Am I the only one that . . .

[Vol4Ever]

. . . . shakes the daylights out of *all* the API test bottles as opposed to just Nitrate bottle #2? I figure what can it hurt! Am I just wasting energy?

Also, since I'm close to the end of cycling, the pain-in-the-tuckus Nitrate testing is becoming somewhat regular. How long does that test have to sit still before it needs to be fully shaken again? My arms are getting sore.

 

[donna541]

Hey, I have never shook any of the other bottles only nitrate#2 and have never had a problem... They give u full instructions in the api master kit (freshwater) ... If u put the nitrate #1 into the test tube (10 even drops) cap and shake once, then shake bottle #2 nitrate for a full 30 seconds then add 10 drops to the test tube with the nitrate #1 and shake for a full minute ... U then leave the test and it's true result is after 5 minutes))

 

[ocean]

. . . . shakes the daylights out of *all* the API test bottles as opposed to just Nitrate bottle #2? I figure what can it hurt! Am I just wasting energy?

Also, since I'm close to the end of cycling, the pain-in-the-tuckus Nitrate testing is becoming somewhat regular. How long does that test have to sit still before it needs to be fully shaken again? My arms are getting sore.

I also shake all the API test solutions before I test. got to be a habit I quess! The Nitrate solution....when I check Nitrates for more than one tank at a time I still shake the darn bottle for 30 seconds....even if I do the test back to back. By the way how hard are you shaking the bottle if your arm is getting sore? Lol

 

[sillygirl423]

I shake all of them too, I know the booklet says you don't have to guess its just habit oh well

 

[Bigzmey]

Yes me too. It does make difference for Nitrates, Ammonia and Phosphate tests. For ammonia and phosphate a few seconds is enough. For Nitrates you have to shake like **** bottle #2 and test tube after adding #2 reagent, otherwise you will not get an accurate reading.
For ammonia you have also shake test tube for ~10 sec after adding reagent #2, otherwise you will not get an accurate reading.

pH, Nitrite, GH and KH work well without shaking.

 

[librarygirl]

I do too. Not excessively, but for about 5 seconds each bottle. For the nitrate test, I always shake for the full time for each bottle and the tube (I even bang bottle #2 on the table a few times to loosen the reagent powder). Once I thought I did the full test correctly (shook bottle #2 for 30 sec, and the tube for 60) but I must have counted too fast or something b/c my nitrates were 0 when the day before they were something like 40. So I did the test again and this time the nitrates showed, so that test is very finicky.

 

[donna541]

U must shake the bottles after adding the solution to ur tank water but the original question did not ask this

 

[LyndaB]

I let my husband do all the bottle shaking. This way I don't have to buy him a Shake Weight for Men.

 

[Vol4Ever]

Shake Weight for Men.

HA!! Glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks those things are hilarious. I can only imagine the looks I'd get if I took one into the local gym. Looks like a sex toy gone horribly wrong.

 

[LyndaB]

They actually sell the girlie ones at our grocery store! Every time I go down the paper towel aisle, I grab it and give my hubby a little performance. I told him to get me two for Christmas!

 

[Vol4Ever]

Deviated from the topic a bit (which was made tongue-in-cheek anyway, even though some folks seemed to think I was serious).

But I gotta ask. They have girly versions of shake weights on the paper towel aisle at your GROCERY STORE?

 

[LyndaB]

yes indeedy