Easy to Read Nitrate Test Kit?

[nivliw]

Hanna has freshwater colorimeters for those, so you would just follow the directions.

Hanna has freshwater colorimeters for those, so you would just follow the directions.

Thanks mate! I also noticed that there is a calculator on Google Drive on this website that gets the real nitrate level by the normal result. Is that one more accurate than your method or is your method still the best?

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Thanks mate! I also noticed that there is a calculator on Google Drive on this website that gets the real nitrate level by the normal result. Is that one more accurate than your method or is your method still the best?

I made that conversion calculator because there are no Nitrate freshwater colorimeters from Hanna.

The Phosphate checkers do work with freshwater, just not the nitrate.

 

[Kwyet]

Thanks mate! I also noticed that there is a calculator on Google Drive on this website that gets the real nitrate level by the normal result. Is that one more accurate than your method or is your method still the best?

I expect they are pretty similar. It’s easier for me to just do the test than to pull out a laptop and plug in numbers while I’m doing weekly maintenance. I’m sure @Naturescapes_Rocco did a great job with it though. He’s very meticulous. Btw, it’s not my method. I borrowed it from Deanna on TPT.

 

[nivliw]

I made that conversion calculator because there are no Nitrate freshwater colorimeters from Hanna.

The Phosphate checkers do work with freshwater, just not the nitrate.

I expect they are pretty similar. It’s easier for me to just do the test than to pull out a laptop and plug in numbers while I’m doing weekly maintenance. I’m sure @Naturescapes_Rocco did a great job with it though. He’s very meticulous. Btw, it’s not my method. I borrowed it from Deanna on TPT.

Do you guys know if the FE tester is also fine for freshwater and no conversion is needed?

 

[Kwyet]

The Hanna Iron colorimeter HI721 is fine for freshwater, with no conversion needed. However, it’s pretty pricy for something you’ll rarely use, if ever.

 

[JacksonL]

Do you guys know if the FE tester is also fine for freshwater and no conversion is needed?

It doesn’t pick up chelated iron, only free/ferrous form.
From Claude:
The HI721 uses the phenanthroline method, which requires iron to be in the Fe²⁺ (ferrous) form to react. The reagent includes a reducing agent to convert Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ before the reaction. However:
Fe-EDTA and Fe-DTPA — the chelating agent competes with phenanthroline for the iron. The reagent’s reducing/acid environment does partially strip iron from weaker chelates like EDTA, so you’ll get some reading, but it may underreport true total iron.
• Fe-DTPA (what APT 3 uses) is a stronger chelate than EDTA, meaning phenanthroline has a harder time displacing it. Readings for DTPA-chelated iron tend to be lower than the actual dosed concentration.
• Fe-HEEDTA (common in many all-in-ones) sits somewhere in between.

Still useful for trends, just not for exact amounts.

 

[nivliw]

The Hanna Iron colorimeter HI721 is fine for freshwater, with no conversion needed. However, it’s pretty pricy for something you’ll rarely use, if ever.

It was cheaper than the others, I paid like 130 for nitrate 130 for phosphorous and just 80 for iron

 

[nivliw]

The Hanna Iron colorimeter HI721 is fine for freshwater, with no conversion needed. However, it’s pretty pricy for something you’ll rarely use, if ever.

It doesn’t pick up chelated iron, only free/ferrous form.
From Claude:
The HI721 uses the phenanthroline method, which requires iron to be in the Fe²⁺ (ferrous) form to react. The reagent includes a reducing agent to convert Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ before the reaction. However:
Fe-EDTA and Fe-DTPA — the chelating agent competes with phenanthroline for the iron. The reagent’s reducing/acid environment does partially strip iron from weaker chelates like EDTA, so you’ll get some reading, but it may underreport true total iron.
• Fe-DTPA (what APT 3 uses) is a stronger chelate than EDTA, meaning phenanthroline has a harder time displacing it. Readings for DTPA-chelated iron tend to be lower than the actual dosed concentration.
• Fe-HEEDTA (common in many all-in-ones) sits somewhere in between.

Still useful for trends, just not for exact amounts.

Hey guys, I wanted to ask how do you clean your cuvettes after using? I remove the solution and use tap water however a little water still remains inside I tried with a paper but it doesn’t go in

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Rinse with tap water aggressively, flick dry, rinse with RO/DI water. Leave cap off, store on it's side (or vertically) to dry.

Rinse with RO Water right before use if necessary.

 

[nivliw]

Rinse with tap water aggressively, flick dry, rinse with RO/DI water. Leave cap off, store on it's side (or vertically) to dry.

Rinse with RO Water right before use if necessary.

Thanks mate! How do you dry them externally before leaving them to air dry? Microfiber cloth or paper? Im afraid paper will ruin them in the long run but maybe I’m just paranoid

 

[Long Sun Aquascaping]

I've used paper towels for years with no noticeable ill effects. Really, like Rocco mentioned, flicking them and leaving them to air dry overnight is usually sufficient.

 

[nivliw]

Looks like my tank is out of balance?