API Nitrate Test: Do's And Don'ts

Here's a look at how I use an API Nitrate Test Kit.

[ashleyadams]

Thank you for doing this video! I am new to aquarium keeping & wasn't sure which provided more accurate results - holding the test tube against the white background, or leaving a small amount of space between the test tube & the white background. Now I know that I need to leave a small amount of space between the test tube & the white background. Thank you for your help!!!!

[thomaswolf]

Test strips (dip sticks) were reading off the charts nitrate levels. API read zero. Shook the #2 like hell, now it's dark red. Time for some tank maintenance - I had heard the nitrate stuff was fussy but no one went into detail on it before. Appreciated.

[sketchy]

Thankyou. Shaking the second bottle has solved my puzzle of having no ammonia or nitrite or nitrate, gave the bottle a good shake and sure enough 40ppm nitrate

[aquarius]

I'm verry particular about shaking the bottle 2 for 30 seconds. I have accidently dropped an extra drop of bottle 1 in and poured everything out and restarted... I dident know 1 drop extra wouldn't effect results lol I'm glad to know that now!!!! Thanx

[karenb]

Thank you! Ive seen people holding it against the paper. Currently doing a fish in cycle and at first i thought my nitrites were still at 1.0ppm but it looks like its finally going down to 0.25ppm. Still waiting on those nitrate to spike

[Fred-egsx]

I got a cycled planted tank. I kept on adding plants. Recently added some Water Lettuce. Noticed the water lettuce was growing for a bit, and now dying from nutrient deficiency. So I tested and got 0 nitrates. I thought the test kit broke or something. Tested the tank 3 times all got zero...

[emfriesen]

This video is exactly what I needed. Thank you and God bless!

[highwateraquatics]

I have begun to use Tetra test strips for ease. The ranges work better. The close colors are in a less important range. I have tested them compared to the API liquids and find them to be accurate but I don't care what the instructions say (they vary from package to package) it is important for nitrates to wait 1 minute. Also tested API strips and found them useless.

[rockylamotta]

Great review! Esp about where to place the mixed test tube after completing! Thanks again!

[Shelzbells]

I thought after adding the drops from bottle 2, you had to shake the tube for one minute? Just inverting a few times is much easier LOL

[Shaden]

have you ever tried the test strips with multiole test on them? I found those were very good to test with and I've done comparisons between them and the api vial kits. they readings were generally the same to one another. quick dip into your tank's water and in 1-3 minutes you get results. no vials to deal with, no solution bottles, no cleaning the vials after use. Last time i used either was 20 years ago, , so I assume they have improved both in that time.

[redsev]

I have one tank that has 3" lava rock/pea gravel 3" sphagnum 3" crushed lava rock/Clay top. Very thick substrate. You could throw a dead body in that tank (it would be big enough) and not get a nitrate reading. If I did not have other tanks for cross reference I might have thought my test was faulty. I have it on a drip system now so it would be fine either way, but I found even with a 5 to 6" pea gravel substrate I never get past 10ppm. just takes longer to establish (4-6 months).

[AnditoBrandito]

Pretty new to the channel, why do you paint the thumbnail?

[aquarius]

Also soon as there's 5.0 ppm I do a 1/3 water change which may be overdoing it a bit

[missedtheeggmcintyre]

After redoing the test the snd time after watching your video the colour changed because I shook it, before I didn't shake bottle and colour remain yellow

[anuniemoose]

For economical reasons, can I do half the amount of water and drops? Will the results be any different?

[gap]

I am cycling my tank with Dr Timms
I ran this test for Nitrate - not necessary for Dr Timms method but thought I would check it. With this test kit I got approx 20. I then used the API multi-test strips and got 160 for Nitrate !
Same for Nitrite - API Nitrite test showed about 2 to 3 but the multi-test strip showed 10 to 16 !
How are you supposed to check your water parameters with tests like these! I checked and both tests are supposed to read PPM.
These test kits are not cheap and I have no faith in their accuracy
Am I missing something?

[RandomOzzieVids]

G’day mate, so you can just buy replacement bottles of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate testing solution can you?

Instead of buying the entire kit?

[PfeifferProductions]

@everyday fish keeping. Is there any accuracy to results of a degradation curve in the test? IE if you leave the sample for 24hrs and find a darker color than the 5min period reading, does that still indicate an accurate measurement?

[Flintlock]

Why is your thumbnail black? Did you smash it in a door or something?