API Nitrate test kit.

O

ozgood

AC Members
Jul 11, 2007
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Northern Virginia
I have two questions for everyone.

Question #1: I've posted a scanned in picture of my API test kit's Nitrate test card for freshwater and saltwater. The colors aren't a perfect match to real life but it's very representative. I can't really tell much difference between 20 / 40 / 80 on the freshwater card. In real life the card 20 and 80 are very similar if not exactly the same. 40 does look a little more red.

Question #2: The second Nitrate card is from an API Saltwater Nitrate kit and someone gave to us when I was contemplating a saltwater kit. The color differences between the levels is very distinct. Can I use this saltwater Nitrate test in my freshwater tank and get a good result?

As always, thanks for listening.

Nitrate_Test_Strip.jpg
 
I don't know about using the SW card for FW tests, but I can tell you that my FW test results card has much better colour distinction between 10 and 20 (and therefore 20/40), and 40/80 than the version of yours I can see on my computer screen just now.

but if it was my tank and it showed the 20 colour on your card, I'd be doing a water change and increasing tank maintenance anyway.
 
My FW 20 is definitely different than the 80. While 40 is still red, the 80 is going brown.

For me, if it is at 20...it gets a water chnage.
 
The colors on my freshwater card are much more distinct. Was your card maybe left out in the sun, and faded?
 
on your card i can't tell the difference between 20, 40 or 80, but as others have said - if it was showing any of those it would be water change time. you may want to try and "rig" the test so you can determine exactly where you are. if you test and it reads 20/40/80, make a test sample with 1/2 tap water and 1/2 tank water (IF the tap doesn't have any nitrates). then test it. if it shows 10ppm in a half-strength sample, you really have 20ppm. if it still shows the 20/40/80 color, you may have to do a 1/4 strength sample. instead of trying to mix the tank and tap in the test tube, use a small cup or bowl and then use the little eye-dropper to take the sample out of that container.
 
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Nitrates and I have been enemies since I started this tank. Water out of my tap, according to my test, is 10ppm. So, when I do a water change I'm starting at 10. That doesn't give me much room for natural growth. I change 20 to 25 gallons per week. That sounds reasonable to me, what about you all? Obviously it doesn't really matter as there are nitrates in there and I have green algae growing.

I purchased that API Master Freshwater kit probably 3 years ago. The cards haven't been left out in the sun ever. They spend all their time in the box with the chemicals under the tank. I'm assuming that I just have a bad card. It sounds like you guys have cards with more color seperation than I have. I'll just pickup a new Nitrate test kit.

As for the FW vs. SW. test, what I have is a Freshwater Master Kit and a Saltwater Master Kit. I was wondering if I could use the Nitrate test from the Saltwater kit in my Freshwater tank. I wasn't going to use the chemicals from the freshwater and the card from the SW.

One last thing I can't understand... If I have nitrates this high then why do my java fern's look like crap? All brown with holes. There are a few new leaves but not much. If what I purchased was 100% great it's not maybe 60% great (hope that makes sense).
 
ozgood said:
Nitrates and I have been enemies since I started this tank. Water out of my tap, according to my test, is 10ppm. So, when I do a water change I'm starting at 10. That doesn't give me much room for natural growth. I change 20 to 25 gallons per week. That sounds reasonable to me, what about you all?
Click to expand...

I change as much as necessary to keep below 20 ppm...stocking and nitrate levels are what determine the frequency and amount of water change.

ozgood said:
I purchased that API Master Freshwater kit probably 3 years ago. The cards haven't been left out in the sun ever. They spend all their time in the box with the chemicals under the tank. I'm assuming that I just have a bad card. It sounds like you guys have cards with more color seperation than I have. I'll just pickup a new Nitrate test kit.
Click to expand...

probably some sorta fading/colour deterioration going on...3 years on...also check your lot number on that test...last four digits are year and month, and its good for 3 years from then, then it needs to be replaced and is no longer reliable.

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ozgood said:
One last thing I can't understand... If I have nitrates this high then why do my java fern's look like crap? All brown with holes. There are a few new leaves but not much. If what I purchased was 100% great it's not maybe 60% great (hope that makes sense).
Click to expand...
[/quote]

don't know sorry
 
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