Best test kit for FOWLR tank

Damon Jensen · Apr 19, 2020

I have a 200 gl FOWLR dt. Currently I have, zebra moray, gray face moray, picasso trigger, dog face puffer, rock mover wrase, copper band , and unknown generic fish. Most I have had for 3 years.

I have been using API but recently bought Salifert.

2 days after 25 gl change

I measured nitrate with both...API said 5-7 ppm. Salifert was off the chart. Both test were similar with ammonia, with API being slightly high and Salifert reading Zero.

I changed 25 gl more zero change with Salifert and I am out of API

Which brand would you trust? Is there a better brand?

I am not overly concerned, but I no longer trust these test.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 19, 2020

If nitrite may be present, nitrate kits will be impacted in their ability to show nitrate correctly, and not all will be impacted the same way. It does not mean one is right and one is wrong (although that may be true). It may just mean the Salifert responds more strongly to interfering nitrite.

Bio32 · Apr 19, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If nitrite may be present, nitrate kits will be impacted in their ability to show nitrate correctly, and not all will be impacted the same way. It does not mean one is right and one is wrong (although that may be true). It may just mean the Salifert responds more strongly to interfering nitrite.

Hi there
Im on day 21 with new tank 32 bio cube .. 28lbs live rock with 2 small clowns; as per Fish store i dosed with Dr Tims bat. on day 2 after putting live rock in...using API i have yet to see any levels Am,Nit, or Nitrate....although Am. has shown slight color change but still too close to 0 for any distinction..

any thoughts? all good?