Nitrate Hanna and Salifert different results

R33FDr3amer · Apr 16, 2022

Hanna 16.2
Salifert 50-100
I'm so confused as to which one is correct. Is this normal? Which one should I go by? I'll post pics of salifert results but its hard to get a good pic due to shadows making it look lighter/darker.
Biocube 32 Gallon up for 6wks. No fish or coral yet. Tank has completed a cycle. Redosed ammonia and was gone in under 24hrs. Did 40% water change last week. Temp 78, salinity 35ppt. TIA

doubleshot00 · Apr 16, 2022

I don’t trust my eyes on those different shades. Thats why I bought a Hanna. I trust her

R33FDr3amer · Apr 16, 2022

doubleshot00 said:
I don’t trust my eyes on those different shades. Thats why I bought a Hanna. I trust her

I don't either which is why I bought the hanna but isn't it odd that the two aren't even close?!?! At first I thought maybe hanna reads in a different form like 15=50 in salifert terms, but that's not the case lol

cmaxwell39 · Apr 16, 2022

When reading the salifert test through the side of the vial like that you are supposed to divide the result by 10. For higher range readings you view the vial top down.

R33FDr3amer · Apr 16, 2022

cmaxwell39 said:
When reading the salifert test through the side of the vial like that you are supposed to divide the result by 10. For higher range readings you view the vial top down.

I did happen to read that after I posted but if i divide by 10 it would still be off. I think what I may do is make a trip to my LFS sometime this week and have them test it and then compare that to my results. Thanks for the reply!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2022

If there is nitrite present, the degree to which it causes false high nitrate can vary by kit design.

Harold999 · Apr 16, 2022

If you look from the top i'll bet Salifert is somewhere between 10 and 25 so the results are okay.

Uncle99 · Apr 16, 2022

R33FDr3amer said:
Hanna 16.2
Salifert 50-100
I'm so confused as to which one is correct. Is this normal? Which one should I go by? I'll post pics of salifert results but its hard to get a good pic due to shadows making it look lighter/darker.
Biocube 32 Gallon up for 6wks. No fish or coral yet. Tank has completed a cycle. Redosed ammonia and was gone in under 24hrs. Did 40% water change last week. Temp 78, salinity 35ppt. TIA

Same exact results from me.
Being doing weekly nitrate tests for a year with Hanna HR and Salifert.

The Hanna is almost perfect to my ICP.
I trust it only.

The Salifert is consistent, but the results are always higher.

Spare time · Apr 16, 2022

R33FDr3amer said:
I did happen to read that after I posted but if i divide by 10 it would still be off. I think what I may do is make a trip to my LFS sometime this week and have them test it and then compare that to my results. Thanks for the reply!

If its 100, then the difference between 10 and 16 isn't really that substantial for hobby grade test kits. You have to remember that hobby grade test kits are not going to provide ultra accurate results

R33FDr3amer · Apr 16, 2022

Thank you for the responses everyone!

Harold999 · Apr 16, 2022

Uncle99 said:
The Salifert is consistent, but the results are always higher.

How much higher?

chadfish · Apr 16, 2022

Looks like Salifert is reading ~10, not 100, so right in line with Hanna. As mentioned above, from the side is 10x from top-down.

Reef. · Apr 17, 2022

cmaxwell39 said:
When reading the salifert test through the side of the vial like that you are supposed to divide the result by 10. For higher range readings you view the vial top down.

Correct and you are only meant to view from the side when below 10 I believe.

R33FDr3amer · Apr 17, 2022

Very odd salifert has you read it like that based off a high or low reading. Seems I was just reading it wrong! I think I'll stick with the hanna checker. Thanks again everyone!