General Discussion - Salifert help!!

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Salifert help!!

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Topic: Salifert help!!

Posted By: ReefBones
Subject: Salifert help!!
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 1:45am

I seem to have lost my color chart for my nitrite test ... I know the colors where the same as the nitrate color chart however the representing numbers where differant .. can someone tell me what the numbers are? ...

Thanks!

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140 gallon Reef
65 gallon Reef
55 gallon Aggressive

www.thesalttank.com

801-865-6074

"encourage other divers and sea enthusiasts to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles"

Replies:

Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 7:30am

I have Red Seas brand...

Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 9:57am

You shouldn't see any color (or at least the zero reading). If you see any color you're still cycling (or recycling). IMO, ammonia testing is much more informative and useful. Ammonia is much more harmful then nitrite in saltwater fishes. When ammonia is zero I feel pretty confident adding fish...

BTW, I feel the same about phosphate testing. If it's pink at all I think it's a problem, regardless of actual concentration.

[edited: mistyped nitrite as nitrate]

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Jon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing...

Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:28am

If it's pink at all I think it's a problem

Salifert Phosphate Test turns - Blue

Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:24am

Blue, not pink.

But pink is still my favorite color!

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Jon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing...

Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 12:00pm

Jon, is it that way with all NO3, PO4 tests?

Pink? That is my favorite, too!

Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 1:31pm

is it that way with all NO3, PO4 tests?

Not with nitrate. Although zero (or just a trace) nitrates is desired, levels as high as 20 - 30 ppm are likely not a health concern for most tank inhabitants. But those levels of nitrate can lead to brown corals and nuisance algae growth.

Phosphate can lead to similar problems, but even fairly low levels can lead to serious health issues in calcifying organisms. So pretty much any level, detectable with hobby kits, is a concern to me.

Nitrite is of very little concern to me. If you're cycling a tank and the ammonia has dropped to zero then your nitrite will be down to zero within a week or so. And I don't think nitrites are very toxic either. Somewhat more toxic then nitrate but much less toxic then ammonia. Ammonia is the cycling killer, imo.

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Jon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing...

Posted By: Suzy
Date Posted: May 10 2006 at 4:53pm

Thanks, Jon!