Best nitrate kit. Can't find one I like

glb · Jan 20, 2014

Hi everyone. I recently switched from API to Salifert for nitrates to get more accurate readings, but I can't read the results for the life of me. The pink color looks darker on the edges of the vial and lighter in the middle and it looks different sitting directly on the color chart than just above it. Is there a more user friendly nitrate test out there? Salifert's super easy for ca and mg but the nitrate one is driving me crazy. Is Red Sea pro easier to read? Can anyone suggest another test they like better? I'm sick of different shades of pink. Lol

jayhawk · Jan 20, 2014

The High Range Nitrite by Hanna is great but getting the reagent packages, in the U.S., is next to impossible. I had to get them from Amazon UK. I had to ship them to a friend in the UK first. The Rea Sea is my backup. It's easy to read. It uses two viles. One with a sample and one with the reagents. Go to Red Sea to see the video.

KSzegi · Jan 20, 2014

I really like the red sea pro nitrate test - easiest to read that I've used.

jduck · Jan 20, 2014

I use the salifert. Taking a picture of the side of vial next to the refrence card, will make it easier to compare color. But you want to shoot for a nitrate in your system. .03

TheReefKeeper · Jan 20, 2014

I use Salifert I have a Red Sea pro you can have for 10.00 if you want to pay shipping I've only done about 4 tests out of it.
I've compared the Red Sea it to the HR Hanna and Salifert and the Red Sea is wayy off from both every time I absolutely hate it.

glb · Jan 20, 2014

Thanks everyone. I wasn't aware Hanna had one. I think I'll try Red Sea .

glb · Jan 20, 2014

jduck said:
I use the salifert. Taking a picture of the side of vial next to the refrence card, will make it easier to compare color. But you want to shoot for a nitrate in your system. .03

Mine usually isn't low enough to read sideways. I have to look down from the top. But the bottom of the vial isn't even so the shade of pink varies.

mcarroll · Jan 21, 2014

It certainly depends what you really need out of the test kit, but I might suggest that (sorta like the liquid po4 tests) you could use the results as more of a "yes/no I have excess nitrates" vs trying to put an exact number on it? Regardless of the number, I think you can use any of these kits (even a dip-test) to judge whether you have an issue with nitrates or not.

In other words, if you have to struggle to see if the sample has color in it - no problem. If it clearly has color, then you have a problem. A lot of color - a bigger problem!

Then again, I judge by algae growth...

-Matt

glb · Jan 21, 2014

mcarroll said:
It certainly depends what you really need out of the test kit, but I might suggest that (sorta like the liquid po4 tests) you could use the results as more of a "yes/no I have excess nitrates" vs trying to put an exact number on it? Regardless of the number, I think you can use any of these kits (even a dip-test) to judge whether you have an issue with nitrates or not.

In other words, if you have to struggle to see if the sample has color in it - no problem. If it clearly has color, then you have a problem. A lot of color - a bigger problem!

Then again, I judge by algae growth...

-Matt

Makes a ton of sense. Thanks!