Nitrate test kit question

[Madness]

I have a Tetratest nitrate test kit. In the instructions it reads:

The [kit] measures total nitrate ion (NO3-) concentration. To obtian the value for nitrate-nitrogen concentration in mg/l the value obtained with the kit should be divided by 4.4.

Do I use the "value obtained" or should I divide it by 4.4?

 

[daveedka]

Assuming you want to campare numbers to the norms around here, you will need to. Mg/l and ppm are the same thing. Most of us talk in ppm.
dave

 

[Madness]

Hi, Dave.

What I don't know is: are we aquairists intersted in 'total nitrate ion' or 'nitrate-nitrogen concentration'?

The kit shows that the two are directy related, but when aquarists say "the nitrate in my tank is at 12 ppm", are they talking about total nitrate ion or nitrate-nitrogen concentration?

For example, I tested my water and got a value of ~12.5 ppm total nitrate ion. If I divide by 4.4, I have a nitrate-nitrogen concentration of ~3 ppm. What is my nitrate level? 12.5 ppm or 3 ppm?

 

[RTR]

Folks normally refer to total nitrate, not just nitrate-nitrogen. But it matters not which you chose to use, so long as you specify which - either nitrate, or nitrate-nitrogen.

You cannot refer to nitrate-nitrogen as nitrate, it is not the same thing.

To convert nitrate-nitrogen to nitrate, multiply by 4.4
To convert nitrite-nitrogen to nitrite, multiply by 3.3

 

[Madness]

Thanks guys.

The test kit's instruction pamphlet was a little ambiguous.