Salifert Nitrate test

[Reef_dachs]

Hi,
Can someone help me with this Salifert test? My nitrates kept reading high even after water changes. I decided to test my freshly made and the picture is my results. This is brand new RODI water with only Red Sea Salt added to the bucket.
I am concerned my test have been inaccurate and reading higher nitrates than are actually in my tank.

 

[PatW]

Holy shades of pink, Batman! Between 10 and 25.

 

[GillMeister]

Have you tested the RODI water itself? The process is supposed to filter out nitrates so a positive test result there would indicate either a problem with your filter or the test kit. How old is the test kit?

 

[HuduVudu]

Holy shades of pink, Batman! Between 10 and 25.

Ummmmhhhh ... looking through the side is 1 to 2.5. There are is a high and low test.

 

[HuduVudu]

Have you tested the RODI water itself? The process is supposed to filter out nitrates so a positive test result there would indicate either a problem with your filter or the test kit. How old is the test kit?

I would lean to the RO/DI. I would check just that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A tiny trace of nitrite will show that color. Far below 1 ppm.

 

[Reef Tripp]

5.0 Nitrates

 

[Calpoly2103]

I use all Salifert kits. It looks like your nitrate is between 2.5 and 5 since you're looking at it through the side. From top down, you can use the chart. From the side, you have to divide by 10.

Second thing, your new water should test zero nitrate. I would get a 2nd Salifert kit from another source, to just eliminate that the test kit is faulty. If its proven faulty, then get a refund for the first one. If its not faulty, you'll end up using both of them eventually anyways.

If your test kits are not faulty, then you may need to visit your RODI water. Get a TDS Meter and make sure your RODI water tests Zero before adding salt. Test your RODI water before & after adding salt to check if the nitrate source is one of those two.

 

[Reef_dachs]

Holy shades of pink, Batman! Between 10 and 25.

This is new water that has not gone in my tank yet. It’s a fresh batch.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is new water that has not gone in my tank yet. It’s a fresh batch.

Which is why I mentioned that a tiny trace of nitrite will give that color.

 

[Calpoly2103]

Which is why I mentioned that a tiny trace of nitrite will give that color.

Just curious, but why would freshly made RODI water have any Nitrite in it?

Or are you suggesting that the salt contains some Nitrite?

Thanks

 

[Reef_dachs]

Which is why I mentioned that a tiny trace of nitrite will give that color.

Ah, I missed that. I tested my fresh RODI water without the salt added and it does read .2 -

 

[GillMeister]

That sounds like a problem. RO should capture most nitrite, which means you could have high levels of nitrite in your unfiltered water. That is probably not healthy. Does your municipality put out water test results?

 

[ScubaFish802]

Can we pump the breaks, as someone already mentioned above the Salifert instructions state to look through the top, I believe looking through the side magnifies the color... a top down photo, i bet the purple is WAY lighter colored..

as for the fresh RO giving this reading that’s definitely another question

 

[Calpoly2103]

Can we pump the breaks, as someone already mentioned above the Salifert instructions state to look through the top, I believe looking through the side magnifies the color... a top down photo, i bet the purple is WAY lighter colored..

as for the fresh RO giving this reading that’s definitely another question

Uhhh what? Pump the brakes on what? The only advice given was to check the Test Kits, and Test the RODI water. The side view / top view is already established.

It's also strange that there is Nitrite in RODI water so it was suggested to explore that with giving actual examples of what to do. Perhaps read the entire thread?

 

[Reef_dachs]

That sounds like a problem. RO should capture most nitrite, which means you could have high levels of nitrite in your unfiltered water. That is probably not healthy. Does your municipality put out water test results?

Probably. I actually buy the water from a LFS.

 

[ScubaFish802]

Probably. I actually buy the water from a LFS.

This is a frequent theme here. LFS is most likely not keeping up on their RO filters

 

[Reef_dachs]

Can we pump the breaks, as someone already mentioned above the Salifert instructions state to look through the top, I believe looking through the side magnifies the color... a top down photo, i bet the purple is WAY lighter colored..

as for the fresh RO giving this reading that’s definitely another question

Actually it says for higher sensitivity use the side view for values lower than 10mg/l. I was just asking why fresh water would give a reading of nitrates at all. I’m new the game and just trying to learn.

 

[Reef_dachs]

This is a frequent theme here. LFS is most likely not keeping up on their RO filters

Yea, I’ve read quite a few forums stating I need to invest in my own RODI system. I’m looking into options. I’ve only had the tank 6 months.

 

[ScubaFish802]

Actually it says for higher sensitivity use the side view for values lower than 10mg/l. I was just asking why fresh water would give a reading of nitrates at all. I’m new the game and just trying to learn.

No worries at all, other commenter was right^ I didn’t read until the end of the thread. As long as you are dividing by 10 (per my own Salifert N03 kit instructions) looking at the side you should be fine.