Bizarre Nitrite test???
- Thread starter Glenstorm
- Start date
I would assume you can dilute all the AP test kits if you want to get a better reading. I have done it with my nitrite and nitrate(even with my hagen nitrate kit).
I am hesitant to believe that you can use the same multiple and dilution across the board with all their tests. I am thinking that there are very different reactions involved in each test and generalizing these adjustments across these different reactions would not yield accurate results.
Wellt he only tests i have asked them about are the nitrite and nitrate tests. they are the ones that told me to dilute them. I haven't tried it with my ammonia but i don't see why it would be any different.
i remember some people on different boards recommending diluting test too so I guess it works. if you aren't sure email AP.
i remember some people on different boards recommending diluting test too so I guess it works. if you aren't sure email AP.
Glenstorm, you can dilute any test with distilled water, and as long as you don't contaminate your test solution, get an accurate-- but diluted-- reading.
If you added water that had a solute that reacted with your test sample you'd be in trouble though.
The general moral is: you have to follow all the directions to the letter. Shake reagents if required. Shake test samples if required. Wait for reactions if required.
If you added water that had a solute that reacted with your test sample you'd be in trouble though.
The general moral is: you have to follow all the directions to the letter. Shake reagents if required. Shake test samples if required. Wait for reactions if required.
yup. In other words, mixing the tank sample with distilled water (distilled water having nothing but pure water) will dilute the nitrite (or anything else) levels in what you're testing. The test still works the same, it just reads lower levels - which can help if the level in the tank is off the scale...
The only test I can see this NOT working for would be pH. You could probably work some math and figure pH from a diluted sample, but it wouldn't be as simple as dividing by 5 as with nitrite and other tests...
On the mark here! Good point. The pH is the inverse exponent of Hydrogen ions, and you're adding more of them in the distilled water-- which is usually about pH 5.7 when it's in equilibrium with CO2 in the atmosphere, i've been told...
But you can dilute the CaCO3 with distilled water, if your alkalinity were "off the chart." Or any solute.
The pH isn't a solute, after all.
AHA!!!!
Me thinks my friend that you are experiencing the same thing I did... I believe that when the Nitrites are WAY off the scale, the Nitrite tests give freaky results (this happened to me too)... HOWEVER... if you have High 100+ ppm Nitrates... you can use the patented Luca Brazzi Fishless Cycling Shortcut... simply do 100% changes to your water until you read 0 ppm Nitrites, wait a day, do another 100% change, then... add your hardiest fish! You may get barely detectable Nitrites for a day (if you do, then do another waterchange), then it will go to 0 permanently!
By reducing the ammo/day to the output of just a few fish, you will reduce the output of Nitrite to what your current Nitrite oxidizers can consume.
Oh yeah... stop adding ammonia before you do the changes!
Mollies make good fish for doing this.
It works... trust me.
Me thinks my friend that you are experiencing the same thing I did... I believe that when the Nitrites are WAY off the scale, the Nitrite tests give freaky results (this happened to me too)... HOWEVER... if you have High 100+ ppm Nitrates... you can use the patented Luca Brazzi Fishless Cycling Shortcut... simply do 100% changes to your water until you read 0 ppm Nitrites, wait a day, do another 100% change, then... add your hardiest fish! You may get barely detectable Nitrites for a day (if you do, then do another waterchange), then it will go to 0 permanently!
By reducing the ammo/day to the output of just a few fish, you will reduce the output of Nitrite to what your current Nitrite oxidizers can consume.
Oh yeah... stop adding ammonia before you do the changes!
Mollies make good fish for doing this.
It works... trust me.
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I take it that your tank is doing well...?My tank is doing absolutely fabulous!
Im up to 12 Africans. I think Im going to get at least 2 more. I want to get them before the others get too big.
Water is perfectamundo. Crystal clear with no signs of anything harmful. I would like to get an auto top off mechanism though. I lose quite a bit of water due to evaporation. Maybe Ill build one.
I got a Mini Aquaclear today for the 15 gal that I put the Mollies in. Im tired of changing the water every 3 days.
Im up to 12 Africans. I think Im going to get at least 2 more. I want to get them before the others get too big.
Water is perfectamundo. Crystal clear with no signs of anything harmful. I would like to get an auto top off mechanism though. I lose quite a bit of water due to evaporation. Maybe Ill build one.
I got a Mini Aquaclear today for the 15 gal that I put the Mollies in. Im tired of changing the water every 3 days.
