Quick testing questions

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

Two questions..

If I baggy sample water, will the chemistry change hours later? I want to take a sample to my LFS, but it'll be sitting in the bag for about 5-6 hours. I want to make sure it'll be accurate for LFS to test.

second question:
API Nitrate Test.. is it normal for solution 2 to have a foul odor?

(I am not sure if my test kit is faulty, trying to rule things out)

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

Only the ph will change I belive.
An aside , it's a good litmus test of a knoledgable LFS if they do test the ph and then tell you it's low.

I would not describe the smell as foul. Kinda faint and chemical.

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

the smell isn't faint at all. its a noticable harsh smell.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 15, 2017

I agree that of the tests you are likely to do, only the pH will change.

I've not used the API kit.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

DracoKat said:
the smell isn't faint at all. its a noticable harsh smell.

Oh bother

Mine is exp 7 2018.
And a faint smell.

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

mine expires december 2018. I wish there was a way to send smells to other people to compare lol

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

I did over 50% water change in my pico and re-tested a few hours later. Nitrate is still high. so I am thinking faulty test, as it should've went down some, right?

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

DracoKat said:
mine expires december 2018. I wish there was a way to send smells to other people to compare lol

As a consolation prize , some guy on the other coast a thousand miles away is sniffing API kits and having cofee.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

DracoKat said:
I did over 50% water change in my pico and re-tested a few hours later. Nitrate is still high. so I am thinking faulty test, as it should've went down some, right?

Yep

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
As a consolation prize , some guy on the other coast a thousand miles away is sniffing API kits and having cofee.

is that guy you? LOL.

Thanks, I think that pretty much confirms my test is bad. I'll take my water to be tested anyway and buy a new kit

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 15, 2017

Test some new salt water. Many nitrate kits aren't any better than a factor of two anyway.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

DracoKat said:
is that guy you? LOL.

Thanks, I think that pretty much confirms my test is bad. I'll take my water to be tested anyway and buy a new kit

Lol. Yes it is !!! The cofee is great!!

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Test some new salt water. Many nitrate kits aren't any better than a factor of two anyway.

I wish I thought of this before I used my water. I guess I can make a tiny batch, lol.

@saltyfilmfolks - I hope you didn't pour any in the coffee!

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 15, 2017

I'm glad nobody walked in and I had to explain what I was doing, lol.

I wonder what the KH kit smells like. Hmmm

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

haha!

Stay tuned, made a small batch of salt water. testing now.

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

Complete fresh batch.

I think we confirmed it's a bad kit

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 15, 2017

Probably, yes. Still could be high nitrate source water, but that's a lot!

DracoKat · Sep 15, 2017

it's the same number from my home tank too. close to 40ppm.

what's a good nitrate test kit to get? I don't want to get API again. I am phasing out of that brand