Salifert Nitrate Test Question

FJReck63 · Mar 6, 2022

Hey Gang,
For those of you who use the Salifert Nitrate test regularly, at what point on the scale card when looking down upon it do you know that you need to do a partial water change? I've got a 4 weeks old EVO 13.5 tank with 3 small coral frags and 2 small clowns that I added yesterday. My reading when looked at from the top of the test sample shows between the 5 and 10 lighter pink colors....Which color when viewed from the top signals a level high enough to trigger a partial water change?
Years ago i used the API kit, but have started using Salifert kits at the recommendation of a few online reef keepers...

Thanks!

Franz in NJ

blaxsun · Mar 6, 2022

Most reefers with smaller tanks try to perform 10% every week to 2 weeks regardless of nitrates. But if your nitrates start drifting into the 25 range, that's usually when a partial (additional) water change may help. Try to change out your main filter (usually filter floss or equivalent) at least once a week as this will help to keep your nitrates down as well.

FJReck63 · Mar 6, 2022

blaxsun said:
Most reefers with smaller tanks try to perform 10% every week to 2 weeks regardless of nitrates. But if your nitrates start drifting into the 25 range, that's usually when a partial (additional) water change may help. Try to change out your main filter (usually filter floss or equivalent) at least once a week as this will help to keep your nitrates down as well.

Will do! I'm currently running an In Tank media basket in chamber 1 with their filter pads, have been changing it out weekly....
10% water change weekly/biweekly, so approx. 2-3 gals for the EVO 13.5? That should be easy.

Thanks again for the info!

Franz in NJ

blaxsun · Mar 6, 2022

FJReck63 said:
Will do! I'm currently running an In Tank media basket in chamber 1 with their filter pads, have been changing it out weekly....
10% water change weekly/biweekly, so approx. 2-3 gals for the EVO 13.5? That should be easy.

Thanks again for the info!

Franz in NJ

When I ran my smaller tanks I always tried to stick with 10% every 2 weeks, but I always struggled with high nitrates - so it's something you can start with and increase to weekly if you find your nitrate levels just aren't where you'd like them.

Incidentally, nitrates of 5-10ppm are completely acceptable. You don't want them bottoming out at zero as this can lead to other issues with certain algae, etc. When you eventually use up your Salifert test kit - look at Nyos for a replacement. I find it much easy to figure out the levels with the color chart.