Nitrates Test kits and monitors!!!!!

[24storm]

I hate test kits!!!

I have a Elos nitrate kit and its show a yellow orange as zero lite pink is 5 and as the pink gets darker the higher the nitrates you have. So i test and i get like an orange kinda color so what does that mean? Is that zero is that less than 5? I hate test kits.

I have a Pin point nitrate monitor. I recalibrate my meter and it says i have between 8 and 10 it changes every couple of minutes. Its a pin point monitor that i bought about a year ago. But i just got a brand new probe for it about a month ago direct from pin point.

Any thoughts?
Keith

[Johnny Reefer]

I love my PP NO3 monitor. Directions say to wait one minute, so that's what I do. Whatever the reading is at one minute is what I go with. How old are your calibration fluids? I've had my monitor for only a few months. During that time, I can't help but think that the cal fluids get cross contamination from each other. I plan to get new cal fluids at one years time, whether I need them or not.

[24storm]

Fluids are brand new they sent new ones with the new probe.

Have you compared it to a test kit? Are you getting the same reading you did before you got the monitor?

Do you leave yours in the tank all the time. I know the directions say not to but i have spoke to American marine and they say it is fine to leave it in.

Keith

I love my PP NO3 monitor. Directions say to wait one minute, so that's what I do. Whatever the reading is at one minute is what I go with. How old are your calibration fluids? I've had my monitor for only a few months. During that time, I can't help but think that the cal fluids get cross contamination from each other. I plan to get new cal fluids at one years time, whether I need them or not.

[Doug]

I use the cheaper API nitrate test kit. Seems to work fine for me.

[don.ald]

which sponsors carry the pp No3 monitor??

[xtreme]

which sponsors carry the pp No3 monitor??

On sale at J&L right now:

http://www.jlaquatics.com/info/162/American+Marine+Pinpoint+Monitors.html

[e46er]

jesus 300 bux?? thats alot of test kits................

[Delphinus]

Yeah, and the probes only last so long. I have one it's a complete paperweight. The replacement probe costs $200 so paperweight it stays for now. Not really a huge fan of the probe, takes 5 to 10 minutes to get a solid reading where it doesn't bounce around. I don't think the science is there personally.

Think Hanna makes a colorimeter for nitrates but don't get me started on the PO4 version. Hated that thing too.

And I hate test kits.

It's really a case of pick your poison.

[RuGlu6]

jesus 300 bux?? thats alot of test kits................

x2
And you have to calibrate too, takes as much time as testisng... so whats the point spending so much?

[Johnny Reefer]

....
Have you compared it to a test kit? Are you getting the same reading you did before you got the monitor?

Do you leave yours in the tank all the time. I know the directions say not to but i have spoke to American marine and they say it is fine to leave it in.
My test kit readings were about ~ 1.5x what the PP says.
No, I don't leave the probe in. Would like to. If they says it's okay then....but....

...... The replacement probe costs $200 so paperweight it stays for now.

Think Hanna makes a colorimeter for nitrates but don't get me started on the PO4 version. Hated that thing too. .....
Yikes! $200. I didn't know that. I think I'll use mine only when I test. (ie: not in the tank all the time).
I have a Hanna PO4 as well, and ya, I'm not a big fan. It's the opposite of the PP NO3 in that it says my PO4 is through the roof. They say to shake the sample gently. Define gently. Even if I don't shake it at all, it still reads about 6x what I think it should/want it to read.

x2
And you have to calibrate too, takes as much time as testisng... so whats the point spending so much?
See post #1. For me, I couldn't stand trying to differentiate between colour shades on the colour chart of test kits anymore. At least with the PP it tells me what it thinks the level is to +/- 1ppm, instead of me trying to figure out what I think the level is based on a stupid colour chart with a high range between colours.

Cheers,