From my experience the Nutrafin test kits Are not very reliable. Could be that they just are old and were on the selves of the store or warehouse forever beefore being purchased or they just might not be very accurate to begin with.

I have found that their PH test seems to be pretty good but as for the rest ... No Thanks. Keep in mind that the average lifespan for a test kit is 2 years. If it sits on the shelf for 1 year and bit well,......

I personally have found that the Aquarium Pharmacuticals tests are 500% more reliable. They always seem to be right on the money with freshwater. Saltwater well that is another story.

Whenever I buy a test kit I always ask how long they have been on the shelf and then add 6 moths to the time. That way I know roughly how long I have before the go belly up.

Another hint. Allot of dust on the box is not a good sign.