Is there a Better Nitrate Test Kit

[Laser]

Sometimes I'd rather do an extra 50% water change halfway through the week rather than take a test with my API nitrAte test kit. Not only do you have to vigorously shake the bottle and the test vial, but you have to wait for a result that may not even help you determine what your actual levels are.

So, that's my question. Is there a better nitrate test kit out there that's affordable?

 

[Mudfrog]

The API test is a great test. I've never had issues with it. Honestly I don't test very often (Maybe once a month if that), I do two 50% water changes a week and it keeps the Nitrates in check. If your Nitrates are getting that high each week you need to look for the cause of the issue.

 

[Daxhua]

Sometimes I'd rather do an extra 50% water change halfway through the week rather than take a test with my API nitrAte test kit. Not only do you have to vigorously shake the bottle and the test vial, but you have to wait for a result that may not even help you determine what your actual levels are.

So, that's my question. Is there a better nitrate test kit out there that's affordable?

I know Seachem has a nitrate test kit with no bottle shaking, but their test kits are expensive. Even if you find a kit online that's cheaper it's still not cheap considering it's just to test one parameter.
Do you have a nitrate problem or are you just looking for an alt to the API test kits?

 

[blert]

The bad news is that basically all the hobbiest level kits suck, but they tend to suck in different ways. Here's a thread at Reef Central that compares eight different test kits...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1721602

"Affordable" is a relative term.

 

[DavidAl]

You may want to look into one of the electronic ones. That is, of course, if you have a heavy wallet.

David

 

[Laser]

No, I'm not having problems with high nitrates. Sometimes I just want to know where I stand with the nitrate levels at certain points in the week since I do a weekly 50% water change. Also, most of my tanks have a fair number of live plants now so I think it's good to know the nitrate level for that reason as well.