Shake Bottle 2 of the Nitrate test

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sixtyfou

Aquarium Advice Freak
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
202
Location
Columbus, Oh
I really got an eye opener today. The API test kit says in bold print on the Nitrate test:

"Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution
Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is
extremely important to insure accuracy of
test results."

I've been half butting it the whole time. I give it a shake or two and start dropping. This totally messes up the results. It dawned on me the other day when my over stocked tank was going into week two with a Nitrate reading of 0. I knew something was amiss. Then today I tested mud and it came back at 0. Ding, Ding, Ding, I screwed up.
 
Done this too. Toward the end of the bottle I was getting nitrate readings off the chart - couldn't figure out why. Bought a new test kit, Realized my error when I actually read the instructions...
 
I read skimmed over them. They seemed redundant so by the time I got to the Nitrate section I wasn't really paying attention.

Now I'm concerned that I've messed up the whole bottle, and all my test data is trash:( Well I've learned my lesson at least.
 
depends how empty the bottle is - If you've used more than 1/10th, I wouldn't risk it and buy a new one. Mine showed gradually higher the more I used - as the concentration of whatever the active ingredient is got stronger at the end of the bottle. (at least I think that's why - makes sense to me!)
 
I use the API Phosphate kit also and the #2 bottle of it is a trip too. It's as thick as syrup. Hard to shake and squeeze out. OS.
 
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