I NEVER have Nitrates... question

[Spiritofthesoul]

counter check with another test kit. API nitrate liquid test have been known to give false results from time to time.

 

[619aquaponics]

Hmm at first I thought you might have a FW deep sand bed

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

counter check with another test kit. API nitrate liquid test have been known to give false results from time to time.

Do you suggest any particular brand?

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Sera Nitrat-test is also another well-known brand for its accurate results

 

[philfreenode]

the API nitrate test kit gives false negatives unless you slam the bottle #2 like crazy on the table, shake it like you would shake a can of paint if you were a paint shaker, first 1 arm then the other until they're both tired... 3 minutes minimum.. then do the required # of drops from bottle 1 + 2 into the vial, then shake that 5ml vial for 30 seconds... the problem is if you don't shake it like mad, the stuff in bottle 2 solidifies and you're testing with blanks

here's my video on that you can skip to 4:15 i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCPAQgmY1Y

 

[jcardona1]

counter check with another test kit. API nitrate liquid test have been known to give false results from time to time.

This.

 

[philfreenode]

some other brands if they use the same type of reagent will have the same problem. not all are like this though. i have heard of and even conversed with people who had much better results with their API after they shake like i said. the instruction book says to shake (not as much as it probably should), but either people don't read the directions or they don't shake hard enough. when i say shake i mean both the nitrate testing bottles and the 5 ml test tube

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

the API nitrate test kit gives false negatives unless you slam the bottle #2 like crazy on the table, shake it like you would shake a can of paint if you were a paint shaker, first 1 arm then the other until they're both tired... 3 minutes minimum.. then do the required # of drops from bottle 1 + 2 into the vial, then shake that 5ml vial for 30 seconds... the problem is if you don't shake it like mad, the stuff in bottle 2 solidifies and you're testing with blanks

here's my video on that you can skip to 4:15 i think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCPAQgmY1Y

You sir, may have saved me from devastation. I never heard about this and boy was I surprised, I do have one question. It's more a matter of opinion but my nitrate bottles are about half empty, now because I never used this shaking method do you think the test could give a much higher reading than what it actually is because of an off set ratio of the "hardened" chemical and constant liquid one? I did a 40% W/C and tested right after and now several hours later and I have a lesser but still very high result. This seems odd as all of my Datnoids are in pristine condition and I know very high nitrates can be deadly.

 

[MyGiants]

some other brands if they use the same type of reagent will have the same problem. not all are like this though. i have heard of and even conversed with people who had much better results with their API after they shake like i said. the instruction book says to shake (not as much as it probably should), but either people don't read the directions or they don't shake hard enough. when i say shake i mean both the nitrate testing bottles and the 5 ml test tube

This is correct you need to shake the bottles before doing the test. If you hadn't been shaking the bottles before then you need to buy a new test kit as those bottles are now diluted.

Just a note all test kits are pretty much the same. They all buy there chemical from Lilly the drug company who owns the patent. All the different companies buy the chemical in different percentages to make there color charts slightly different then each others. But its all the same stuff.

 

[Gage Zamrzla]

This is correct you need to shake the bottles before doing the test. If you hadn't been shaking the bottles before then you need to buy a new test kit as those bottles are now diluted.

Just a note all test kits are pretty much the same. They all buy there chemical from Lilly the drug company who owns the patent. All the different companies buy the chemical in different percentages to make there color charts slightly different then each others. But its all the same stuff.

So my nitrate bottle is half empty, because I haven't been shaking it since I got it the ratio of "harder" and "softer" chemicals essentially are out of proportion thus possibly giving a false reading?

On a side note I took a sample of my water to my LFS after two days of 40% water changes. My home kit tested 30ppm after this and the one at the store tested 5-10ppm. I believe like you said my kit is now diluted and I'll buy another one this weekend.