Water testing accurate?

skipb1956 · Mar 1, 2016

I am never quite sure what my parameters are? I consistently get high readings for PHosphate and Nitrate, however if I take my water to the LFS for testing its much lower. This has been an issue since I set up my tank. My nitrate usually reads 20 and Phosphate at .25 but the store usually gets it at Nitrate 4 and phos at .07. I'm somewhat intelligent and can read the directions so I don't know what I'm soing wrong. I use the drop test kits (API and reef master)

Thanks,
Skip

GMay · Mar 1, 2016

What test kit is your LFS using? With the API kit you are at or below the limits of detection for that kit. This may be why you are getting higher readings.

Duke4Life · Mar 1, 2016

skipb1956 said:
I am never quite sure what my parameters are? I consistently get high readings for PHosphate and Nitrate, however if I take my water to the LFS for testing its much lower. This has been an issue since I set up my tank. My nitrate usually reads 20 and Phosphate at .25 but the store usually gets it at Nitrate 4 and phos at .07. I'm somewhat intelligent and can read the directions so I don't know what I'm soing wrong. I use the drop test kits (API and reef master)

Thanks,
Skip

Had the same issue, ended up throwing mine out.

Diesel · Mar 1, 2016

Many ppl throwing their api test kit out as it's proven that other more reliable test kits as Redsea, Salifert, Hanna for the checkers are just better especially if you going to spend some good money on fish and corals you want to make sure that all stay alive and happy for a long time.

skipb1956 · Mar 3, 2016

GMay said:
What test kit is your LFS using? With the API kit you are at or below the limits of detection for that kit. This may be why you are getting higher readings.

For nitrate I think its the Hanna and for Phosp some real expensive gadget I forgot the name

skipb1956 · Mar 3, 2016

Duke4Life said:
Had the same issue, ended up throwing mine out.

So how do you check your water?

skipb1956 · Mar 3, 2016

Diesel said:
Many ppl throwing their api test kit out as it's proven that other more reliable test kits as Redsea, Salifert, Hanna for the checkers are just better especially if you going to spend some good money on fish and corals you want to make sure that all stay alive and happy for a long time.

I actually use the Salifert to check my Nitrate and it actually like twice as high as the API. I've read good things about the Hanna and guess I will try them.