This drives me *CRAZY* (API Nitrate color chart)

Coelli · 09/19/2014, 08:38 PM

Is it 5? Is it 10? I want to know!!

Ztrain · 09/19/2014, 09:17 PM

Hahahah I have the exact same issue!

Zer0. · 09/19/2014, 09:50 PM

For some reason closing one eye helps me. Realistically it could be 7ppm and be right between

overskim · 09/19/2014, 10:00 PM

This is why I think API should switch to rectangular tubes.

Sometimes running it against a known zero helps me.

gbru316 · 09/19/2014, 10:08 PM

Ditch API for red sea.

nmotz · 09/19/2014, 10:31 PM

I'd say 10ppm, but yes that's ridiculous!

kw22 · 09/20/2014, 02:34 AM

How is anyone supposed to be able to tell the difference between them,it is almost imposable!I think that it is around 5-7,but I am making my best guess.

Coelli · 09/20/2014, 02:57 AM

I've been recording it as 10 ( for the past 3 days) just to be on the safe side, but... argh. :P

PatW · 09/20/2014, 05:34 AM

To me, the color bands for 5 ppm and 10 ppm look very similar. I would say somewhere between the two.

CuzzA · 09/20/2014, 05:39 AM

I switched to Sailfert for this very reason. Basically API is telling us, "you have some nitrates. Maybe 5 to 10. We're not really sure either."

azdiver · 09/20/2014, 08:00 AM

Glad to know im not the only one thought i went color bind.

Xavibear · 09/20/2014, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuzzA

I switched to Sailfert for this very reason. Basically API is telling us, "you have some nitrates. Maybe 5 to 10. We're not really sure either."

HumbleFish · 09/20/2014, 08:33 AM

I'd say it's closer to 10 than 5.

Sk8r · 09/20/2014, 10:11 AM

Salifert: no color matching.

AdamNC · 09/20/2014, 11:01 AM

If in doubt I usually round up.

BioCubeGuy · 09/20/2014, 11:04 AM

Same issue here... Can be frustrating!

edsbeaker · 09/20/2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Salifert: no color matching.

The last one I had there was color matching. Have they changed this? If they did, I'm going to buy one!!!

Coelli · 09/20/2014, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamNC

If in doubt I usually round up.

Yeah, me too even though I'd rather see 5 than 10.

Inceptioning · 09/20/2014, 09:40 PM

Haha I know the feels and it kills me on the inside

Tarawa · 09/21/2014, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Salifert: no color matching.

wait, I have a salifert kit that expires on 10-2016, got it about a month or two ago, and its a color matching one, I've been having a hard time telling if its 5 or 2, I go with 2 since it is harder to see thru the swatch thru the vial VS the 5. But they have ones more like the calcium and magnesium ones now, where you count how much fluid is left?

please say yes!! =D

gbru316 · 09/21/2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Salifert: no color matching.

Confused about this as well. Did salifert change their NO3 kit to titration? I've used it in the past and it was always colorimetric.

mng777777 · 09/21/2014, 08:26 AM

I'm curious about this too

Shawn O · 09/21/2014, 09:58 AM

The look EXACTLY the same to me. I'd be aggravated too.

DrBoxedWine · 09/21/2014, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuzzA

I switched to Sailfert for this very reason. Basically API is telling us, "you have some nitrates. Maybe 5 to 10. We're not really sure either."

Yeah I switched to salifert too. The api test is probably ok for freshwater, but I don't think it's useful in a reef tank. Definitely try salifert, much better. The kh api test might be even worse than the nitrate test lol

tupes · 09/21/2014, 04:29 PM

Try this. Take the id card and put it flat on a table then take the test tube and set it on the white portion of the card and look down through the liquid from the opening

09/19/2014, 08:38 PM	#1
Coelli Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Tujunga, CA Posts: 1,443	*This drives me CRAZY* (API Nitrate color chart)** Is it 5? Is it 10? I want to know!!

09/19/2014, 10:31 PM	#6
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	I'd say 10ppm, but yes that's ridiculous! __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

09/20/2014, 02:34 AM	#7
kw22 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Éire (Republic of Ireland) Posts: 435	How is anyone supposed to be able to tell the difference between them,it is almost imposable!I think that it is around 5-7,but I am making my best guess. __________________ If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,it will spend its whole life thinking that it is stupid. Current Tank Info: All freshwater at the moment.Hoping to set up a marine tank in the future.

09/20/2014, 10:11 AM	#14
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Salifert: no color matching. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/20/2014, 11:04 AM	#16
BioCubeGuy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Cottonwood, CA Posts: 222	Same issue here... Can be frustrating! __________________ Coralife BioCube 29: Aquaticlife 115 skimmer, InTank Media/Fuge Basket. Running filter floss, purigen and chemi-pure. JBJ nano zapp UV. Aquaticlife RODI buddie system.

09/19/2014, 09:17 PM	#2
Ztrain Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 327	Hahahah I have the exact same issue!

09/19/2014, 09:50 PM	#3
Zer0. Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 479	For some reason closing one eye helps me. Realistically it could be 7ppm and be right between

09/19/2014, 10:00 PM	#4
overskim Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 65	This is why I think API should switch to rectangular tubes. Sometimes running it against a known zero helps me.

09/19/2014, 10:08 PM	#5
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	Ditch API for red sea.

09/20/2014, 02:57 AM	#8
Coelli Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Tujunga, CA Posts: 1,443	I've been recording it as 10 ( for the past 3 days) just to be on the safe side, but... argh. :P

09/20/2014, 05:34 AM	#9
PatW Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 275	To me, the color bands for 5 ppm and 10 ppm look very similar. I would say somewhere between the two.

09/20/2014, 05:39 AM	#10
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	I switched to Sailfert for this very reason. Basically API is telling us, "you have some nitrates. Maybe 5 to 10. We're not really sure either."

09/20/2014, 08:00 AM	#11
azdiver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 149	Glad to know im not the only one thought i went color bind.

09/20/2014, 08:33 AM	#13
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	I'd say it's closer to 10 than 5.

09/20/2014, 11:01 AM	#15
AdamNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 849	If in doubt I usually round up.

09/20/2014, 09:40 PM	#19
Inceptioning Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 22	Haha I know the feels and it kills me on the inside

09/21/2014, 08:26 AM	#22
mng777777 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 72	I'm curious about this too __________________ Justin Current Tank Info: 125 gal with 75g sump and fuge

09/21/2014, 09:58 AM	#23
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	The look EXACTLY the same to me. I'd be aggravated too.

09/21/2014, 04:29 PM	#25
tupes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 61	Try this. Take the id card and put it flat on a table then take the test tube and set it on the white portion of the card and look down through the liquid from the opening