Nitrate saltwater test kit.

[Terry Mattson]

Done a lot of research on nitrate test kits. I currently use a API nitrate test kit. Simple question: what is the best one available and what do you use??

 

[azzubr]

I use the red sea fish pharm I've been happy with it
And for whats the best, do you mean best accuracy?

 

[Terry Mattson]

Yes. The api is 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160.

 

[Sako338]

I have only used api and salifert, I only use salifert now though.

 

[nkyreef]

I've used API, Red Sea, & Salifert. RS or Salifert will be a lot more accurate. Red Sea has finer results if looking for super low numbers.

 

[Terry Mattson]

Will try red sea. Thx

 

[rkpetersen]

I also like the Red Sea nitrate test. It's reliably adequate.
Note that they make 2 versions, regular and 'pro'.
I personally don't find the extra precision of the pro to be that useful.
If Hanna were to come up with a Nitrate Checker, though, I'd switch immediately.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Nitrates kits on hobby level are not accurate.
They use reduction method by breaking nitrates to nitrites and then calculating. This reduction doesnt happen so effectively and efficiently in such lower lever hobby grade kits.
Api or other kits showing 60 or 80 ppm nitrates probably are about 20 to 40 in reality.
I wouldn't focus too much on hobby nitrate kits. IMO

 

[jurgenph]

salifert.

J.

 

[Waters]

I have API, Salifert, and Red Sea but the only one I use is the Salifert.

 

[Oliver d]

Red Sea but if I need a really accurate test then I take my water sample to the local aquarium and they test if me.

 

[Jay Z]

I have a nyos one, kind of a pain in the butt to use.

 

[MTBake]

I use Salifert. Never had an issue in over 10 years of using the brand.

 

[Shufflepig]

Nitrates kits on hobby level are not accurate.
They use reduction method by breaking nitrates to nitrites and then calculating. This reduction doesnt happen so effectively and efficiently in such lower lever hobby grade kits.
Api or other kits showing 60 or 80 ppm nitrates probably are about 20 to 40 in reality.
I wouldn't focus too much on hobby nitrate kits. IMO

If you don’t use hobby kits then what do you use?

 

[fuelman]

first kit i got was api was getting crazy high readings, went to salifert & found it hard to read the color difference in shades of white, looked around for something easier to read & got the nyos & absolutely love this kit, by far the easiest to read in the 0-25 range i have seen, with 0-1-3-5-12-25 & a second tube with just tank water to compare the test sample to on the color chart. until hanna makes a nitrate tester nyos will be the one for me.