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[40B Knasty]

Knasty, please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that you are insinuating that the API test kit is garbage or inaccurate.

FWIW, I recently purchased a nitrate reference solution from a German company called Fauna Marin. The reference solution is stated to be 11mg/L. Using this solution, I tested four nitrate test kits. I made two tests for each of the test kits and the only one that came close to the reference solution was the API; the Salifert test may or may not be correct as discussed below.



Both API tests showed slightly darker than 10ppm.
Both Salifert tests showed a tad lighter than 50ppm. It should be noted that my test kit came with a colour reference card that is different from the old cards. Habib, owner of Salifert, acknowledged that the colour card should not have changed and was investigating the situation. Unfortunately, he stopped posting in the related threads both here and on RC and he hasn't replied to PMs. In any case, the colour for 50ppm on my new card is roughly the same colour as 10ppm on the old card. I really don't know which card to follow.
Both Seachem tests showed roughly 5ppm, and
Both Nutrafin tests showed roughly 4ppm

API is correct. I didn't want to point any fingers, but so be it
It worked good for about half the bottle. I shook that #2 bottle diligently every time. I guess that wasn't enough. After seeing my results at 40ppm for my salt and 80ppm for my brackish. Doing water change after water change every other day and not getting it under 10ppm. There has to be something very wrong here. Took my water sample to one place. Came out under 5ppm on their API test kit. Now I was relieved that everything was fine. Went to my trusty LFS. I am like what kind of test kit is that. He explained. Figured why not try it. Can't be that hard. I watched that BRS video the day after finding out my API kit was now garbage. The ones in the video where not going to make me happy. Making my 27 year experienced LFS guy right once again He sticks it to anyone straight. I like that when it comes down to the love I put into my tank.

 

[40B Knasty]

I should also state that a friend of mine. From the first test she did with an API test kit was 40ppm for Nitrates out of the tap. Had the city come in and test the water, because they had dogs drinking this water everyday. 3.2ppm they tested.