Nitrate Tests

[jimmy3323]

I have some questions about water testing in a African Cichlid tank. I have a 75 gallon tank and have received inconsitent test results. I use Prime for my water conditioner. I noticed recently my nitrates seemed to test at 10-20 ppm before and after a water change. I then read about Amquel + and tried it. I still get mixed readings..10-20ppm before and after a water change. After reading more on their website about amquel+ they speak to the inconsistent results water test kits give after the use of products like prime and amquel. It is suggested that API's ammonia test is way out of whack, but nitrates are inline. So I ordered the seachem test kit since it used a dry powder allowing their kit to not expire.

Seachem includes a reference sample with their kit. It should measure 10ppm when the standard nitrate test is performed using their sample. This is where my test comes in. I performed a standard test using the sample. It measured correctly, 10ppm. Next I used my water sample. A 0ppm result should turn a very slight hint of light pink. My test didnt turn any color...remained clear. I tested using the liquid API as well as the API test strips. They both confirmed a 10ppm result.

Next I used the reference sample provided by seachem but this time used the API liquid test kit. It confirmed a 10ppm result..as it should.

So my question is why does my water not turn the seachem test a light pink which would indicate 0ppm as it should if the amquel+ is working, or if the API test is correct, then I would expect to read 10-ppm.

Any ideas??

[jon carman]

If you have 10ppm you are safe. A small amount of nitrates is normal. How large of a change are you doing, and how often?

[signde]

i'm not convinced the API nitrate tests are extremely accurate at low levels. i recently did a 40% water change. nitrate was 10 ppm before the change. after the change... still 10 ppm. i checked my tapwater... 0 ppm. i have two different api kits, both gave the same results.

[jimmy3323]

Aug 24, 2010 22:01:04 GMT -6 jon carman said:

If you have 10ppm you are safe. A small amount of nitrates is normal. How large of a change are you doing, and how often?

I have typically done 15-20 gallon changes. Enough to significantly reduce any nitrates in the water. I am good with 10ppm being safe, however I am concerned that the tests are inconsistent. I should read much less after a water change, and I would think I would at least read 0ppm on the sea-chem test if the Amquel+ is working. But the sea-chem test doest change to any colors at all. The test sample stays completely clear.

[jon carman]

I would say they for sure are inconsistent. I use the dip strip unless something looks "fishy", then I do the full blown test. I don't know what to tell you about the Amquel, I haven't used it.

[jimmy3323]

I talked to another support person at Seachem and it was explained to me that the no color was actually okay. It meant no Nitrates. I did the test tonight again and it read a very small amount of NItrate. Seems like it is working!!

[jimmy3323]

I have been working with Seachem off and on for several months since my last post. I continued to get confilcting results using three different test kits for nitrates. On request of Seachem I took one gallon of tap water, untreated, and tested for nitrates. All three kits tested at about 5ppm. Then I was requested to add, one at a time, the products I normally add to my tank. So I started with the conditioner, PRIME, and added amount needed for 1 gallon. I then tested the water with all three kits. Again all three tested the same. Next I added baking soda for PH buffer. I added enough to raise PH to 8.0. Then tested all three kits again. This time only the API and Red Sea kits tested the same and the Seachem tested clear or zero nitrates. I tested again and got the same results. To verify the kit was working correctly I tested they control sample they provide with the kit and it tested correctly at 10ppm. After providing this information to Seachem they were able to re-create this in their lab.

They are still researching why baking soda would cause their kit to not be able to register nitrate levels....

Thought this was pretty interesting!!

[kazzy]

From my understanding, the dechlor and such, when first added to water, will cause issues with the test. I always just test before a wc because of this using a liquid test since strip tests are notorious for being incorrect.