API Nitrate test kit, not good for salt water.

[taricha]

@Dan_P has done a good bit of looking at the API nitrate test, and he seems to like it a lot.
He might have some thoughts on failure modes for the kit. The kits all need a zinc reduction step, so in a liquid suspension - I can imagine if you don't shake it aggressively you could miss getting the zinc needed into the sample and fail to form color.

 

[Peace River]

R2R was founded on the simple premise to develop a warm, friendly, suitable place to gather and discuss this hobby for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. The “Be Nice” policy is something we take very seriously. Please work to separate the problem from the people and focus on addressing the problem.

We highly encourage healthy debate here and understand not everyone will agree on all issues. In fact, we value healthy and even lively discussion of hobby issues and questions...this actually leads to advancements in our hobby, so we ALL win through these debates. What we will not tolerate is the negativity, name calling, belittling attitude towards other members or the topics being discussed. We are not asking you to cease debating your positions. What we are asking is that you do so in a healthy, respectful manner.

 

[anthonygf]

These are known unreliable and I personally would not rely on a $24 master kit to sustain $200 or more of livestock. Hanna and Salifert kits rae reliable- Known reliable.
To assure you are not getting false readings, take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use Api kits and have them test for you to see what numbers they get and to compare with yours.

The closest LFS near me uses API test kits. I will keep looking.

 

[anthonygf]

R2R was founded on the simple premise to develop a warm, friendly, suitable place to gather and discuss this hobby for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. The “Be Nice” policy is something we take very seriously. Please work to separate the problem from the people and focus on addressing the problem.

We highly encourage healthy debate here and understand not everyone will agree on all issues. In fact, we value healthy and even lively discussion of hobby issues and questions...this actually leads to advancements in our hobby, so we ALL win through these debates. What we will not tolerate is the negativity, name calling, belittling attitude towards other members or the topics being discussed. We are not asking you to cease debating your positions. What we are asking is that you do so in a healthy, respectful manner.

Thank you!

 

[anthonygf]

API is fine when used properly, just like all the other test kits.

Yes great for fresh water. Been using API for 40 years.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The closest LFS near me uses API test kits. I will keep looking.

because this is for comparison, see if you know a local person with different kits or even a local club with a member who would be willing to test for you.
Its just an assurance you are getting true readings

 

[anthonygf]

Also, why do you believe one to be accurate over the other? Consider what other factors might be in play. Could it be the one you compared the salifert too was also off? Possibly. I am not a fan of the API nitrate test as I need smaller increments of nitrate to be read. However, you have to consider that there is more than one possible answer than "api is bad"

I don't believe any of them to be accurate. They all get close to the amount of the element you are testing. I don't think they will have pinpoint accuracy. But from 25 on Salifert to zero on API. Is it possible API is that bad? I use the same reagents on my fresh water tank and is very close to LFS testing.

 

[ying yang]

My personal opinion is they are the same reagents used for freshwater and saltwater,but never seen any api master test kit fir freshwater or saltwater say can be used on both,all mu instructions say to be used for one or the other and not both.
But when I set up my first saltwater tank 1.5 years ago I bought saltwater version and got very similar tests ( just saltwater was more hazy because of the salt and presume other things in the salt mix)

If I test my tank I get darker than 25ppm but not as dark as 50 ppn on salifert nitrate test and my api nitrate test reads 40ppm so very similar there.

I think if do the api test exactly as it states ( if says shake bottle 2 vigourously for 30 seconds then need shake that bottle hard) if says shake vial vigourously for 1 minute then shake hard) and set timers to get exactly time stated and take reading in natural sunlight and not artificial light and have natural sunlight behind you and infront of white part on test card then my results always match up so close with salifert and api.

Regards to low levels of nitrate like 1-10ppm or even 1-15 ppm nitrate ,the colours are so similar I can imagine would be hard to see difference on api but similary on salifert and seeing colour differences on salifert p04 is so so so hard as 3 different levels all nearly same colour ha ha,but api p04 if get the api reef master test kit which has p04 goes from lowest reading of 0 then to 0.25ppm p04 so salifert is better there ( if can tell difference ha ha )
If hannah checkers wasn't so expensive as there like £ 75-£80 last time I looked which is like nearly $100 us dollars so price nearly double in england compared to USA, and as no high end corals with no fancy names in tank and only want to have my parameters in correct ranges but stable ,I'm OK with knowing if I've got 0ppm or low-medium or high result and I keep reading all hobby grade test kits are just that ( hobby grade) and all have the %of error and the ongoing costs with reagents,I can't convince myself to shell out equivalent of nearly $300 to have hannah p04/alk/nitrate and I hear calcium alot not happy with ( read using distilled water instead of ridi for 1 of the steps makes test much better ) new magnesium test im reading thread after thread of unhappy customers and alot wanting/asking for refunds so doesnt fill me with confidence on the brand but as I say im happy ( at moment) knowing 0 -low-mefium or high readings aslong as in range but stable.

Just out if curiousity when did you buy your api freahwater master test kit that says in Instructions," can be used for freshwater or saltwater nitrate testing ) maybe as mine bought and distributed in/from different country,then instructions slightly different worded?

Not saying don't believe you @anthonygf but any chance little picture your instructions saying can be used in both ?

And when you tested your nitrate in saltwater from tank with api freshwater test kit and got 0ppm did you do another test to see if first one was user error ? Like didnt shake hard enough or shook for 19 seconds Instead of 30 etc

 

[anthonygf]

My personal opinion is they are the same reagents used for freshwater and saltwater,but never seen any api master test kit fir freshwater or saltwater say can be used on both,all mu instructions say to be used for one or the other and not both.
But when I set up my first saltwater tank 1.5 years ago I bought saltwater version and got very similar tests ( just saltwater was more hazy because of the salt and presume other things in the salt mix)

If I test my tank I get darker than 25ppm but not as dark as 50 ppn on salifert nitrate test and my api nitrate test reads 40ppm so very similar there.

I think if do the api test exactly as it states ( if says shake bottle 2 vigourously for 30 seconds then need shake that bottle hard) if says shake vial vigourously for 1 minute then shake hard) and set timers to get exactly time stated and take reading in natural sunlight and not artificial light and have natural sunlight behind you and infront of white part on test card then my results always match up so close with salifert and api.

Regards to low levels of nitrate like 1-10ppm or even 1-15 ppm nitrate ,the colours are so similar I can imagine would be hard to see difference on api but similary on salifert and seeing colour differences on salifert p04 is so so so hard as 3 different levels all nearly same colour ha ha,but api p04 if get the api reef master test kit which has p04 goes from lowest reading of 0 then to 0.25ppm p04 so salifert is better there ( if can tell difference ha ha )
If hannah checkers wasn't so expensive as there like £ 75-£80 last time I looked which is like nearly $100 us dollars so price nearly double in england compared to USA, and as no high end corals with no fancy names in tank and only want to have my parameters in correct ranges but stable ,I'm OK with knowing if I've got 0ppm or low-medium or high result and I keep reading all hobby grade test kits are just that ( hobby grade) and all have the %of error and the ongoing costs with reagents,I can't convince myself to shell out equivalent of nearly $300 to have hannah p04/alk/nitrate and I hear calcium alot not happy with ( read using distilled water instead of ridi for 1 of the steps makes test much better ) new magnesium test im reading thread after thread of unhappy customers and alot wanting/asking for refunds so doesnt fill me with confidence on the brand but as I say im happy ( at moment) knowing 0 -low-mefium or high readings aslong as in range but stable.

Just out if curiousity when did you buy your api freahwater master test kit that says in Instructions," can be used for freshwater or saltwater nitrate testing ) maybe as mine bought and distributed in/from different country,then instructions slightly different worded?

Not saying don't believe you @anthonygf but any chance little picture your instructions saying can be used in both ?

And when you tested your nitrate in saltwater from tank with api freshwater test kit and got 0ppm did you do another test to see if first one was user error ? Like didnt shake hard enough or shook for 19 seconds Instead of 30 e

I don't know why the master test kits are made to look like they are just for fresh or salt, the only difference is the color charts. Here is the single test I have on hand.

 

[anthonygf]

My personal opinion is they are the same reagents used for freshwater and saltwater,but never seen any api master test kit fir freshwater or saltwater say can be used on both,all mu instructions say to be used for one or the other and not both.
But when I set up my first saltwater tank 1.5 years ago I bought saltwater version and got very similar tests ( just saltwater was more hazy because of the salt and presume other things in the salt mix)

If I test my tank I get darker than 25ppm but not as dark as 50 ppn on salifert nitrate test and my api nitrate test reads 40ppm so very similar there.

I think if do the api test exactly as it states ( if says shake bottle 2 vigourously for 30 seconds then need shake that bottle hard) if says shake vial vigourously for 1 minute then shake hard) and set timers to get exactly time stated and take reading in natural sunlight and not artificial light and have natural sunlight behind you and infront of white part on test card then my results always match up so close with salifert and api.

Regards to low levels of nitrate like 1-10ppm or even 1-15 ppm nitrate ,the colours are so similar I can imagine would be hard to see difference on api but similary on salifert and seeing colour differences on salifert p04 is so so so hard as 3 different levels all nearly same colour ha ha,but api p04 if get the api reef master test kit which has p04 goes from lowest reading of 0 then to 0.25ppm p04 so salifert is better there ( if can tell difference ha ha )
If hannah checkers wasn't so expensive as there like £ 75-£80 last time I looked which is like nearly $100 us dollars so price nearly double in england compared to USA, and as no high end corals with no fancy names in tank and only want to have my parameters in correct ranges but stable ,I'm OK with knowing if I've got 0ppm or low-medium or high result and I keep reading all hobby grade test kits are just that ( hobby grade) and all have the %of error and the ongoing costs with reagents,I can't convince myself to shell out equivalent of nearly $300 to have hannah p04/alk/nitrate and I hear calcium alot not happy with ( read using distilled water instead of ridi for 1 of the steps makes test much better ) new magnesium test im reading thread after thread of unhappy customers and alot wanting/asking for refunds so doesnt fill me with confidence on the brand but as I say im happy ( at moment) knowing 0 -low-mefium or high readings aslong as in range but stable.

Just out if curiousity when did you buy your api freahwater master test kit that says in Instructions," can be used for freshwater or saltwater nitrate testing ) maybe as mine bought and distributed in/from different country,then instructions slightly different worded?

Not saying don't believe you @anthonygf but any chance little picture your instructions saying can be used in both ?

And when you tested your nitrate in saltwater from tank with api freshwater test kit and got 0ppm did you do another test to see if first one was user error ? Like didnt shake hard enough or shook for 19 seconds Instead of 30 etc

Come on, I have been testing for over 40 years with API. And I did do 2 tests back to back. The nitrate box says fresh and salt water on the front.

 

[anthonygf]

Sorry goof up.

 

[ying yang]

Come on, I have been testing for over 40 years with API. And I did do 2 tests back to back. The nitrate box says fresh and salt water on the front.

Yeah see your single nitrate test kit says bottom right fir freshwater or saltwater,wonder if all api nitrate test kits say this now as so many videos out there using both if them on saltwater or freshwater and getting identical results so decided to add for both.
Or maybe any made/sold in my country doesn't say it or maybe just the single nitrate test kits on their own say it but the master test kit doesn't?

Again just curiousity,you said you used your freshwater master test kit on your saltwater, does your freshwater master test kit say for both also ?

 

[ying yang]

I don't know why the master test kits are made to look like they are just for fresh or salt, the only difference is the color charts. Here is the single test I have on hand.

I've always thought since having saltwater tank,reason why say freshwater master test kit and saltwater test kit is for sausages like myself who didn't have any clue and didn't watch numerous yourube videos of people using both test kits on same fresh or saltwater and getting same readings and just believed as one says fresh and one says saltwater then must need different for each tank so they make extra £ 28 ( $35) selling the saltwater master test kit to people like myself even though my freshwater master test kit in date and lots of tests left ( very sneaky and bordering on dishonest imo)

Edit: just thought on, only other difference is freshwater has low range ph also so api can say this why different kits ha ha

 

[jrill]

Yeah see your single nitrate test kit says bottom right fir freshwater or saltwater,wonder if all api nitrate test kits say this now as so many videos out there using both if them on saltwater or freshwater and getting identical results so decided to add for both.
Or maybe any made/sold in my country doesn't say it or maybe just the single nitrate test kits on their own say it but the master test kit doesn't?

Again just curiousity,you said you used your freshwater master test kit on your saltwater, does your freshwater master test kit say for both also ?

The only difference is the color card.

 

[ying yang]

The only difference is the color card.

Yeah I get same readings if use freshwater test kit or saltwater.

Plus freshwater kit has low range reagent

 

[Dan_P]

@Dan_P has done a good bit of looking at the API nitrate test, and he seems to like it a lot.
He might have some thoughts on failure modes for the kit. The kits all need a zinc reduction step, so in a liquid suspension - I can imagine if you don't shake it aggressively you could miss getting the zinc needed into the sample and fail to form color.

I think the issue is that a freshwater nitrate test kit is being used in saltwater. The problem might be that the freshwater nitrate test kit does not contain enough zinc metal to work in saltwater. The chloride in saltwater strongly interferes with the reduction of nitrate to nitrite.

I use the API marine nitrate test chemistry in my Hanna HR Checker and find that it works quite well.

 

[Doctorgori]

I’d wager both FW and SW kits being the same is yet a replay of their Algaefix gimmick…as we all remember …
anyway, Apparently API’s packaging, marketing and chemistry team is all the same guy/gal

erh uh side track, but how long has API Saltwater/Freshwater been around anyway? gotta be 30+ yrs ….could swear my original test kit was. a API Sw Master …. pardon

 

[anthonygf]

Yeah see your single nitrate test kit says bottom right fir freshwater or saltwater,wonder if all api nitrate test kits say this now as so many videos out there using both if them on saltwater or freshwater and getting identical results so decided to add for both.
Or maybe any made/sold in my country doesn't say it or maybe just the single nitrate test kits on their own say it but the master test kit doesn't?

Again just curiousity,you said you used your freshwater master test kit on your saltwater, does your freshwater master test kit say for both also ?

I don't have or use a master API kit for salt. I do have a master fresh water kit, but buy the single reagents when I run out, and I don't use this for salt just Hanna, Salifert, Red sea and some other brands I can't remember. I am retired now so I have a lot more time to test and sometimes it is daily, I have 2 different brands for alk, mag, cal, ph, nitrate, phos, iodine and occasionally I will use a secondary brand to compare with the main one I use just to check. I love testing almost as much as watching my reef.

 

[anthonygf]

I've always thought since having saltwater tank,reason why say freshwater master test kit and saltwater test kit is for sausages like myself who didn't have any clue and didn't watch numerous yourube videos of people using both test kits on same fresh or saltwater and getting same readings and just believed as one says fresh and one says saltwater then must need different for each tank so they make extra £ 28 ( $35) selling the saltwater master test kit to people like myself even though my freshwater master test kit in date and lots of tests left ( very sneaky and bordering on dishonest imo)

Edit: just thought on, only other difference is freshwater has low range ph also so api can say this why different kits ha ha

Yes, I forgot that fresh water kit has an extra ph low range for the soft water fish.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Anthony

Please when you get the digital tester, set it up then take and post a pic of each test kit on the same water sample with color cards in the background for non digital kits so we can visually see the range on readings

We track these ranges and the ranging reaction of tank owners to a given reading in our cycling threads. Pics showing you having 3x readouts on nitrate from 3x top popular kits will be helpful. I'm interested in the range the kits provide vs which one is right.

I have the Hanna HR nitrate and the salifert. The Salifert agrees almost exactly from 2-20ppm - at least the batch I have.