nitrate testing

[smaug]

Over the past few months I have been getting high nitrate levels using api liquid agents even from my tap water it was in the 40-50 range.I decided to get my water tested profeesionally to see what is up.The fellow checked my tap water twice and it was only 2-4PPM he also checked my aquarium and got just a liitle more3-5 PPM.I've often wondered if the testing supplies we use are really that accurate.BTW I did do the tests correctly with all the correct amount of times observed and the shaking it up and such.Has anyone else experianced this?

[mpodolan]

It turns out that the hobby-grade tests are often inaccurate. But I have also had experiences in which the LFS tests were inaccurate. You can test your test kit to determine if it is accurate. Rex has a method that works well and is easy enough http://rexgrigg.com/test.htm
HTH

[Left C]

Here's something else that might help. My local water supply company is two blocks away. These guys are right friendly. I told the manager that I have freshwater planted aquariums. He told me that if I ever need the water tested to just bring a sample by and he'll have it tested and then give me the results. They have very good testing equipment and they test for many things. That's very nice of him. isn't it? Maybe your water supply company will do the same thing for you.

[mistergreen]

All your tap water parameters are online. Just look up your city's water.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by smaug

Over the past few months I have been getting high nitrate levels using api liquid agents even from my tap water it was in the 40-50 range.I decided to get my water tested profeesionally to see what is up.The fellow checked my tap water twice and it was only 2-4PPM he also checked my aquarium and got just a liitle more3-5 PPM.I've often wondered if the testing supplies we use are really that accurate.BTW I did do the tests correctly with all the correct amount of times observed and the shaking it up and such.Has anyone else experianced this?

Wait, but API are suppose to be all great(huge lapping froth of sarcasm)???

That's what some folks claim, I'm not among that group however.
I test professionally and use either two or three point calibration methods as standard procedure.

Were the results in N-NO3 or as NO3?
Multipy by 4.4 to account for the O3's on NO3 if it's [N-NO3].

Of all the hobby test kits we have used, Lamotte and Hach have been consistently accurate for any hobby use. These run about 40-50$ but are well worth the $.I think several folks tested and found Seachem to be highly rated. Unfortunately, they and most places use a poor method to compare color. Lamotte and Hach use a much nicer method.
FYI, Seachem uses the same method as Lamotte's kit.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by Left C

Here's something else that might help. My local water supply company is two blocks away. These guys are right friendly. I told the manager that I have freshwater planted aquariums. He told me that if I ever need the water tested to just bring a sample by and he'll have it tested and then give me the results. They have very good testing equipment and they test for many things. That's very nice of him. isn't it? Maybe your water supply company will do the same thing for you.

Only if you are nice and bring them cookies.

Left C, repost the how to make a NO3 calibration solution here.

Regards,
tom Barr

[Left C]

I've been to the local water supply company several times. These guys are nice and offered to test my aquarium water anytime. Like mistergreen mentioned, the tap water tests are on the web, but you can have weekly, seasonal, etc. variations that may not be shown by the online tests. The water that comes to your home might be different too because of leeching from the pipes.

Here's the info that Tom Requested. I have it in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet version too. Just PM me and I'll send it to you

How to Make Reference NO3 and PO4 Solutions

Here's a way to make 10, 20, 30 and 40 ppm NO3 reference solutions:

Add 1.631 g of KNO3 to 1 L distilled or DI water. This makes a 1000 ppm NO3 solution. (It's really a 1000.29 ppm solution.)

Add 2 mL of the 1000 ppm solution to 18 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 20 mL of a 100 ppm NO3 solution.

Add 15 mL of the 100 ppm solution to 15 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 30 mL of a 50 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 10 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 2 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 8 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 10 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 20 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 4 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 6 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 20 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 30 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 6 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 4 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 30 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 40 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 8 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 2 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 40 ppm NO3 solution.




Here's a way to make 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 ppm PO4 reference solutions:
Add 1.433 g of KH2PO4 to 1 L distilled or DI water. This makes a 1000 ppm PO4 solution. (It's really a 1000.09 ppm solution.)

Add 1 mL of the 1000 ppm solution to 9 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 100 ppm PO4 solution.

Add 2 mL of the 100 ppm solution to 18 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 20 mL of a 10 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 1.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 1 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 9 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 1.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 2.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 2 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 8 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 2.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 3.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 3 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 7 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 3.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 4.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 4 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 6 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 4.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 5.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 5 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 5 mL of distilled or DI water. This makes 10 mL of a 5.0 ppm PO4 solution.

[Rex Grigg]

Can I add that info to my Guide?

[Homer_Simpson]

Originally Posted by Left C

I've been to the water supply company several times. These guys are nice and offered to test my aquarium water anytime. Like mistergreen mentioned, the tap water tests are on the web, but you can have weekly, seasonal etc. variations that may not be shown by the on line tests.

Here's the info that Tom Requested. I have it in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet version too. Just PM me and I'll send it to you

How to Make Reference NO3 and PO4 Solutions

Here's a way to make 10, 20, 30 and 40 ppm NO3 reference solutions:

Add 1.631 g of KNO3 to 1 L DI/RO water. This makes a 1000 ppm NO3 solution. (It's really a 1000.29 ppm solution.)

Add 2 mL of the 1000 ppm solution to 18 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 20 mL of a 100 ppm NO3 solution.

Add 15 mL of the 100 ppm solution to 15 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 30 mL of a 50 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 10 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 2 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 8 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 10 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 20 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 4 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 6 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 20 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 30 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 6 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 4 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 30 ppm NO3 solution.

To make a 40 ppm NO3 solution:
Add 8 mL of the 50 ppm solution to 2 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 40 ppm NO3 solution.




Here's a way to make 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 ppm PO4 reference solutions:
Add 1.433 g of KH2PO4 to 1 L DI/RO water. This makes a 1000 ppm PO4 solution. (It's really a 1000.09 ppm solution.)

Add 1 mL of the 1000 ppm solution to 9 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 100 ppm PO4 solution.

Add 2 mL of the 100 ppm solution to 18 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 20 mL of a 10 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 1.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 1 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 9 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 1.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 2.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 2 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 8 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 2.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 3.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 3 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 7 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 3.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 4.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 4 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 6 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 4.0 ppm PO4 solution.

To make a 5.0 ppm PO4 solution:
Add 5 mL of the 10 ppm solution to 5 mL of DI/RO water. This makes 10 mL of a 5.0 ppm PO4 solution.

Excellent information! Thanks for sharing Left C. THIS SHOULD BE A STICKY!

[smaug]

thanks fellas,I actually used a professianal water testing company to do the tests,and I am on well water.

[Left C]

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

Can I add that info to my Guide?

You are very welcome to use it, Rex.

I also have it in a chart form using Microsoft Excel. PM me if you want it too. I don't know how to post Excel here on the site.