Best Nitrate Test Kit

[H@rry]

I have been using the Salifert Nitrate test kit and I don't trust it. It is showing 0 nitrate and that is hard to believe. Also I have trouble differentiating between some of the subtle color swatches.

I'm looking for something more reliable and easy to use. What's your suggestion?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

RedSea

 

[Dan_P]

I have been using the Salifert Nitrate test kit and I don't trust it. It is showing 0 nitrate and that is hard to believe. Also I have trouble differentiating between some of the subtle color swatches.

I'm looking for something more reliable and easy to use. What's your suggestion?

Salifert is generally a trustworthy product. All hobby kits indicate 0 nitrate when there is still some nitrate present.

Why do you think the Salifert kit is wrong? Is the kit old, beyond its expry date?

 

[Swoody]

Until there is a Hanna for this, Nyos is my favorite....

 

[Ktran350]

I’ve used the Red Sea algae control test kit and the no3 always showed high 64+ ppm. Everything in my tank looks good so I bought the Salifert no3 test kit to get a second opinion and it shows 5ppm. Confirmed by LFS as well. Salifert kit = 3 mins for results, Red Sea = 9 minutes

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I’ve used the Red Sea algae control test kit and the no3 always showed high 64+ ppm. Everything in my tank looks good so I bought the Salifert no3 test kit to get a second opinion and it shows 5ppm. Confirmed by LFS as well. Salifert kit = 3 mins for results, Red Sea = 9 minutes

The RedSea Pro measures from 0.25 to 60ppm. It has a low range & high range method. It is the best for low range accuracy.
BRS Like it

from 3:15

 

[lapin]

I also use the Red Sea Pro.

 

[jonespkp]

Until there is a Hanna for this, Nyos is my favorite....

Agreed.

 

[Ktran350]

The RedSea Pro measures from 0.25 to 60ppm. It has a low range & high range method. It is the best for low range accuracy.
BRS Like it

from 3:15

I might have had a bad kit. I went with the Red Sea kit initially (based on reviews and the BRS video). However, upon receiving it there is a few additional steps that I personally didn’t like due to more chances of user error.

I struggled with the test kit for a few days. I even brought the test kit and sample water to LFS and they had a different reading than what I got?

The OP can give Red Sea a try and see if he likes it. Just personally the additional steps plus the 9 min wait was a bit much.

 

[Kalibur2]

I like Nyos

 

[DivingTheWorld]

NYOS is my go to for Nitrate testing. I also double check with Red Sea sometimes, but I trust NYOS more.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I might have had a bad kit. I went with the Red Sea kit initially (based on reviews and the BRS video). However, upon receiving it there is a few additional steps that I personally didn’t like due to more chances of user error.

I struggled with the test kit for a few days. I even brought the test kit and sample water to LFS and they had a different reading than what I got?

The OP can give Red Sea a try and see if he likes it. Just personally the additional steps plus the 9 min wait was a bit much.

I had been using a test kit that gave a 5ppm reading. I got the RedSea for a change & tested for low range (0 to 4ppm). The reading was max, so I new it was at least 4ppm, & thought at most I would get a 10ppm reading when doing the high range method. I found that my NO3 was well over 60ppm. (no wonder I was having troubles ;Wacky)
I like the low range accuracy of the RedSea
The nine minute wait isn't an issue for me. I set the test up, & then do the other tests while waiting the nine for the result.

I noted that BRS decided against the salifert because it was too hard to read? I've never used salifert for no3.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I use the nyos. Its super easy and readable.

I've heard good things about the red sea if your nitrates are <1 though.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I really liked Nyos because its simple and color change is pretty decent, but redsea has my vote for how low it can read.

 

[MTBake]

I use Salifert myself and have for over 10 years now. It's reliable and consistent for me. Haven't tried the red sea pro nitrate test. Maybe I'll order that when the Salifert is almost gone. Kinda curious to see the difference myself. I keep hearing good things about it. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to have a second brand of test kit around to help verify results.

 

[rkpetersen]

I used the Red Sea Pro for awhile but eventually switched to the Nyos as the color change works better with my eyes. There are also two techniques that have been developed by members here that use Red Sea reagents plus the Hanna ULR phosphorus checker to get a digital nitrate reading. I tried this for a couple of months but the results I got were always higher than actual, so I went back to Nyos.

 

[rodney]

I like my Redsea kit ! Easy to read but time consuming.

 

[Emerson]

You may have just had a bad kit. I have used both. My results have always been very close (within 2 ppm) at lower levels, i.e. 10ppm or lower, and have never found any issue with accuracy compared with each other. My NO3 levels are usually in the 2-5 ppm range, probably within the limit of hobby grade fidelity. I like the fact that Salifert changes from high to low simply by changing the viewing perspective (top down vs side view), and gives my the close enough answer (does it really matter if NO3 is 2 or 5?). That said, the low level accuracy of RS does seem easier to read. I do find RS a bit frustrating when I'm right at 5 ppm, I exceed the high end of the RS low level test which is 4 ppm. I don't know if it's 5 or 25 ppm. There is a high level dilution option, but takes another 9+ minutes plus reagent use.