so confused - Aquarium Advice

artur · 06-29-2008, 05:09 PM

Hi everyone!!!

I have 90 gal.tank<fishes and corals>.You can see tank on the tanks showcase.Every think looks fine.But from like 4 months ihave a high nitrate.So i keep do PWC but is still over 20.I always used the API test.And here is the confusion.That nitrate drives me crazy so i bougt 3 diffrent brands.Remember everythink in the tank looks healthy,so i guess nitrate is O.K.Here are my resolts. API-30 Sachem-5 Red Sea-20 Instant Ocean-10.What brand is accurate?What you guys use and think of that?Thanks!!!

cmor1701d · 06-29-2008, 07:06 PM

I find most of them are hard to read. I used to use the Seachem, but swithec to the Salifert. It still requires some subjective judgement, but I find it the easiest to read. I also trust Salifert to be accurate.

**melosu58** · 06-29-2008, 10:28 PM

I use the API. I guess there is no one right brand. Just another one of those questions that if you ask 10 people you`ll 10 different answers. Let me ask you a question in regards to your nitrates.. Do you have a skimmer and how often do you do PWC`s? Also are you using tap water?

artur · 06-29-2008, 10:38 PM

Yes i have a good skimmer.In 90 gal.tank i did yesterday 35 gal.water change.I do it every 3,4weeks.I think that is fine.API tests show i lower nitrate from 30 to 10.Yes i still youse tap water but i test water before i put it in the tank and it showed 0.

Kurt_Nelson · 06-29-2008, 11:59 PM

API seems to work well with higher nitrate levels, but Salifert has a much lower resolution. The first color change on an API card is 5.0 ppm. With the Salifert test, you can read down to 0.2ppm.

You might want to test that tap water with a nitrate test kit that has a lower resolution, like the Salifert kit. I'm thinking part of your problem is coming from your source water, but it's just flying below the resolution of all your test kits.

06-29-2008, 05:09 PM	#1
artur Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 69	so confused Hi everyone!!!I have 90 gal.tank<fishes and corals>.You can see tank on the tanks showcase.Every think looks fine.But from like 4 months ihave a high nitrate.So i keep do PWC but is still over 20.I always used the API test.And here is the confusion.That nitrate drives me crazy so i bougt 3 diffrent brands.Remember everythink in the tank looks healthy,so i guess nitrate is O.K.Here are my resolts. API-30 Sachem-5 Red Sea-20 Instant Ocean-10.What brand is accurate?What you guys use and think of that?Thanks!!!

06-29-2008, 07:06 PM	#2
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,894 Images: 43	I find most of them are hard to read. I used to use the Seachem, but swithec to the Salifert. It still requires some subjective judgement, but I find it the easiest to read. I also trust Salifert to be accurate. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

06-29-2008, 10:28 PM	#3
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 12,727 Images: 80	I use the API. I guess there is no one right brand. Just another one of those questions that if you ask 10 people you`ll 10 different answers. Let me ask you a question in regards to your nitrates.. Do you have a skimmer and how often do you do PWC`s? Also are you using tap water? __________________ View My Tanks http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...8/melosu58.jpg Click here to Visit FantasyReef

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06-29-2008, 10:38 PM	#4
artur Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 69	Yes i have a good skimmer.In 90 gal.tank i did yesterday 35 gal.water change.I do it every 3,4weeks.I think that is fine.API tests show i lower nitrate from 30 to 10.Yes i still youse tap water but i test water before i put it in the tank and it showed 0.

06-29-2008, 11:59 PM	#5
Kurt_Nelson Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,436 Images: 28	API seems to work well with higher nitrate levels, but Salifert has a much lower resolution. The first color change on an API card is 5.0 ppm. With the Salifert test, you can read down to 0.2ppm. You might want to test that tap water with a nitrate test kit that has a lower resolution, like the Salifert kit. I'm thinking part of your problem is coming from your source water, but it's just flying below the resolution of all your test kits.