:confused: reading NO3 test...
- Thread starter Lobo.
- Start date
I would guess it a 20, I generally look for the closest hue, because they are never perfect in color. I am also quite thankful I use AP kits after seeing that card and that test vial. Good luck with that one.
Dave
Dave
I was refering specifically to the AP nitrate test. It seems to be fairly easy to read until you get into levels beyond what I want anyhow. Some of the other AP kits are difficult to read I will agree.
Most folks around here keep them at or below 20 ppm. So you aren't far off.
I would be happy at that level, but more importantly, I would be happy if my maintenance routine kept them from climbing obove that over time.
My Oscar tank Jumps to 40 every week between partials, but always comes back down to the same level after water change, and doesn't go above 40 in any given week. This indicates that maintenance is adequate to keep the tank in the same range continually, and that really is the key.
As far as fish exposure to nitrates, there is some debate and really little good information on what exposure levels are truly harmful. The nitrate test is our indicator of overall pollution levels and maintenance in a tank. Since nitrate is easy to test for, we use it. The fact is that nitrates themselves are probably not as harmful as many other things that build up in a tank. The rreason for the debate is that When fish have difficulty in high nitrates there is also a lot of other pollutants in their water. So the question always remains about what actually caused the problems, Nitrates or something else that we can't easily test for.
So in theory (Very loose theory) We target a low specific nitrate level to Keep our overall pollutants at bay. Our fish are healthier at these lower levels, but it isn't necessarily the nitrate that would cause them trouble if we didn't.
Huh 35? I was thinking possibly 15. Though I voted 20.
I always take the vial and put it over the colors sideways. If you can't see the square thats the color it is. If its inbetween you'll still be able to tell between which 2.
The only tests I've used for AP that I found hard to judge are the pH in the lower range and the nitrates. Am and Ni are the easiest.
I always take the vial and put it over the colors sideways. If you can't see the square thats the color it is. If its inbetween you'll still be able to tell between which 2.
The only tests I've used for AP that I found hard to judge are the pH in the lower range and the nitrates. Am and Ni are the easiest.
Hold it away from the card over the white so that the light shines through it a bit. Match the tone, not the hue. I find doing that also works with the AP tests.
Roan
Roan
My question is this, did you compare your picture to what your looking at and make sure that they are exactly the same colors? The camera flash could cause the colors to look different than they actually are and you might not notice it unless you compare side by side. It could possibly make us think we are seeing one shade, while you are seeing another.