Water tests. Vastly different results.

[Dan Kyle]

Hi all.

Second opinion would be appreciated. I recently got my water tested in my LFS and they use API. I personally use and prefer Red Sea. I tested my NO3 levels and API claim my levels are at 12. The Red Sea Nitrate Pro which I use says my levels are at 0.75. These are vastly different and has me wondering which result to go by. I’m not at all familiar with API and how accurate they are. Because the results are so different I did do a second test with my own personal Red Sea test kit and I got the same reading twice so I don’t believe it’s an error.

What do you guys reckon?

 

[rkpetersen]

I've never used API tests for anything. Go with the Red Sea. Or pick up a Nyos nitrate test kit to confirm.

 

[PatW]

API for nitrate is estimating shades of, I think, yellow to red.

Red Sea Pro is just estimating the intensity of pink which is a very different thing. You can confirm with a Salifert or better a Nyos. Salifert uses shades of pink like Red Sea.

 

[Dan Kyle]

Yeah the Red Sea one does use different shades of pink but mine only had the smallest tint to it which measured 0.75.

 

[DLHDesign]

API nitrate test kits have been known to report falsely high values when older reagent bottles are used. As with all hobby test kits, it's also highly susceptible to incorrect testing procedures (even down to how the bottle is shaken has been known to impact the results).
In your case, I would trust the duplicated RedSea results more than the API results. Though I agree with the above; if you are concerned, the Nyos test kit is a good secondary source.

 

[Dan Kyle]

I've never used API tests for anything. Go with the Red Sea. Or pick up a Nyos nitrate test kit to confirm.

Me too. API isn’t my choice when it comes to tests. Red Sea is usually accurate with the exception of calcium. I don’t like it.

 

[Dan Kyle]

API nitrate test kits have been known to report falsely high values when older reagent bottles are used. As with all hobby test kits, it's also highly susceptible to incorrect testing procedures (even down to how the bottle is shaken has been known to impact the results).
In your case, I would trust the duplicated RedSea results more than the API results. Though I agree with the above; if you are concerned, the Nyos test kit is a good secondary source.

That’s great! Thank you. I’ve looked into the Nyos kits but I’d rather just go by Red Sea until that’s finished then I’ll try the Nyos.