I cleaned my tank out again today! here are the nitrate results!!

[bettafish777]

Well, I cleaned out my aquarium today. Took out 40% of the water. I tested my tap and aquarium water for nitrates. For my tap I got 0. For my aquarium...ughh...I cant tell the difference on the color card again:(. In some lights it looks orange( 10 ppm) and other times it looks extremely red.

If I read it on the counter under a light it looks orange. If I hold it up to a bright light it looks dark red. So which is it? lol. I am leaning hopefully towards the orange...

how do you read your color cards?

[Ghost_knife]

hold it against white, w/e the color is is what you got

[beviking]

Try reading it outside in the sun, not direct sun, but using sunlight as your source. Go by that. Hopefully you have a light indoors that reads close to what the sunlight readings gave you. Always use the same source light from then on.
Alternately, you can make a stock solution of a known concentration of nitrate. Since your tap is 0, you can use it to mix up the solution. Mix up 1, 5, 10, 20 ppm and test each to see what you get under different lights. Use the light that most closely resembles the chart.

HTH

[webcricket]

You've got to read it against the color card and in a well-lit area. Don't hold it up against the light or anything. And if this is the AP test, be sure you're waiting the full 5 minutes, but not longer.

[bettafish777]

I waited only 5 minutes like the directions said. if I just read it in light against the white part of the card I have 10-20 ppm. Is this ok?

[Reddog80p]

I'd keep the NitrAtes below .40 ppm. So your ok for a couple days to a week or so depending on your bio-load. Recheck if your over .40 ppm do another pwc.

[bettafish777]

ok. thanks everyone!!

[Squealor]

I hold the test tube up with a good light behind me and put it up against something white...