nitram79

Hi all,

For about a year now ive been battling nitrate levels in my tank. i use the API freshwater master test kit"", and from pretty much day one my readings according to the test kit for nitrates was anywhere from 10 to 40 depending on how you looked at it, through light or not. So i have basically been doing 20 percent water changes every week and sometimes more, battling a never ending battle, trying to lower the nitrates to around 5 - 10, which i can nver seem to do. Iv taken the water to the LFS 3 different times (2 diff stores) and they said the water was fine each time. Then i noticed in the booklet it saying something about other test kits having readings 4.4 times less than the readings this one gives. so i tested the water again today and it said it was around 15 give or take a bit due to lighting. and then i took a sample to the lfs and his test kit said it was a very low nitrate reading, below 5. so i guess from now on i have to divide my nitrate reading by 4.
does anyone else use that the same test kit?

Amanda

I think with the kit, you have to really abuse the nitrate bottle. That's what everyone on this site says. lol

nitram79

lol what do you mean, abuse the bottle?? you mean shake it like crazy?

Beth1965

What Amanda means is that on the instructions it says to shake the #2 bottle vigoriously---she means beat the heck out of it. I've read the same thing on this site many many times.
Beth

nitram79

im heading out now, when i get back i'll do it again and shake that second bottle even more and see if there is a difference, i dont think there will be, i mean u can only shake something so much, i do shake it quite a bit so..... we'll see when i get back

Beth1965

Not just shake, beat it against the wall or counter or something.
Beth

nitram79

lol Beth,
ok i just got home, i rinsed the test tube in tank water. then i added the 5 mils, then i added the 10 drop of bottle 1, then i mixed the tested tube, then i shook the heck out of bottle 2, added the 10 drops of bottle 2, stired that for 2 mins. let it settle for 1 min stirred it a bit more let it settle a bit more. in the end the colour was red looking around 20 to 30 depending on light. there is no way it can be that level, i did 2 water changes in 2 days cleaned filters and all, and its still the same. i think i need to divide my readings by 4, because 2 lfs cant be wrong

aquarist48

Hello Nitram....have you tested the tap water as it comes from the tap for nitrates? I've seen Shawnie post to pound the bottle #2 (I think it was) on the table. Too, I would suggest Amquel + as a conditioner. It will detoxify ammonia, nitrites and nitrates for a 24 hour period and is also a chlorine remover.

Shawnie

well you banged the heck out of the number 2 bottle, which yes is a must as those crystals really need a good mixing, but im with aquarist...im gonna guess your water source has nitrates in it...

Lucy

I would wonder what test kit the stores are using.

Shawnie

ive given up trusting anything from LFS ...been let down too many times

also, whats the lot# on the bottles?

nitram79

i have tested the tap water on many occassions and there are no traces of nitrates at all. thatswhy it makes me wonder why its so difficult to get a low reading, even after so many water changes. the lfs i went to tody used a diff one to mine, it was made in australia, came in a blue plastic container, it had 3 bottles i think. he said it was good. the other lfs used one with diff bottles to mine, but when he tested it, i think he was looking for the same colouring as he said"look there's nothing wrong with the water, it didnt go red or anything, it just stayed light orange colour."so i dont know. im no worried about the water but id like to get an accurate reading, or there abouts,lol

Shawnie

whats the lot#'s on each of the bottles?

nitram79

woops sorry forgot about that one Shawnie... um they are 1880507 and 17A0407

Shawnie

so the kit is over 2 years old...hmmm wonder if just buying a new nitrate tester would make a difference?

nitram79

i deff think i need a new tester, but im not going to bother for now, i think if i stick to the divide by 4 rule i'll be fine, im on top of the maintenance side of things, all fish are healthy, no smell from tank. if things change down the line, then i'll get a new tester, but for now i think it'll be fine.
thanks for all your help

Shawnie

your welcome ....but I agree id be frustrated also..and I hope I dont offend but could you have a color blindness? I know with the ammonia, green/yellows , I have to have my bf look at it because I dont see the difference in the two lol ....goodluck either way

harpua2002

If your kit is 2 years old, I would say it's definitely time to replace it.
Also, if you're in doubt about how much nitrate is actually in your tank, you can change a higher percentage of the water each week. I change 50% each week on all my tanks and my fish love it.

kimb

When it comes to banging the bottle....you will know it is mixed if the solution in bottle number 2 is cloudy when you look at the drops...if it is not mixed enough, the solution will be clear, if mixed well it will be cloudy. I bang the bottom, sides and corners. This seems to be where the crystals settle.

nitram79

lol Shawnie, no my eyes are good ha. i'll give that bottle banging a go Kimb because i cant say iv seen the drops in bottle 2 come out cloudy, so i'll try that now ..... k i did 2 tests the first one the drops came out clear again even after banging it and everything and that reading was 20 - 30 then i did another test and banged and shook it even more but this time i made sure i shook it right before i opened it, the drops from bottle 2 werent as clear as before but i wouldnt say they were cloudy but the test reading was 10 this time so i guess it made a pretty big difference. Seems like alot of effort to put in just to get a good reading, i'll be happy when those bottles finish,lol