Digital nitrate monitors, or really fast/accurate test kits?

[jcardona1]

Looking for some more accurate and faster options for keeping an eye on nitrates. I've seen the Pinpoint digital nitrate monitor, but it has horrible reviews.

The API test kit is supposed to be accurate, but it's a pain to test. Shake this, add this, add that, shake that, repeat, wait 5min....Anybody know of any other accurate meters or test kits that aren't so complicated to process?

 

[Chromobotia]

I've thought about this as well but have been too lazy of late to research. There has to be a better way to read Nitrates. I hope there is a reliable/good digital meter that is affordable out there. Good Luck.

 

[erk419]

I agree with you guys it would be so much easier if the API one wasnt just different shades of red that really doesn't help much. Something digital that was accurate would be awesome.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[jcardona1]

Yeah the Pinpoint one goes for about $250. I wouldn't mind paying that but the reviews say it isn't accurate and needs constant calibration. Then there's the lab-grade probes and meters that Aquatic Eco sells, but those are like $1000+. We need something to fill in the gap of these crappy liquid test kits and the lab-grade digital meters!!

 

[JK47]

Thank you thank you thank you J for posting this. I was just thinking about this yesterday, I hope something good comes from this thread. Have you put much thought into a TDS meter? Not specifically nitrate but a decent overall indicator of water quality.

 

[jcardona1]

I can has bump?

 

[jcardona1]

Thank you thank you thank you J for posting this. I was just thinking about this yesterday, I hope something good comes from this thread. Have you put much thought into a TDS meter? Not specifically nitrate but a decent overall indicator of water quality.

Actually yes. I just purchased on RO/DI unit with 2 inline TDS meters. I'll also be buying a handheld unit for checking TDS levels in the tank (going for a soft water setup for my wild discus).

Would be nice too if I could see what nitrates were at a quick glance, since this is the main reason for doing water changes.

 

[Dan F]

Actually yes. I just purchased on RO/DI unit with 2 inline TDS meters. I'll also be buying a handheld unit for checking TDS levels in the tank (going for a soft water setup for my wild discus).

Would be nice too if I could see what nitrates were at a quick glance, since this is the main reason for doing water changes.

I have a TDS meter, but I had never thought to use it to measure water quality/nitrates. My question is whether or not a given level of TDS can be used to reliably extrapolate the Nitrate level.

I would think that it would not work across different tanks, where variables such as substrate, decor, and water source would change your base TDS. However, in an established tank with stable hardness, it might work. If you measure the TDS level at a given Nitrate level (say 10 PPM) then any change in TDS would indicate an equivalent change in Nitrates. This would only work as long as all other parameters remained very stable.

As far as test kits go, I like the Seachem test kit, but it still takes two steps and five minutes to get results. Also, with any test that uses a color indicator chart there is a certain amount of imprecision and user error. The more I think about it, the more I think you're right that we need a good hobby-level digital nitrate meter...

 

[jcardona1]

Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to rely on a TDS meter for water quality, for the reasons you say. I'll be using it to gauge how soft my tank water is by using RO/DI water. TDS can vary greatly for even the slightest reasons. I was reading on reef forum where guys were getting 0ppm TDS coming out of their RO/DI filter, but by simply sitting in their aging barrel, they're getting readings of 80ppm+!!!! Now imagine how out of whack that will be in an established tank.

 

[JK47]

I have a TDS meter, but I had never thought to use it to measure water quality/nitrates. My question is whether or not a given level of TDS can be used to reliably extrapolate the Nitrate level.

I would think that it would not work across different tanks, where variables such as substrate, decor, and water source would change your base TDS. However, in an established tank with stable hardness, it might work. If you measure the TDS level at a given Nitrate level (say 10 PPM) then any change in TDS would indicate an equivalent change in Nitrates. This would only work as long as all other parameters remained very stable.

As far as test kits go, I like the Seachem test kit, but it still takes two steps and five minutes to get results. Also, with any test that uses a color indicator chart there is a certain amount of imprecision and user error. The more I think about it, the more I think you're right that we need a good hobby-level digital nitrate meter...

Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to rely on a TDS meter for water quality, for the reasons you say. I'll be using it to gauge how soft my tank water is by using RO/DI water. TDS can vary greatly for even the slightest reasons. I was reading on reef forum where guys were getting 0ppm TDS coming out of their RO/DI filter, but by simply sitting in their aging barrel, they're getting readings of 80ppm+!!!! Now imagine how out of whack that will be in an established tank.

You guys are right. I was just pondering ideas and thought about testing my TDS meter and seeing if there was a way to cross reference the two.

So question, has anyone tried the SW meters on a FW tank to try and see if it would work or be even marginally accurate? The difference between 40ppm and 160ppm on the API kits is not much color wise so even a 80% accurate meter would be an improvement IMO.