Salifert NO3

[Shad]

I just tested my water and got

ALK- 3.70
Ca -1.30
NO3- 100
PH -8.3
NH4-0

My Ca is probably up because of the water change using oceanic salt and dosing the 2 part to get the coraline algae going. I have backed down the past few days on the 2-part due to the high Ca readings, but I do not know why the nitrates are so high? I'm using the salifert tests and recieved 100+ reading on the NO3.
Any suggestions?

 

[marrone]

How old is the Nitrate test kit? Also how old is your tank and what do you have it in. A 100 reading on a reef tank is very high. You'll need to do water changes to bring the Nitrates down but first you need to figure out what is making them that high to begin with.

Can you list what you have in the tank, tank size and equipment( Skimmer,filter and such). Also are you feeding a lot.

 

[Shad]

Test kit is 3 weeks old.
Yellow tang, kole tang, 4 line wrasse, jaw fish, humbug damsel, striped dart fish, maroon clown, two cleaner shrimp,blue leggeds, scarletts, various turbos, nas. snails
Various shrooms, toadstool, rock anenome, torch coral, sun polyps, some zoas, couple crocea clams, etc....
92 gal bow front. 2 1/2 yrs old
Hooked up a bermuda skimmer about a 3-4 weeks ago.
Did a 6 gal water change last friday
I made a fuge instead of just a reg. sump several weeks ago.
Uv light

 

[PalmTree]

I would try testing w/ another kit just to be sure. Either way its HIGH!!

 

[Shad]

I never had a problem before.
I only feed once a day.

 

[marrone]

Are you sure that you're using the kits correctly? That very high and since you have clams and a torch it's probably not right, as they wouldn't make it if it was that high.

You also have a pretty big load for that size tank. The fish alone could be causing the problem of high nitrates. If you haven't had problems in the past, and you're not having any problems now, it's most likely the test kits. It's either wrong or you're reading it wrong. I would get another one.

 

[Shad]

I was thinking I read it wrong, but I tried it a few times. I put in 1 ml water, the correct scoops etc. Its got to be the test kit. Kits I have had in the past have never read this high in nitrates.
You really think 7 fish is a lot for a 92 gal?

 

[marrone]

It's not having 7 fish but which 7 fish. 3 tangs in a 92gal corner bow it a lot, especially with feeding.

 

[House of Laughter]

I had 4 tangs in my 92g BF and never had that high a nitrate -

Few things that could be wrong that other have already stated - reading the test kit wrong, testing wrong and also, maybe there is a nitrate trape in there somewhere. Next time Swimmer is there, shad, have him review.

Either way good luck with it.

House

 

[Henrye]

Uhhh, most of your test results seem odd and I just wanted to double check what readings you're reporting.
Your Alk is 3.7. 3.7 what? dkH or meq/l.
Ca is 1.30? what type of measurement are you reporting in? Ca is usually expressed in ppm, which this result would be impossible if you were measuring SW.
pH 0. That's pretty much impossible no matter the salt mix or tap water. It's actually impossible it's even hydrochloric acid, which has a pH of 1.

Finally, the Salifert NO3 test showing 100 ppm. You took 1 scoop NO3 powder and compressed it flat and level against the edge of the container and 1 level scoop of purplish crystals if NO3 part 2. You let it sit for 3 minutes, and then compared the color to that on the printed card.

Now, how did you do that? Did you look down through the tube and compare colors or held up the side of the tube and read the color looking through the side to match colors, and then finding it was 100. A full explanation of exactly which way you determined the reading by comparison would be of tremendous help on figuring out if your nitrates are really 100.

If you could do the same for the other posted results, we may identify whether or not your reading results is accurate. Or, are you really sure that Ca, Kh, and pH you posted are true readings?

Henry

 

[Shad]

When I get home from work I will give specifics on the exact readings. My Ca is high, I believe because of the dosing of 2-part.
I wrote the PH incorrectly. Sorry, I read the amonia by accident! PH was 8.3
I looked at the Nitrates from both the side and down the center next to the chart. I did what the directions told me. Fill with 1 ml water. Level scoops, press scoop against the side of jar etc...