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  • #1

    Bad test kit?

    I have 2 API test freshwater test kits because one is close being out. I have been seeing high nitrates in all of my tanks for awhile using the old test kit. Just to double check the numbers I decided to try using the both nitrate sets on one tank and got drastically different results. Could the older one have gone bad before the expiration date?
    Old test over 80ppm
    New test 10ppm
    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1371414819.331930.jpg
    29 Gallon SA Tank -- 5 Bleeding Heart Tetras, Mated Pair of Angels, 7 Green Corys, and a Rubberlip Pleco

    30 Gallon Breeder -- 20+ neon tetras, 3 albino cories, 2 albino bristlenose plecos, female betta, 1 angel

    5 Gallon Shrimp Nano - Sakura Red Shrimp, Boraras Brigittae, Oto Cats, Olive Nerites, and Pink Ramshorn
    Tags: None
  • #2
    It's quite possible. Also touching the opening of the vial will affect the results. With the Nitrate test, did you make sure you shake the bottles especially with bottle #2? It'll give you different results if you don't.

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    • #3
      Those API test kits suck I previously owned one that always tested my water perfect. I was like no way, then I tried the strips and were far more effective
      175 tropheus Chaitika
      125 tropheus Ujiji
      90 tropheus Nkonde

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      • #4
        Originally posted by New_Cichlid11 View Post
        Those API test kits suck I previously owned one that always tested my water perfect. I was like no way, then I tried the strips and were far more effective
        I've always had bad results with the test strips. They get contaminated so easily to give off bad readings.

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        • #5
          Followed all directions and did both test identically. Did not put finger in hole at top.
          29 Gallon SA Tank -- 5 Bleeding Heart Tetras, Mated Pair of Angels, 7 Green Corys, and a Rubberlip Pleco

          30 Gallon Breeder -- 20+ neon tetras, 3 albino cories, 2 albino bristlenose plecos, female betta, 1 angel

          5 Gallon Shrimp Nano - Sakura Red Shrimp, Boraras Brigittae, Oto Cats, Olive Nerites, and Pink Ramshorn

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          • #6
            Test strips and the drop kits all have wide margins of error. Most products I use have +\- 25% error margins.

            I view the color scale variations as a indicator of how bad my problem is and I work to get my parameters back within the safe reading color zone (typically yellow).

            The only way to get a true mg/l or ppm reading is with a digital reading instrument that's been calibrated to a known
            standard.

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            • #7
              ELOS is the next best thing to a digital instrument. If you've never used one, you won't know what I'm talking about.

              Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

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              • #8
                Hach company is actually the best.

                Hach is a supplier to the waste water and environmental industry and we regularly use their products for base line indicator sampling.

                We get a hit on these kits and we capture samples for further laboratory analysis.

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                • #9
                  Is it available in retail stores?

                  Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

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                  • #10
                    I buy direct and I don't see why and individual can't. Most of their colorimeter kits are 100 test units. I think nitrate list for around $80.00

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                    • #11
                      Lol with that much money I'll stick to my API and Elos and pocket another $60 for more fish stuff. Never steered me wrong so far.

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