Nitrate vs. Nitrate Test Kit

reefwisher · 01/12/2008, 10:10 AM

How accurate are these test kits? I have the API and the ELOS nitrate test kits. They both show around 40 ppm. But my reef tank shows no algae but coralline. I have a refugium with chaeto and I am running a Phosphate Reactor. Can there still be that much nitrates there? I also been changing 20% water a week.

bertoni · 01/12/2008, 03:22 PM

The nitrate test kits might be accurate. The algal growth might be limited by phosphate, for example. Have you tried testing some freshly-mixed saltwater? That should be nearly zero, assuming the water source is clean.

reefwisher · 01/13/2008, 08:48 AM

thanks bertoni, i tried that and it showed 0 so test kits are right.

bertoni · 01/13/2008, 04:01 PM

I suspect that the kits are correct. The nitrate might be left in the water column because the tank is phosphate-limited, or perhaps carbon-limited. Hard to say. What animals are in the system?

01/12/2008, 10:10 AM	#1
reefwisher Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 402	Nitrate vs. Nitrate Test Kit How accurate are these test kits? I have the API and the ELOS nitrate test kits. They both show around 40 ppm. But my reef tank shows no algae but coralline. I have a refugium with chaeto and I am running a Phosphate Reactor. Can there still be that much nitrates there? I also been changing 20% water a week.

01/12/2008, 03:22 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The nitrate test kits might be accurate. The algal growth might be limited by phosphate, for example. Have you tried testing some freshly-mixed saltwater? That should be nearly zero, assuming the water source is clean. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2008, 04:01 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I suspect that the kits are correct. The nitrate might be left in the water column because the tank is phosphate-limited, or perhaps carbon-limited. Hard to say. What animals are in the system? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2008, 08:48 AM	#3
reefwisher Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 402	thanks bertoni, i tried that and it showed 0 so test kits are right.