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Hello.
I recently purchased a Hanna HR nitrate meter.
The problem is, my numbers vary so much between it, and my other test kit, im not sure which to believe.
I purchased the "certified standard kit" from Hanna, and it reads in range to the standards acceptable limits for the meter.
However. My Nyos kit, unexpired, and upon repeat tests, shows nearly a 20ppm lower test. Hanna was reading 35ppm, Nyos matching the 12ppm color.
I ran the Nyos 3 times in this tank, and twice against my other two tanks, against the Hanna. For the sake of it I also used a Salifert kit I have. (Salifert expires in 2023, Nyos in 2023, and Hanna in 2026".
Followed all the direction for all test kits to a T, using new syringes for every test.
My other two tanks, the results all line up as expected of good tests, 0-5ppm nitrate.
On one tank however:
Nyos - approx for 3 tests 12ppm, after last WC around 5ppm
Salifert - 1st test 50+ppm nearing 100ppm in color, 2nd test (with no WC) 25ppm, final test after last WC 10-25ppm (didn't bother running it twice because it really didn't change with another WC and still appeared to have close to the same color as before WC)
Hanna - first test 35ppm, 2nd test 39.9ppm, and final test after last WC is 21ppm
So in two other tanks, the results match, in this tank they don't.
FWIW I ran phosphate tests against the water changes also. Was at 91ppb, then to 35ppb, then now I am 13ppb. Matching the total 85% dilution from WCs the water should have had.
Now some background, this tank is about 10G actual water volume.
I've done 3 4.5G water changes because my original Nyos test before these inconsistencies said my nitrate was high, around 40ppm which didnt suprise me as I have been sick these last 2 months. 3 4.5g water changes should be greater than 85% of dilution.
Meaning if I was to believe the Hanna meter, my nitrates would have to have been nearly 200ppm. With the original Salifert test, they would have had to been well over 200ppm.
And the Nyos would have been around 40ppm.
Now there is zero major algae in this tank. The only real algae present is slow growing film on glass, and a small amount of bubble algae that doesn't really spread. Fish have never acted abnormal. Inverts never have been affected.
Where am I supposed to go from here? The actual number is irrelevant to me, as I don't "chase" them, I would just like to know what my real number is as I have had dinos in the past, and want to refrain from bottoming out nutriets and don't know how to determine that with such wide inconsistencies.
If the Hanna is correct, I'm still quite high on nitrates. I think the salifert is a bad kit. And if the Nyos is correct, I'm right on the money.
I recently purchased a Hanna HR nitrate meter.
The problem is, my numbers vary so much between it, and my other test kit, im not sure which to believe.
I purchased the "certified standard kit" from Hanna, and it reads in range to the standards acceptable limits for the meter.
However. My Nyos kit, unexpired, and upon repeat tests, shows nearly a 20ppm lower test. Hanna was reading 35ppm, Nyos matching the 12ppm color.
I ran the Nyos 3 times in this tank, and twice against my other two tanks, against the Hanna. For the sake of it I also used a Salifert kit I have. (Salifert expires in 2023, Nyos in 2023, and Hanna in 2026".
Followed all the direction for all test kits to a T, using new syringes for every test.
My other two tanks, the results all line up as expected of good tests, 0-5ppm nitrate.
On one tank however:
Nyos - approx for 3 tests 12ppm, after last WC around 5ppm
Salifert - 1st test 50+ppm nearing 100ppm in color, 2nd test (with no WC) 25ppm, final test after last WC 10-25ppm (didn't bother running it twice because it really didn't change with another WC and still appeared to have close to the same color as before WC)
Hanna - first test 35ppm, 2nd test 39.9ppm, and final test after last WC is 21ppm
So in two other tanks, the results match, in this tank they don't.
FWIW I ran phosphate tests against the water changes also. Was at 91ppb, then to 35ppb, then now I am 13ppb. Matching the total 85% dilution from WCs the water should have had.
Now some background, this tank is about 10G actual water volume.
I've done 3 4.5G water changes because my original Nyos test before these inconsistencies said my nitrate was high, around 40ppm which didnt suprise me as I have been sick these last 2 months. 3 4.5g water changes should be greater than 85% of dilution.
Meaning if I was to believe the Hanna meter, my nitrates would have to have been nearly 200ppm. With the original Salifert test, they would have had to been well over 200ppm.
And the Nyos would have been around 40ppm.
Now there is zero major algae in this tank. The only real algae present is slow growing film on glass, and a small amount of bubble algae that doesn't really spread. Fish have never acted abnormal. Inverts never have been affected.
Where am I supposed to go from here? The actual number is irrelevant to me, as I don't "chase" them, I would just like to know what my real number is as I have had dinos in the past, and want to refrain from bottoming out nutriets and don't know how to determine that with such wide inconsistencies.
If the Hanna is correct, I'm still quite high on nitrates. I think the salifert is a bad kit. And if the Nyos is correct, I'm right on the money.
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