Salifert Nitrate Rest with High Numbers

[sawdonkey]

So I have high nitrates...I know that. But when using a Salifert test kit, anything above 25 is really hard to read. Can I dilute the water and use say three ml instead of one and divide the answer by three? Does it work that way?

I suspect my nitrates are a little above 50, but maybe 40 or maybe 75. I just don’t know.

Anyone?

 

[sawdonkey]

Nobody uses salifert to test their high-nitrate tank?

 

[RCS82]

I use salifert for nitrates but I dont have a problem with the colors. To me it's either clear - really low, light pink - single digits, or dark solid pink - really high. I do understand the frustration of not being able to tell if you're at 40 or 75. If you're that high than lowering them can't hurt and once you hit 20 you may see the change to a lighter pink.

 

[sawdonkey]

Thanks, yeah, I’m too high for sure (dark pink). I was just hoping to get an idea of how high. In my original post I should have said multiply by three rather than divide...if that’s even how the test works.

Funny thing is, my PO4 is 0.00. I run biopellets because I have some big fish and a 3ft zebra moray. I think I’m PO4 limited, so I’ve dosed monopotassium phosphate yesterday and today. I’m going to test until I get a a PO4 reading and see if the NO3 comes for. Just really odd because I’m my years of doing this, I’ve never had high nitrates, just high PO4 which I used GFO to deal with.

 

[dwest]

So I have high nitrates...I know that. But when using a Salifert test kit, anything above 25 is really hard to read. Can I dilute the water and use say three ml instead of one and divide the answer by three? Does it work that way?

I suspect my nitrates are a little above 50, but maybe 40 or maybe 75. I just don’t know.

Anyone?

I would add half a ml of tank water and half ml of rodi and then do the test per usual. Double the results.

 

[dwest]

Thanks, yeah, I’m too high for sure (dark pink). I was just hoping to get an idea of how high. In my original post I should have said multiply by three rather than divide...if that’s even how the test works.

Funny thing is, my PO4 is 0.00. I run biopellets because I have some big fish and a 3ft zebra moray. I think I’m PO4 limited, so I’ve dosed monopotassium phosphate yesterday and today. I’m going to test until I get a a PO4 reading and see if the NO3 comes for. Just really odd because I’m my years of doing this, I’ve never had high nitrates, just high PO4 which I used GFO to deal with.

Agree with phosphate limited. I ran high nitrates when I used heavy gfo.

 

[sawdonkey]

Agree with phosphate limited. I ran high nitrates when I used heavy gfo.

I’m not even running GFO and never have on this system. I think the biopellets are responsible for getting rid of the PO4, which is weird because this is the opposite effect I’ve had on prior builds.

Just a thought, I feed almost exclusively nori and pellets except when I feed my eel. Are those high nitrate/low phosphate foods?

 

[dwest]

I’m not even running GFO and never have on this system. I think the biopellets are responsible for getting rid of the PO4, which is weird because this is the opposite effect I’ve had on prior builds.

Just a thought, I feed almost exclusively nori and pellets except when I feed my eel. Are those high nitrate/low phosphate foods?

I don’t about the food.

I wasn’t suggesting you used heavy gfo like I used to. I was agreeing that phosphate limitation might be responsible for high nitrates and that adding phosphates supplement was a good idea.

Good luck.