Nitrates - This Explains a Lot

[Nick Park]

Yes, I live in rural Ireland, and this is the water that comes from the water main provided by the county. Reverse Osmosis sounds an expensive pain. Would using rain water work?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Yes, I live in rural Ireland, and this is the water that comes from the water main provided by the county. Reverse Osmosis sounds an expensive pain. Would using rain water work?

It's worked fine for me for 19 years.

 

[Coryloach]

Would using rain water work?

Rain water should be fine to cut the tap water. You still need some buffering and minerals for the fish so I would not use pure rain water.

The API nitrate test is in nitrate units while the EPA MCL is nitrate-nitrogen. So the MCL in nitrate units is 44.3. That would be some shade of red that only birds and insects can discern.

Yes, legal limit is 10ppm nitrate nitrogen, so 44.3 ppm is right. Nitrate tests can be affected by many other minerals, even salt would raise the level, so not reliable really but I won't start a war over it

 

[Nick Park]

One thing we're not short of in Ireland is rain water ....

 

[duanes]

Agree with Coryloach, mix rain water with tap.

 

[tiger15]

The API chart for 40 and 80 ppm have identical red. It’s a joke, even insect can’t tell them apart. API kit requires vigorous shaking to get it right. I like the Salifert nitrate test kit, which is easier to read and not sensitive to shaking.