Shake that bottle! (API Nitrate #2)

I'm wondering if I'm just not shaking that darn bottle well enough at times? My schedule has gotten really crazy the past week or so. I'm behind on my water change for my pfr shrimp tank (5g). So last night I had a moment to test the water. I came up with 0,0,0. Firstly, I know this tank is cycled. I've not done anything aside from feed and stare at them lately. Last night after testing 3 times and still getting 0 Nitrates, I just gave up and added water to top it off. I checked my TDS and GH after and those are fine. Seriously I banged it against the counter top, I shook it for well over two minutes (I actually start shaking that bottle when I'm shaking up the ammonia and nitrite bottles), and hold it completely upside down when adding drops and 3 tests all came out with 0 Nitrates! Most of the time this works and I get nitrate readings so it's not the solution (it expires in 2017 IIRC).

Does this happen to anyone else? Should I just get some strips to use in times like this (as a back up)? I'd rather have some sort of idea of what my levels might be. Shrimp are sensitive and don't like massive pwc so I won't do one unless I have a very strong and confident reason for it. No one looks stressed and all are active and eating. So I feel that things are likely alright. I can even be somewhat confident that I'm not having a nitrate spike because my feeding schedule has decreased during this time period.

But seriously! What are you supposed to do when you just can't get your nitrate test to work?

 

You might be over shaking it hehe. (I made myself a PDF file, so this is copy/pasted)


Bottle 1 is 10 drops
Cap tube and invert several times
Vigorously shake bottle 2 for exactly 30 seconds
Add 10 drops from bottle 2 to the same tube
Cap tube and shake vigorously for exactly 60 seconds
Wait 5 minutes for color to develop
Check color

 

Hmmm....I'll give that a try. It's frustrating because it doesn't do this all the time. It works more times than it doesn't. I just wish it was consistent. I didn't know you could overshake the darn thing, lol.

 

I'm just guessing about over shaking. I tend to try and follow directions like those to the letter (except when baking yummies lol). The API test kit can be really annoying at times, so I've been known to borrow Papajin's Salifert tests that he uses for his Saltwater Reef tank. Luckily for me some of them can be used for FW, too. The kits are somewhat expensive because they don't come as a set, but for me in my own personal experience they are 10 times more reliable than the API kit. Once my API kit is all gone, I won't be purchasing another one.

 

I agree with you there on not repurchasing the API kit. Mine is new so I've got lots of it left, but I've thought about getting the one from Seachem, not sure of the name. But IIRC I could use it and not have to avoid using Prime at certain times due to the issues API has with Prime.

 

Does anyone know of any comparision tests between API, Seachem and Salifert test kits? Thanks

 

Does anyone know of any comparision tests between API, Seachem and Salifert test kits? Thanks

Do a search on YouTube for Best Aquarium Test Kit by Bulk Reef Supply. They give a review of several different test kits (it's mainly for SW, but IIRC they discuss Freshwater too). This is the only review of this type that I know of where they discuss several different kits. Perhaps others can chime in with more links.

Oh, almost forgot. Dr TI'm has a video also How to Use Water Test Kits. He discusses a lot of interesting things in that video.

 

Whoa, that Dr TI'm video really makes you think......you can be soooooo far off and still read close to normal. WOW!!

 

Do a search on YouTube for Best Aquarium Test Kit by Bulk Reef Supply. They give a review of several different test kits (it's mainly for SW, but IIRC they discuss Freshwater too). This is the only review of this type that I know of where they discuss several different kits. Perhaps others can chime in with more links.

Oh, almost forgot. Dr TI'm has a video also How to Use Water Test Kits. He discusses a lot of interesting things in that video.

Thank you so much for that link to Dr. Tim! That was awesome. Although now I'm about to go test my shrimp tank again, and I'll add aged water to my sample (I don't have any RO/distilled water, but my tap doesn't contain chloramines). Just to make sure I'm not in the middle of some horrific spike that the test kit can't detect! Oh my! I'm a bit skeert... what if it didn't read last night because it is spiking!

Really, there isn't any reason for a spike, and I'm gonna stay positive and cross my fingers during the test. Can I get a 10 (ppm Nitrate)?

ETA: What is the name of the 3rd test kit he uses in that video? Hot? Hawk? Ought? lol... I know he said it isn't common for hobbyist...but if you have multiple tanks...maybe it would be worthwhile unless it's truly outrageously expensive?

 

You might be over shaking it hehe. (I made myself a PDF file, so this is copy/pasted)


Bottle 1 is 10 drops
Cap tube and invert several times
Vigorously shake bottle 2 for exactly 30 seconds
Add 10 drops from bottle 2 to the same tube
Cap tube and shake vigorously for exactly 60 seconds
Wait 5 minutes for color to develop
Check color

oh mamajin thank you so much for sharing this with me at the time I needed it! lol silly me... I wasn't doing it as I was supposed to and there I was, freaking out over some lame nitrates results.

 

Hach

 

Thank you JimBob.

 

This sticky might be of some interest:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...or-api-freshwater-master-test-kit-users.6439/

 

This sticky might be of some interest:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...or-api-freshwater-master-test-kit-users.6439/

Brilliant! That clears up a lot of questions I had floating around in my head about the nitrate test kit (especially letting it sit too long before reading the results). Oh, API, how I love thee and thine products of splendor.