Nitrate Test

Michael Hull · Oct 23, 2019

Need some advice.

Last two Nitrate tests. Having a heck of a time determining what color it is. Is there a better test that can provide a bit more variability in color?

I'd say first one is 20ppm and second is 10ppm? Would yall agree. Did a 20% water change over the weekend, second test result is after that. I'll probably do another this weekend to try and keep pushing it down. Think the second one is still a little too high.

Thanks!

The Aquatic Arsenal · Oct 23, 2019

I would agree with you. What do you have in your tank? 10 ppm isn't a terrible thing to have depending on what you have in there.

Bayareareefer18 · Oct 23, 2019

Api is super hard to differentiate and prone to error. I recently got the red sea and find the process quite easy and the results easy to read

Michael Hull · Oct 23, 2019

The Aquatic Arsenal said:
I would agree with you. What do you have in your tank? 10 ppm isn't a terrible thing to have depending on what you have in there.

I've got a bunch of LPS (torch, Duncan, zoas, GSP, acans, moseleya, galaxia). Also have a few SPS (Montis and a few acropora). The SPS polyps are definitely not fully extending (despite all other levels being solid and stable - Alk,CA,Mag). I noticed better extension after the water change, but still not great. Here are a few recent shots.

Nhltc99 · Oct 23, 2019

I'd definitely recommend the Red Sea Pro kit that has Phosphate and Nitrate in it. I think its the Algae Pro kit or something like that. Way easier to distinguish the colors, and you can dilute the nitrate kit with RODI up to 16:1 to read up to 64ppm depending on what range your nitrates are in.

piranhaman00 · Oct 23, 2019

Looks like 20 to me, get a salifert NO3 kit.

UCF Alum · Oct 23, 2019

@Michael Hull
Don’t hold the test tube against the chart. Hold it about an inch or so away from it against the white so it doesn’t make the color unintentionally look darker. I too use API and it matches my Salifert results. I dislike the Salifert test kit for nO3 as there is too much of a gap between the results numbers.

Michael Hull · Oct 23, 2019

Thanks for all the answers guys. From what I've shared, I should expect to see better polyp extension on SPS with lower nitrates, yes?

UCF Alum · Oct 23, 2019

My nitrates are 35, my polyp extension is great and growth is fantastic. I personally do not relate better PE with lower No3

Michael Hull · Oct 23, 2019

I found that I've had poor polyp extension and brown/green algae on tips of acros and on the shelf of the Monti, but my LPS's are all doing great. Attributed it to nitrates/phosphates as I'm not sure what else would be the contributing factor.

hllb · Oct 23, 2019

I hate that API test. My colors never match the chart LOL. I much prefer the Salifert test for nitrates.

Michael Hull · Oct 23, 2019

So I ran my tests for Nitrate and Phosphates, Red Sea kit, and I've got 10ppm Nitrates and .10ppm Phosphates. From my best guess, phosphates are high because I was using frozen mysis (not PE) that apparently has more phosphates than PE, and my DI resin was burnt out on my RO/DI, which I didn't realize and swap until last week (I've had it since filling the tank in February.

Think I'll start some low dose GFO to try and bring down the phosphates a bit.

Michael Hull · Oct 24, 2019

Michael Hull said:
So I ran my tests for Nitrate and Phosphates, Red Sea kit, and I've got 10ppm Nitrates and .10ppm Phosphates. From my best guess, phosphates are high because I was using frozen mysis (not PE) that apparently has more phosphates than PE, and my DI resin was burnt out on my RO/DI, which I didn't realize and swap until last week (I've had it since filling the tank in February.

Think I'll start some low dose GFO to try and bring down the phosphates a bit.

Anyone have any thoughts on this strategy, or my levels?