Poll, What do you keep you NitrAtes at.

[Toodleypops]

i really know i should but the thing is all my fish are fine and not dying and my tank is overstocked as it is. but yeah i really should.

 

[SoCalDiscus]

I just referenced my API Freshwater Nitrate test kit instructions:

"This test kit measures nitrate as nitrate ion or 'total nitrate' (Other nitrate test kits that measure "nitrate-nitrogen" (NO3-N) will read 4.4 times LESS than this test kit.)"

From API FW Master test kit, P. 17

So, If you use API, then you are measuring Nitrate (NO3) and NOT Nitrate-Nitrogen (N-NO3)

 

[johnptc]

you should probably start doing small daily water changes until you get things back in check.

agreed dont fix it in one shot............

 

[johnptc]

I just referenced my API Freshwater Nitrate test kit instructions:

"This test kit measures nitrate as nitrate ion or 'total nitrate' (Other nitrate test kits that measure "nitrate-nitrogen" (NO3-N) will read 4.4 times LESS than this test kit.)"

From API FW Master test kit, P. 17

So, If you use API, then you are measuring Nitrate (NO3) and NOT Nitrate-Nitrogen (N-NO3)

then forget the rest... you already get the higher number

 

[SoCalDiscus]

then forget the rest... you already get the higher number

My initial concern was that they were measuring different things. While they technically are... the fact that it is a scalable difference (monotonic transformation) relieves any of my worries about it.

 

[chesterthehero]

pfft.. i dunno who this johnptc guy is thinkin he knows something about fish *

my tap water comes out at about 20
my tanks range anywhere from 5-30 before a water change

(* sarcasm... shame that i have to say that... good info btw.. did not know all of that... still dont fully understand it all but i copied and saved it so i can read it again later)

 

[itzacraze]

i dont kno guys i got the api test kit and it always measures less than 10

 

[itzacraze]

untill i find an overdose level of purigen i dont think water parameters will ever be an issue

 

[Austin]

wow, very informative thread. glad to know exactly what my api kit is reading and such. still way over my head though.

 

[oscarsftw]

Mines are always 10ppm or below. After 10ppm I'm not happy with my water conditions and do a large volume water change. I'm very OCD about my water parameters.