API Test Kit

hello CaptnDan,
thanks!

Yes, I built those things myself. I spent $50 for the stand. I only paid for a 10-foot 4x4 for the legs, 2x4's and 1x4's for the frame. For the sidings and the doors, I got them free from a person in my area. He posted on the craigslist.com as free oak plywood and moldings. I got them enough to build my tank. I was lucky though. Otherwise, I might spend more money for the plywood and moldings.

I learned how to build those things on the net. I am not a carpenter so that it took me a long time to finish my project. Fortunately, the stand I built is level. :)

CaptnDan said:
Dude, you built that? That is freakin' beautiful! You should really be proud of that. :thm:
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I have the API kits and have started as light blue and ended light blue, and I've also started dark purple and ended dark purple.

And the part I hate to admit is I've also had it way off the charts and you know it's way off the charts when your end deep purple do a 50% w/c your still deep purple when you add the new water. Do another 50% w/c and end with 2.0 ppm. Your right by following the instructions. I'm sure the readings are acurate.
 
For my new tank, it started light purple and ended light blue.
During the first week, it started ligth purple and ended dark purple (5ppm). This was right. However, I have not idea why it starts light purple and ended light blue. Should it start light blue and ended light blue?

very confusing :duh:

amyandlars said:
I have the API kits and have started as light blue and ended light blue, and I've also started dark purple and ended dark purple.

And the part I hate to admit is I've also had it way off the charts and you know it's way off the charts when your end deep purple do a 50% w/c your still deep purple when you add the new water. Do another 50% w/c and end with 2.0 ppm. Your right by following the instructions. I'm sure the readings are acurate.
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Well, people can believe what they will. I'm not going to attempt to argue. I really don't have the energy to, especially after the past week. I just stated what I had read on a few forums. Also, wouldn't there have to be presence of some nitrites for the reagent to even turn purple to begin with? They are what causes the reaction afterall.



Btw, thang_bom, when you say it turns purple but ends in blue, do you mean it immediately turns purple upon addition of the reagent? Or does it take some time?
 
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blue_soda025 said:
Also, wouldn't there have to be presence of some nitrites for the reagent to even turn purple to begin with? They are what causes the reaction afterall.
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Correct on both counts, but with a caveat. If there is an inordinate amount of organic material in the water when the reagent is added, the hydrochloric acid in the reagent could be causing an accelerated breakdown of the organisms causing an initial color change that is different than what we expect. By the time we wait the five minutes, this reaction has 'played itself out' and the sample has stabilized and produces a proper measurement.

[Hypothesis] The Nitrite seen upon initial introduction was actually caused by the reagent. It wasn't Nitrite until the organism was 'flash-oxidized', if you will, by the hydrochloric acid.
 
thanks all! . Whenever, the nitrite level goes back to 0 ppm again. I will add all my fishes in. I need to go for it this time. I cannot wait longer. :thm:
 
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