Best Nitrate Test Kit

[ddaddy2420]

What is everyone using to test Nitrates? I have been using API for just about everything and have only recently started to upgrade my testing. I got Hanna Checker for phosphates and alkalinity, Salifert for Magnesium, I have a nice multi testing pen (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/EXTECH-Test-Meter-5AY46?Pid=search">http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/EXTECH-Test-Meter-5AY46?Pid=search</a>) for ph and temp. I had also got it for salinity but the range is too low for it. So i still use a refractometer for salinity. Nitrites, Nitrates, ammonia, and calcium are all still API test kits.

So lets hear it, what is best for Nitrates? And do i need to upgrade my nitrite and ammonia testing? I plan on getting the last Hanna Checker for Calcium at some point.

Thanks,
Dale

 

[cj22009]

Seachem red sea or salifert all are good test kits

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[ralph atl]

I really like the Tropic Marin Nitrate kit that shows the low range, below 1.....

 

[ddaddy2420]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1721602">Nitrate Test</a>

Here is a link i found to a guy on reefcentral that ran nitrate comparison tests with 8 hobby grade test kits. Pretty interesting read.

 

[acroholic]

I use the Sera Nitrate test kit. I'm not so concerned with ultra accurate levels, just a broad indicator. Sera does that, and it is about $12 locally. Gives levels at 10, 20, 30ppm, etc. Although my 465 reads 0, anything under 10 is fine for SPS, less than 20 OK for LPS/softies.

 

[heathlindner25]

I like salifert

 

[acroholic]

ddaddy2420;833249 wrote: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1721602">Nitrate Test</a>

Here is a link i found to a guy on reefcentral that ran nitrate comparison tests with 8 hobby grade test kits. Pretty interesting read.[/QUOTE]

This is one thing I found funny about that link you gave, when the guy was giving his personal comments nthe test kits. He said about Salifert:

[B]SALIFERT
Color chart is hard to read at low and high levels. Test is easy enough but results are inconsistent. I give it 2 thumbs up.[/B]

Then about Sera:

[B]SERA
This test kit shows the ability to test in a variety of ranges up to 400 ppm. Unfortunately, a variety of tests showed many inconsistencies in the results. I give this kit a thumbs down.[/B]

Why would he give Salifert two thumbs up if it were just as bad as Sera? He had nothing nice to say about Salifert at all, outside that is was easy to do. That certainly is not a case for a positive review, is it?

Just goes to show you need to take the source of the info into consideration when researching topics like these.

 

[heathlindner25]

I don't have a problem reading low range with salifert,, if anything it might be a little hard to read between .2 and .5 and if it's in between there I'm happy.

 

[ralph atl]

tropic marin....just saying.....

 

[rjrgroup]

Hach Colorimeter!!!!

 

[ralph atl]

rjrgroup;833386 wrote: Hach Colorimeter!!!!
http://compare.ebay.com/like/360465856887?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar">http://compare.ebay.com/like/360465856887?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar</a>[/QUOTE]


lol, you win!

 

[rjrgroup]

Let me know if you need to borrow it Ralph, you would be amazed at the accuracy. I think I have most of the reagents you would need.

 

[rdnelson]

rjrgroup;833388 wrote: Let me know if you need to borrow it Ralph, you would be amazed at the accuracy. I think I have most of the reagents you would need.

Bring it to the meeting tomorrow and I will bring some water. .

 

[rjrgroup]

Sorry Rich but I can't make it. When you're up my way though...

rdnelson99;833395 wrote: Bring it to the meeting tomorrow and I will bring some water. .

 

[rdnelson]

LOL. No problem. May be headed that direction next weekend. Have to see a man about a dog. Oh wait, that should be about a fish. Momma is getting impatient with her empty nano.

 

[ddaddy2420]

Acroholic;833313 wrote: This is one thing I found funny about that link you gave, when the guy was giving his personal comments nthe test kits. He said about Salifert:

SALIFERT
Color chart is hard to read at low and high levels. Test is easy enough but results are inconsistent. I give it 2 thumbs up.

Then about Sera:

SERA
This test kit shows the ability to test in a variety of ranges up to 400 ppm. Unfortunately, a variety of tests showed many inconsistencies in the results. I give this kit a thumbs down.

Why would he give Salifert two thumbs up if it were just as bad as Sera? He had nothing nice to say about Salifert at all, outside that is was easy to do. That certainly is not a case for a positive review, is it?

Just goes to show you need to take the source of the info into consideration when researching topics like these.

Well i appreciated the fact that he did a comparison of nitrates with 8 different tests. I am sure he had his reasons for giving Sera thumbs down. Don't think I would discount the rest of his article even though he was a little vague with his explanation of those 2 tests. This kind of comparison was what I was looking for because I only have experience with 1 test let alone 8.

Being a chemical engineer, none of these tests are all that difficult to do so I would lean towards wanting accuracy over whether the test was easy or not.

 

[ripped tide]

I like the seachem nitrate test kits.

 

[ddaddy2420]

Looks like we got votes for just about all of them. Maybe a more appropriate question would be which kits should I not use. Are there any I should not consider at all?

 

[acroholic]

ddaddy2420;833409 wrote: Well i appreciated the fact that he did a comparison of nitrates with 8 different tests. I am sure he had his reasons for giving Sera thumbs down. Don't think I would discount the rest of his article even though he was a little vague with his explanation of those 2 tests. This kind of comparison was what I was looking for because I only have experience with 1 test let alone 8.

Being a chemical engineer, none of these tests are all that difficult to do so I would lean towards wanting accuracy over whether the test was easy or not.

Definitely better than nothing.

 

[bluespot]

I used API when i first started the tank during cycling. Then i switched to Red Sea for the lower ranges and love it. The colorimeter(?) wheel is easy enough to read and takes the turbidity of your water into account to help with accuracy reading the results.