if im not mistaken the api nitrate test has sylic crystals in bottle one or two. Over a period of time just sitting they collect at the bottom which makes it nearly impossible for a accurate reading. You have to litterally smack the bottle and shake the crap out of it.
API master test kit nitrate test
- Thread starter FluffySackson
- Start date
[video=youtube;F1zEO_B5UUI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1zEO_B5UUI&feature=youtu.be[/video] Thanks guys! My parameters are showing up normal (Seriously, this actually helped me)
So was just getting violent with the bottles all that was needed?
API or any home test will never provide an accurate nitrate concentration. This measurement should be taken with a huge grain of salt and as relative at best, almost as a much-or-little kind of a test. Such is my understanding from Professor Darrell's posts (dw1305) who runs an environmental / analytical lab at a UK university and is also a high level fish keeper. See this for more e.g.: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36231&hilit=nitrate
API or any home test will never provide an accurate nitrate concentration. This measurement should be taken with a huge grain of salt and as relative at best, almost as a much-or-little kind of a test. Such is my understanding from Professor Darrell's posts (dw1305) who runs an environmental / analytical lab at a UK university and is also a high level fish keeper. See this for more e.g.: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36231&hilit=nitrate
Pretty much, yes. Both bottles seemed to have the crystals solidified in the bottom, resulting in the bottles being slightly heavier than the other bottles despite them being 30-40% empty. Shaking it did not help, even if I did it for a minute straight. So I had to go ape on the bottles in order for them to break up. Made the video for fun.
I used API test kit to test my water few times just because I was curious about my water parameters, I keep my fishes base on my knowledge/research/experiences and I giving them the best care while they are in my tanks. After that I gave those test kits to my friend whose seem to love it and maintenance his fish tank base on the test result...In the end his fishes DIED from time to time while I have NONE died (base on water quality)
You must be joking, Nitrate over 20ppm is harmful to human too, I wonder how folks overthere survive with that water supply.
I have heard of water being 40 nitrate in some regions of the United States as well. The nitrate of the tap water here is 0 but the ammonia is 2.0 PPM. I know for sure that ammonia is toxic to humans but I honestly don't know what 2.0PPM can do. Alot of people drink the tap water here but most don't.
the ammonia in the tap water is actually chloramines (chlorine bound to ammonia). Many cities use different variations of chloramines in the tap water.
