Nitrate befuddlement...what would you do?

djbetterly · Oct 12, 2015

Ok, so I made a the nitrate standard...so far the Red Sea seems to be a bit more accurate, reading closer to 2ppm for the 1.6ppm solution. I suspect that the accuracy of these tests diminishes with higher concentrations of nitrate, just a hunch based on the fact that both the nyos and red sea read different for my aquarium, and I know my nitrates are high. I'm going to up the concentration to get some where around 20ppm and see what both tests read.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 13, 2015

Thanks for the update.

Diesel · Oct 13, 2015

Following on the results.

djbetterly · Oct 13, 2015

I meant to update this again last night. With the 24ppm solution I mixed up, the Red Sea came out pretty accurate. Using their high range method, the test came out between 2-4ppm on the scale which converts in high range numbers to between 16-32ppm. The NYOS read close to 12ppm, so I won't be depending on that test unless it's for really low range.

As far as my aquarium goes, in the end, my nitrates are high. I've been doing water 5-10gallon water changes every day for the past few days and I don't seam to be making much progress. I added some microbe-lift special blend, been skimming wet and running my fuge 24/7. Thankfully I don't really see any stress in the tank so I'm not terribly worried at the moment.

djbetterly · Oct 19, 2015

So I need to do more water changes, but my LFS is out of the Tropic Marin salt. Petco has reef crystals, would you wait with the high nitrates or go with a different brand salt?

Diesel · Oct 19, 2015

Does your LFS has mixed saltwater?
It that the only brand he has in store?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 19, 2015

If the tank creatures seem to be OK, I wouldn't rush to to anything unusual.

That said, most salt mixes end up being fine.

djbetterly · Oct 19, 2015

I changed a little more than 30 gallons yesterday. All creatures do seem fine. The next time I'll be able to change water will be Friday so I just wanted to be sure.