A777flygirl Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 I used the Nutrafin test for ammonia and I have a really hard time understanding what the results are. Please see attached pictures and let me know what you think. Also, Nitrate and Nitrite are both so faint in color...do I assume close to 0 ? Thanks!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 That's a tough one. Did you run another test? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A777flygirl Posted May 21, 2017 Author Share Posted May 21, 2017 No....sounds like the a good idea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted May 21, 2017 Share Posted May 21, 2017 I watched a couple YouTube videos and they had a definitive green to their results. Just some pointers: Shake your reagents really good and hold the droppers straight up and down when adding them to the test tube. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A777flygirl Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 I ordered API and Slifer tests so I can compare.... I'm not comfortable with the uncertainty.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoDoze Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Looks unusually cloudy....? Anything expired? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A777flygirl Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 I retested today and it clearly read O I must have done something wrong... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 As a water chemist in the Navy the first rule was that if you got an unexpected result, retest. 99% of the time that took care of the problem. The other 1% were oh crap moments! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A777flygirl Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 I am also finding I question the test equipment....I am so old I can hardly see the refractometer readings and it varies from the plastic hydrometer readings... Hope I can get better at all of this...I have been dreaming of beautiful coral and fish.....and getting anxious....the tank has only been running since May 5 and I keep shopping on line....restraint is hard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 7 minutes ago, A777flygirl said: I am also finding I question the test equipment....I am so old I can hardly see the refractometer readings and it varies from the plastic hydrometer readings... Hope I can get better at all of this...I have been dreaming of beautiful coral and fish.....and getting anxious....the tank has only been running since May 5 and I keep shopping on line....restraint is hard! Indeed - it is tricky. The hydrometers are definitely considered less reliable but I can see where they would be easier to read. If you continue to struggle, you might consider taking some sample to a trustworthy LFS to get accurate readings which you can compare to the hydrometer and figure out an adjustment factor. There are also conductivity/salinity probes you could use to get continuous readings on a digital display but, like everything else, accurate calibration is required. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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