New Test Kit.. 20 ppm Nitrates!

[E.intheC]

Yep.. The other day I realized my test kit was over 1 year old, so I ordered another kit.

In the meantime, I decided to test my nitrates with the old test kit.. and it said I had zero nitrates..

Well.. I got the new test kit home tonight and retested.. it said I had a nitrate reading of 20!!

..Just more anecdotal evidence showing why you should not trust an old test kit..

 

[ryangrieder]

which brand was that with? i cant find an experation date on mine.

 

[Reefs Creation]

Eric, I totally agree with you. Even test kits that arent expired can give u false reading when its close to used up. Maybe water gotten into the solutions, powder spoon or syringe and diluted the solutions. Now I always keep two of each test kit so I can use the newer test kit to check against the older one when in doubt.

 

[E.intheC]

which brand was that with? i cant find an experation date on mine.

It was the API Reef Master. My parameters are actually quite good other than the nitrates, which are at 20.. working on bringing those down slowly. (Even though I am fighting the urge to do an 80% water change, lol)

Alan, I agree with you. I also feel it's very important to shake up the test solutions (especially bottle #2) so that anything that settles gets mixed up again before you use the test.

 

[juiceguy]

if you want to really be thrown for a loop, try another brand of test kit and try to figure out which one is accurate.

 

[JSweeney76]

Same thing happened to me. I tested with the Red Sea reef kit and thought my water was perfect. No nitrates. No nitrates. No phosphates. Nothing. Tested with my brand new saliferts and was quite surprised. Nitrites-0.1 ppm. Nitrates - 20 ppm and phosphate - 1.0 ppm. Yikes!!!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Wat is the constant nitrates?