Learning to Use API Tests -- I'm an Idiot!!!

[Kissyboots]

I did the same thing the first time I tested. But when I did it right the reading didn't change...hmmm...

But my card says as follows:

1. add 10 drops of #1
2. shake solution
3. shake #2 for 30 sec.
4. add 10 drops of #2
5. shake solution one min.
6. wait five min.
7. read

Did you shake after adding #1? Did you wait five minutes before reading? I screwed that whole thing up the first time I did it...hehe

[Lone Wolff]

Well, I never had an issue with the instructions but I did have a problem with the caps for the test tubes never being tight enough. Every time I go to shake the tube for the Nitrate test for 60 seconds, it would always leak down the side.

So I finally got fed up and went to the hardware store and bought 3 rubber stoppers that fit down inside the tubes, not just capping over the outside.
Now when I have to shake the tubes, there's no mess.

If anyone else has that problem with their caps being so loose that they leak, try the rubber stoppers. They were only $.19 each at the local Ace Hardware.

[Whiskers]

Good call Lone wolff. Wish i wish i had thought of that. I've had that problem too and i'm sure we aren't the only ones. i adventually went to test strips to get away from the mess and using all the drops.

[khisanthax]

omg, I feel like a nub too /runs over to test nitrates /sigh

[iapetus]

Originally Posted by Whiskers

Good call Lone wolff. Wish i wish i had thought of that. I've had that problem too and i'm sure we aren't the only ones.

No, you're not the only ones! And, yes, good call; it's a really annoying problem. I'm dropping by the hardware store tomorrow to have them cut some glass to serve as a cover for my 2.5G. Maybe I'll look into some rubber stoppers, too.

[emmanuelchavez]

wait? what?! lol. I've never followed those instructions... I just

1. Add 10 drops of Soln 1
2. Add 10 drops of Soln 2
3. Shake
4. Wait 5 minutes
5. Read


I still get nitrate readings though. When I get home, I'm going to check the instructions, and do the tests both ways!!!!

[brian1973]

well that does explain alot,I have often questioned how you had 0 nitrates, thanks for posting it since seems more than just you has made this mistake. Plus clears up the mystery of why i see others with 0 Nitrates and mine stay around 5ppm in a planted and lightly stocked tank.

FYI I have a hard time distingushing between the colors on some of the cards, so i hold the test tube up in front of the color stripes and it makes it easier for me to tell the difference.

[Kissyboots]

Originally Posted by brian1973

well that does explain alot,I have often questioned how you had 0 nitrates, thanks for posting it since seems more than just you has made this mistake. Plus clears up the mystery of why i see others with 0 Nitrates and mine stay around 5ppm in a planted and lightly stocked tank.

I'm sure some have seen my thread about me not having nitrates and then all of a sudden I do.

Summary: The test strips I used to use always gave me around 20ppm. Then I started the API and it always told me 0ppm. At the last wc, API tells me 5ppm on the 20g but not on the other two tanks. I am testing correctly, just like it says on the card. Did I miss something??

[iapetus]

Originally Posted by brian1973

well that does explain alot,I have often questioned how you had 0 nitrates, thanks for posting it since seems more than just you has made this mistake.

Well, I am a little surprised that someone remembered my claiming this. Still, honesty and that slight possibility seemed to demand that I come clean.

Originally Posted by brian1973

FYI I have a hard time distingushing between the colors on some of the cards, so i hold the test tube up in front of the color stripes and it makes it easier for me to tell the difference.

I have a very hard time with this if it's over 20 ppm. That's one of the things I like about using the strips.

Speaking of strips ...

Originally Posted by Kissyboots

Summary: The test strips I used to use always gave me around 20ppm. Then I started the API and it always told me 0ppm. At the last wc, API tells me 5ppm on the 20g but not on the other two tanks. I am testing correctly, just like it says on the card. Did I miss something??

What are the gradations on the strips? Does it go from 0 ppm to 20 ppm? Or, does it have readings in between? Also, is it possible that you lowered your nitrate levels through water changes?

[Kissyboots]

Let's see...I don't have strips anymore but I kept the box (I keep everything...) It goes from 0-20-40-80-160-200

It ALWAYS gave me a reading in the 0-40 range. NEVER 0 and NEVER 40. I didn't do anything else about my wc so that can't be it. Weird...