Nitrate Test Help

[jlines]

So i have the api liquid nitrate test. And ive noticed it is the most complex of all the tests with the ridiculous amount of shaking. I did a test a couple days ago and the test read about 10ppm so i did a wc. Then today i tested it and its around 35.

So my testing seems to be unreliable. My question is what are the common pitfalls of that test. Does over shaking overdevelop? Undershaking over/under develop?

my fish thank you

 

[livingword26]

If it is not shaken well, bottle 2 especially, it will read low, or even 0. You cannot overshake it. Just shake it vigorously for 30 seconds like the bottle says, and it will read correctly.

 

[OldMan47]

Many places recommend that the shaking be done for at least a minute instead of the 30 seconds that is in the instructions. If not mixed very well, the results can be quite inconsistent.