API nitrite test help?

bustedbikes · 10/29/2008, 04:49 PM

I have api nitrite test and my thank is over 6 months old, I test and always comes blue, color chart is from yellow to orange to red no blue, does tat mean no nitrite?
salt 1.026
phos 0
cal 560
ammonia 0
ph 8.0
mag 1305
alk 6.7
nitrate 5.0
nitrite ?

WaterKeeper · 10/29/2008, 04:52 PM

Blue? That is strange as I know of no nitrate test that produces a blue color. Either the kit went bad or the kit is for something like phosphate that was packaged wrong. Any API users to help.

bustedbikes · 10/29/2008, 04:59 PM

nitrite not nitrate

seapug · 10/29/2008, 05:00 PM

or else its gone so far past red it's reached the blue stage!

bustedbikes · 10/29/2008, 05:03 PM

would all my tests be wrong if thats way off?

WaterKeeper · 10/29/2008, 05:11 PM

Sorry, I meant nitrite. In the most common method, nitrite is diazotized with sulfanilamide and then coupled with
naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride to produce a red colored azo dye. Nitrate can also be determined in this manner after being reduced.

There is a ferrous sulfate method but the produces a brownish green tint proportional to the nitrite content.

They may use another method but the two above are the most common. Your kit sounds like it uses the first method I discribed.

thewashcaps · 10/29/2008, 05:25 PM

api test- for nitrite is blue=0ppm to a dark purple 5.0ppm
nitrate is yellow=0ppm to dark red 160ppm

michellejy · 10/29/2008, 05:25 PM

Are you positive you are using the saltwater version of the test? The reason I ask is because I have API tests for my daughter's freshwater tank, and the nitrite test is blue when there are 0 nitrites.

thewashcaps · 10/29/2008, 05:26 PM

nitrite is the same for both fresh and salt for api

WaterKeeper · 10/29/2008, 05:34 PM

Thanks washcaps. I've never used the API test kit so they must use a method I'm not familiar. The only other method I know of is the brucine method and that turns yellow. They would have to be nuts to sell a brucine kit to hobbyist as brucine is one potent poison.

reefergeorge · 10/29/2008, 05:43 PM

Mine is doing the same thing.
I am testing a hospital tank in hypo. So it may throw off the color? Who knows, I tossed in some prime, and did a wc. That's all you can do.

WaterKeeper · 10/29/2008, 06:16 PM

Washcap said it should turn blue. I wonder if they put nitrate color charts in the nitrite kits. You might want to contact API as something sounds fishy (no pun intended) here.

bustedbikes · 10/29/2008, 06:28 PM

OK, got the answer they did put the nitrate color card with the nitrite, on the nitrite box it shows the bottle and card the color card is different in the box pic it shows blue, purple to a purple red. My nitrite is blue= 0

WaterKeeper · 10/29/2008, 06:36 PM

Problem solved and you got a gratis chemistry lesson you weren't expecting.

swnoobie · 10/30/2008, 11:55 AM

yes..in the API saltwater test kit..nitrIte is blue to purple and nitrAte is yellow to red

WaterKeeper · 10/30/2008, 11:58 AM

They use a method I've never encountered for nitrite then. It would be interesting to know what they use but most kit companies are closed mouthed on their methods. Nitrate seems like the azo dye reaction that is used often for nitrate-nitrite tests.

10/29/2008, 04:49 PM	#1
bustedbikes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Glendale,Ca Posts: 231	API nitrite test help? I have api nitrite test and my thank is over 6 months old, I test and always comes blue, color chart is from yellow to orange to red no blue, does tat mean no nitrite? salt 1.026 phos 0 cal 560 ammonia 0 ph 8.0 mag 1305 alk 6.7 nitrate 5.0 nitrite ? __________________ mike Current Tank Info: 60 acrylic,Mh 400watts20k,220watt vho actinics,sump,skimmer,flow,live rock ,acro's

10/29/2008, 04:52 PM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Blue? That is strange as I know of no nitrate test that produces a blue color. Either the kit went bad or the kit is for something like phosphate that was packaged wrong. Any API users to help. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/29/2008, 04:59 PM	#3
bustedbikes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Glendale,Ca Posts: 231	nitrite not nitrate __________________ mike Current Tank Info: 60 acrylic,Mh 400watts20k,220watt vho actinics,sump,skimmer,flow,live rock ,acro's

10/29/2008, 05:00 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	or else its gone so far past red it's reached the blue stage! __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

10/29/2008, 05:03 PM	#5
bustedbikes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Glendale,Ca Posts: 231	would all my tests be wrong if thats way off? __________________ mike Current Tank Info: 60 acrylic,Mh 400watts20k,220watt vho actinics,sump,skimmer,flow,live rock ,acro's

10/29/2008, 05:11 PM	#6
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Sorry, I meant nitrite. In the most common method, nitrite is diazotized with sulfanilamide and then coupled with naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride to produce a red colored azo dye. Nitrate can also be determined in this manner after being reduced. There is a ferrous sulfate method but the produces a brownish green tint proportional to the nitrite content. They may use another method but the two above are the most common. Your kit sounds like it uses the first method I discribed. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/29/2008, 05:25 PM	#7
thewashcaps Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Spotsylvania,Va Posts: 212	api test- for nitrite is blue=0ppm to a dark purple 5.0ppm nitrate is yellow=0ppm to dark red 160ppm __________________ Eddie Current Tank Info: 150 reef and 30 sump (3) 250 watt icecaps 14k phoenix bulbs, Aquacontroller II and Octopus 200 Extreme skimmer

10/29/2008, 05:25 PM	#8
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	Are you positive you are using the saltwater version of the test? The reason I ask is because I have API tests for my daughter's freshwater tank, and the nitrite test is blue when there are 0 nitrites. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

10/29/2008, 05:26 PM	#9
thewashcaps Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Spotsylvania,Va Posts: 212	nitrite is the same for both fresh and salt for api __________________ Eddie Current Tank Info: 150 reef and 30 sump (3) 250 watt icecaps 14k phoenix bulbs, Aquacontroller II and Octopus 200 Extreme skimmer

10/29/2008, 05:34 PM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Thanks washcaps. I've never used the API test kit so they must use a method I'm not familiar. The only other method I know of is the brucine method and that turns yellow. They would have to be nuts to sell a brucine kit to hobbyist as brucine is one potent poison. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/29/2008, 05:43 PM	#11
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Mine is doing the same thing. I am testing a hospital tank in hypo. So it may throw off the color? Who knows, I tossed in some prime, and did a wc. That's all you can do. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

10/29/2008, 06:16 PM	#12
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Washcap said it should turn blue. I wonder if they put nitrate color charts in the nitrite kits. You might want to contact API as something sounds fishy (no pun intended) here. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/29/2008, 06:28 PM	#13
bustedbikes Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Glendale,Ca Posts: 231	OK, got the answer they did put the nitrate color card with the nitrite, on the nitrite box it shows the bottle and card the color card is different in the box pic it shows blue, purple to a purple red. My nitrite is blue= 0 __________________ mike Current Tank Info: 60 acrylic,Mh 400watts20k,220watt vho actinics,sump,skimmer,flow,live rock ,acro's

10/29/2008, 06:36 PM	#14
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Problem solved and you got a gratis chemistry lesson you weren't expecting. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/30/2008, 11:55 AM	#15
swnoobie Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: N. Indiana Posts: 98	yes..in the API saltwater test kit..nitrIte is blue to purple and nitrAte is yellow to red

10/30/2008, 11:58 AM	#16
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	They use a method I've never encountered for nitrite then. It would be interesting to know what they use but most kit companies are closed mouthed on their methods. Nitrate seems like the azo dye reaction that is used often for nitrate-nitrite tests. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29