Nitrate test question

Stevenmi · 02-05-2007, 11:58 PM

Is it possible to half the chemical additions in a test to get an "increased range", Example:

I may have a new "client" that has nitrate levels that are off the chart!!

My test goes to 160 the color is a very dark red for this reading. Her water when tested is almost black!!

Never encountered this, So I decided to do a little adjusting and only added half the agents to the water second time around. 140ish...My thought tells me her water had a nitrate level of at least 280.....Is my logic wrong here?

Steve

lgerold · 02-06-2007, 12:11 AM

You may or not be right, but the reality is that regardless of whether the reading is 160 or 200 or 280, it's way too high, and emergency action needs to be taken to reduce the nitrates.

Are the fish stressed? I ask only because it is possible that the test could be reading high. I'm sure though, if you use the same test for your own tank, which reads at or near 0, the test has to be close enough.

Wow.

Good Luck. It looks like you're gonna have your work cut out for you!

Stevenmi · 02-06-2007, 12:24 AM

Unfortunately...Tank crashed before I got involved/everything dead. I will now help teach and rebuild the system.

Very nice setup, in wall 150 with tek t5's..was maintained by a local company until they went under.

System has been running sense june without water changes, auto top ro/di unit filling make up water, shaft on skimmer (sedra9000) snapped, ice storm (6 hour power outage), heater dead, and a well meaning 10 year old feeding the tank frozen cubes twice a day. Bad shape!! Only thing left is a sea hare munching the algae.

I will be doing a full teardown next weekend for them.

Steve

sasquatch · 02-06-2007, 12:30 AM

Horror story for sure! only things missing were fire and flood. I dont know if reducing ingredients in the kit will work? salifert alc and calk kits both do a half measure and you double the results so?? Steve

Frankie · 02-06-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevenmi

and a well meaning 10 year old feeding the tank frozen cubes twice a day.

Steve

That was my first guess. That the water they brought in had food in it or something. Well at least you have a ten year old to teach now. I love little reefers. My daughter knows how to take care of my tank now if i have to stay out for a few days. And shes 8!

02-05-2007, 11:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stevenmi Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland Michigan Posts: 218 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nitrate test question Is it possible to half the chemical additions in a test to get an "increased range", Example: I may have a new "client" that has nitrate levels that are off the chart!! My test goes to 160 the color is a very dark red for this reading. Her water when tested is almost black!! Never encountered this, So I decided to do a little adjusting and only added half the agents to the water second time around. 140ish...My thought tells me her water had a nitrate level of at least 280.....Is my logic wrong here? Steve __________________ Carpe Diem!

02-06-2007, 12:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
lgerold Scopas Tang Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brainerd, Mn Posts: 473 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Nitrate test question You may or not be right, but the reality is that regardless of whether the reading is 160 or 200 or 280, it's way too high, and emergency action needs to be taken to reduce the nitrates. Are the fish stressed? I ask only because it is possible that the test could be reading high. I'm sure though, if you use the same test for your own tank, which reads at or near 0, the test has to be close enough. Wow. Good Luck. It looks like you're gonna have your work cut out for you! __________________ Lucy Upgrade from 125 long to 210 on 1/7/07. 66 gallon sump/refugium. 10 hrs of light: 500 watt pc actinic 10 hrs 400 watt pc daylight 6 hrs 500 watt MH 4 hrs 180 lbs branch liverock. 100 lbs + assorted liverock. 3"+ DSB. Fish - Foxface, Yellow Tang, Mimic Tang, 2 Tomato Clowns, pair True Percula Clowns (and their 6 inch pastel green carpet), Mandarin, Scooter Blenny, Bartlett's Anthias, Royal Gramma, Pseudochromis Splendens. Blue/Gold Crocea Clam, Teardrop Squamosa Clam Coral favorites include: 2 Acanastreas, Pink Cynaria, Green Cynaria, Birdsnest, Trumpets, Red and Pink and Green Goniporas (3), Frogspawn (peach favorite), Fox Coral, Diploastrea, Blasto, 3 Fungia (orange, purple, and green) and many others.

02-06-2007, 12:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stevenmi Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland Michigan Posts: 218 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Nitrate test question Unfortunately...Tank crashed before I got involved/everything dead. I will now help teach and rebuild the system. Very nice setup, in wall 150 with tek t5's..was maintained by a local company until they went under. System has been running sense june without water changes, auto top ro/di unit filling make up water, shaft on skimmer (sedra9000) snapped, ice storm (6 hour power outage), heater dead, and a well meaning 10 year old feeding the tank frozen cubes twice a day. Bad shape!! Only thing left is a sea hare munching the algae. I will be doing a full teardown next weekend for them. Steve __________________ Carpe Diem!

02-06-2007, 12:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Nitrate test question Horror story for sure! only things missing were fire and flood. I dont know if reducing ingredients in the kit will work? salifert alc and calk kits both do a half measure and you double the results so?? Steve

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