Nitrate Test Kit

[sgtayc]

Hi everyone

Im wondering if anyone has this problem as well. I use Salifert test kit and found nitrate quite high at 25 and afraid my prawn and snail may not tahan long. So i bought API just to double confirm. I nearly faint when i see the colour chart. Looks like 80 !!!

So how do i know for sure whats the nitrate level in my tank?

[sgtayc]

Salifert...

[sgtayc]

API

[sgtayc]

Headache

[nwyk153]

Maybe either one of the Test kits is expired? But i Always trust Salifert though. API is crap imo, cuz it's hard to match the color from the chart.

You can buy one more of the salifert test kit if money isn't an issue. That way you can tell if the previous one you bought is expired. If not, you have extra Nitrate Test Kits! Which is gd, no need to worry if one of it finish.

[kenyee]

Do test on a few water source, ie. Tap water, RODI water, NSW, LFS water, other reefer tank water, etc..compare the results & u will roughly know if ur nitrate level is high anot..if u r worry, do a 50% wc then test again (note that if the new water contain high nitrate, the test result will b high oso)..

[noobz]

Just to hijack abit so what can we do to reduce high level nitrate beside WC? Thanks.

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[kenyee]

Just to hijack abit so what can we do to reduce high level nitrate beside WC? Thanks.

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There's a few methods to reduce nitrate..u can search in SRC here or google it..read & see which method is most ideal n convenient for ur setup..note that all setup show different results in each of our tanks..cheers & happy reefing

[noobz]

There's a few methods to reduce nitrate..u can search in SRC here or google it..read & see which method is most ideal n convenient for ur setup..note that all setup show different results in each of our tanks..cheers & happy reefing

thanks bro will do some search in SRC.

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[sgtayc]

Tks all for the advice. Both my salifert and api are new with exp 2016. I will probably just do water change and forget about testing for nitrate since i wont get a definite answer fro the test kits

[F&Mfishlover]

Just to hijack abit so what can we do to reduce high level nitrate beside WC? Thanks.

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Hi bro, someone told me to siphon the sandbed regularly so as to release the gas bubbles (nitrogen) trapped in it. This helps to quicken to process of breaking down ammonia and nitrate by the beneficial bacteria. Hope I'm nt giving the wrong info! Pardon me if I'm wrong!

[waterperson]

Try observing your tank inhabitants to deduce the nitrate level. If your sps is browning but the the soft corals are flourishing, maybe the nitrate level is around 5-20ppm. If even your fishes are not surviving, then its >80ppm. Also observe the algae, if its everywhere, maybe nitrate is high, ie >50ppm.

Observation is not pinpoint accurate but it does give a clue and rough guide to your tank's health.

ps: cannot fully trust the hobby-grade test kits. Best guide is still the reef tank health.

[sgtayc]

Thanks all for the good advice.

[Dez Ching]

Hi guys, in order to so-called have a good water condition, can I know what is the correct spec for : Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium and KH?
Can anyone help on this? Thanks.