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Advice? What test kit do you use for nitrates?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jeremy, Nov 6, 2015.

  1. Nov 6, 2015 #1
    jeremy Davenport, IA

    jeremy Acro Addict

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    Looking to see what everyone is using for nitrate testing. The 2 I have really suck. I have red sea and api.
    I am looking for nice, easy and reliable.
    Red sea is a pain in the ***. Api has to wide of range between color change.
    I took my biopellets off line mid summer. According to tests I have there are 0 nitrates in my sps tank. I am in process of trying to get around 1-2. I am kind of experimenting with coral colors.
    Looking for advice. I know Des Moines region had a meeting about water testing.
     
  2. Nov 6, 2015 #2
    Armydog

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    Salifert seemed like the overall best test kits. That is the one I personally will be purchasing at least
     
  3. Nov 6, 2015 #3
    tangers Ankeny

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    Salifert is all I use for anything
     
  4. Nov 6, 2015 #4
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

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    I went with salifert when I wanted more accuracy. Seems to work well.
     
  5. Nov 6, 2015 #5
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    Cool. Is the low end of the scale fairly easy to read? Like below 5.
     
  6. Nov 6, 2015 #6
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    Now I like red sea kits for calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. But their nitrate kits I do not like. I am gonna have to try out salifort kits. I have heard a lot of people like them.
     
  7. Nov 6, 2015 #7
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

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    They have a low range "method". Basically you look through the side of the vial instead of the top and whatever color is closest you divide by 10
     
  8. Nov 6, 2015 #8
    Armydog

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    You like the alk for red sea @jeremy@jeremy ?

    My readings vary dramatically with the hanna
     
  9. Nov 6, 2015 #9
    MadManMadrid Iowa City

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    I like the alk from redsea except when its reading 1500+ @Armydog@Armydog
     
  10. Nov 6, 2015 #10
    Armydog

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  11. Nov 6, 2015 #11
    MadManMadrid Iowa City

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    Oh crap thats right it was mag. Haha
     
  12. Nov 6, 2015 #12
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    Yeah I like the alk kit. I sent in a triton test same day I tested and was really close like .2 difference. I can live with that. I have never tried the Hanna for alkalinity.
     
  13. Nov 6, 2015 #13
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    Sounds easy enough to me.
     
  14. Nov 6, 2015 #14
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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  15. Nov 6, 2015 #15
    Armydog

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    @jeremy@jeremy I have a hard time trying to figure out when to stop adding the solution from the syringe to get the correct color...... when do you stop adding? When it turns the brownish color or bright red
     
  16. Nov 6, 2015 #16
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    Usually after it turns a light pink I go a little brighter. If goes red it's to far.
     
  17. Nov 8, 2015 #17
    Waterrat41 Des moines

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    I have a Salifert and a redsea, I quit using the salifert when I thought I was having a nitrate issue and it turned out to be the test kit...tested a batch of fresh mixed SW and it said 5ppm. Have had good consistent results with the redsea but, yes, it is quite a bit more work. Both of them are easy to read in the low range.
     
  18. Nov 8, 2015 #18
    xiaoxiy

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    What don't you like about the Red Sea nitrate test kit? I'm currently using a Salifert test kit, and was gonna eventually swap over to Red Sea after it ran out (Red Sea seems cheaper and I'm really liking their phosphate test kit).
     
  19. Nov 8, 2015 #19
    jeremy Davenport, IA

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    I guess it's really not that bad if you are using the low range. Below 4. Otherwise you have to dilute sample or something. The difference in colors is easy to differentiate. I was kind of looking to see if there was anything better for low range testing.
    --- Auto-Merged, Nov 8, 2015, Original Post: Nov 8, 2015 ---
    I have never used red sea phosphate kit. I use Hanna for that.
     

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