svachon9 Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 I have API drop test kit for nitrates but it's nearly impossible to differentiate between 5-10-20 PPM nitrate levels. Is there a kit that does? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony s Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 you have the api master test kit? That's actually one of the more sensitive kits for nitrates. But you really have to shake it to death to get it accurate. test strips are even harder to read. maybe there is something beyond those. not sure what though. I do believe both seachem and fritz are developing or have developed their own master test kits. But I haven't used them yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 I would consider any of those nitrate readings to be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svachon9 Posted May 30 Author Share Posted May 30 My problem is that 5 ppm is not what I need for plant health. 20 is fine. But I can’t tell if it’s 5 or 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitecloud09 Posted May 30 Share Posted May 30 On 5/30/2024 at 5:44 PM, svachon9 said: My problem is that 5 ppm is not what I need for plant health. 20 is fine. But I can’t tell if it’s 5 or 20 Pictures would help, @svachon9, I have the same problem with the API test kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 I find I can easily tell the difference between 5 and 10, but hard to distibguish between 10 and 20. what I do is tjat if it reads 10-20,I will do a 50% dilution of tank water and retest. Ie if It looks more like 5 ppm on retest I know the tank water is closer to 10 ppm, but if the retest looks pretty much the same I know the original was closer to 20 ppm… 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
face Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 There are a lot of other test kits out there most are much more expensive there’s a really good video out there that shows them all (most) but it’s from a company so I don’t think I can post i hear on the cheaper end salifert nitrate test is ok there’s also a question of accuracy but that’s a whole other thing lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolstoy21 Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 On 5/30/2024 at 4:07 PM, svachon9 said: I have API drop test kit for nitrates but it's nearly impossible to differentiate between 5-10-20 PPM nitrate levels. Is there a kit that does? I have the same problem with that kit. I just can't differentiate some of the colors as compared to color of the water in the vial. I have not tired the Sera nitrate test kit, but have used other tests from Sera and really like them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jovius Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 No, the only better options are way more expensive(photometer - $400 to $2000+). I have found that holding my tank light up by my head I can more easily see the colors. I have also found that the safe levels are also the ones that I can't differentiate so it doesn't even matter that much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lonkley Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 On 5/30/2024 at 2:44 PM, svachon9 said: My problem is that 5 ppm is not what I need for plant health. 20 is fine. But I can’t tell if it’s 5 or 20 It really doesn't matter as long as it's not zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 On 5/31/2024 at 3:25 AM, Lonkley said: It really doesn't matter as long as it's not zero. I find my plants grow better at 30 ppm than they do at 5 ppm…. I feel its useful to get somewhere close to knowing so you can know how much to dose after a water change… The API test is not going to get you there precisely, but I do find with doing a dilution test I get as close as I really need to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitecloud09 Posted May 31 Share Posted May 31 Putting it near the natural sunlight can help, I stand by the window, and get a bright desk light, then put it as close as my light, then compare. On 5/31/2024 at 6:09 AM, Pepere said: I find my plants grow better at 30 ppm than they do at 5 ppm…. I feel its useful to get somewhere close to knowing so you can know how much to dose after a water change… The API test is not going to get you there precisely, but I do find with doing a dilution test I get as close as I really need to. Same, when my nitrate was 5 my plants was struggling, but when the nitrates were 20, my Pearl weed and micro sword started thriving, but my pearlweed doesn’t care if it’s 0 or 60, it still is thriving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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