Best nitrate test kit
- Thread starter kris2001
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Ocean’s Piece
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Out of those, Hanna. Best for your money, accuracy, and preciseness all at the same time, Salifert.
BostonReefer300
Valuable Member
Without getting into a conversation about accuracy vs precision, my experience is that Hanna will give the best results for NO3 if you do the test correctly. That being said, your nitrate testing doesn't need to be super accurate---knowing if you have "around" 20 or 10 or 5 or 1 ppm NO3 is usually good enough. I find the salifert NO3 test to be very useful.
fachatga
Well-Known Member
Depends. If you’re looking for a gift to somebody you don’t like I’d say Hanna. I use salifert and nyos. Salifert when I’m lazy and just want a close idea in what it is since it’s so easy. Nyos when I really want a better reading since it’s so much easier to read. Ive tested a few times both and always got the same answer. As far as I can tell.
Gtinnel
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I use salifert because I like that you can look through the vial in different directions to get different scales. Also it's cheap, quick, and easy to test with. Although probably not the most accurate.
BostonReefer300
Valuable Member
Yes, the chemical tests for nitrate aren't the most accurate or precise. However, "Goldilocks" results (too high, too low, just right) for nitrate is fine for any reef tank IMO. I've never heard of a situation where knowing if you have 5ppm vs 8ppm nitrate for instance was critical. It's not like phosphate when you're trying to dial in the right amount at crazy low levels. Having 0.06ppm PO4 vs 0.01ppm can be the difference between happy corals and a Dino explosion (at least in my tank). For that, one definitely needs the Hanna HI736 ULR Phosphorus in my opinion.
I’ve used both salifert and Nyos for years, almost interchangeably.
I trust the salifert numbers more, but the Nyos color charts are easier to compare. You can’t really go wrong with either one.
I trust the salifert numbers more, but the Nyos color charts are easier to compare. You can’t really go wrong with either one.
BostonReefer300
Valuable Member
My opinion of the API nitrate test cannot be posted in this forum due to language decency rules.
Years back when I kept cichlids and then into the early stages of my fish only tanks, I used API. There is nothing worse than knowing you nuked a tank because you didn’t spent the extra money on a better test. I always found myself second guessing readings because they were never consistent.
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I like the Aquaforest No3 test. The Aquaforest nitrate test is simple and very accurate.
That being said the Hanna Low Nitrate test is a pain. I am excited to see that Hanna has a new high range nitrate test that is on pre order right now. The new test has one reagent and the color reader makes for no more guessing.
That being said the Hanna Low Nitrate test is a pain. I am excited to see that Hanna has a new high range nitrate test that is on pre order right now. The new test has one reagent and the color reader makes for no more guessing.
Gtinnel
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In my opinion it can be used to tell if you have high nitrates or low/no nitrate but other than that it isn't much help. With the salifert being a low cost test kit that actually works I'd pick that long before API (on any test honestly).
The two that you're going to look into are your best bets.
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