API nitrate conflicting instructions

Well well well. Ive been dosing vodka (5 weeks)and was happy its at 40ppm so far on my reff master API test kit. and my PH was at 8.0 on API. I decided to take a sample to 2 LFS to have it tested..
my test kits are from 03/09


#1 store : said 5 ppm nitrate (same API kit) / 8.0 PH
#2 store : saif 5 ppm nitrate (test strips) / 8.4+ PH
home api: 40ppm with 10 drops of solution #1 and #2 wait 5 minutes


so I look at my saltwater nitrate Color card, and the instructions on the back of card are different than the instructions in booklet.

booklet: add 10 drops #1, shake 10 seconds, add 10 drops #2 shake for 1min, and wait 5 minutes for results = 40ppm nitrates

back of color card: add 6 drops #1, shake, add 6 drops #2 shake for 1 min, and wait "3" minutes for results = 20ppm nitrates

so what the heck?

dont get me wrong I like 5ppm or even 20ppm nitrate better than 40.. but very confused!!!!!

and my kit and store #1 said low ph, petco strips show sky high PH..

argh...

anyone have this problem?

 

For starters...don't trust test strips...

With conflicting instructions in the kit...discard and purchase another, preferably from a different manufacture...

 

the booklet is the way i know nitrate testing. the card is the way it says to do phosphates. i use api also. kinda weird and confusing for sure.

 

yea that what ive read too. my kit was missing phosphate card when bought new. either way 10 drops via booklet or 6 drops on card.. my nitrates are higher than the same kit (only 2 weeks old) at my LFS. both his kit and local petco strips read 5 ppm nitrates. I guess my vodka dosing worked and im at 5 ppm now..

 

my api says 10 drops of solution one then mix then shake solution 2 for 30 sec minimum and add 10 drops of it then shake for 1 min and let sit for 5 just what mine says

 

I have never had a accurate api kit. I have not even been close

 

yea that what my booklet says, just my nitrate card says otherwise..

well im still geting 20-40ppm nitrates, but like before other 2 LFS tests say im at 5ppm.. I guess Im somewhere between 5-20ppm

 

whats a good liquid nitrate test kit brand you use?

 

You cant go wrong with Salifert, Elos, Lemotte or Marin.




luna

 

yea most pricey too.

how about seachem or red sea nitrate test kits? better than api?