Api saltwater master test kit

In October I purchased the test kit. I was just planning on a FOWLR tank. I have recently purchased the API Reef Master test kit. (would like to have with some corals).

Over the past 2 months I have been testing the nitrates with both test kits.

And you guessed it, the saltwater test kit consistently reads 20 on Nitrates and the Reef test kit reads 5-10 for nitrates.

I really dont know what the deal is. Has anyone ran into this before?

Same manufacturer with consistently different results. Any Suggestions?

 

I have both kits and they read the same.

 

are the lot numbers the same on both bottles? The lot numbers on my nitrate #2 bottle Saltwater kit is 18A0607. On the reef bottle #2 it is 18B0507. I dont know if this means anything, but both bottle #1 on both kits read the same 17B0407

 

Do you rinse the vials after each use? Do you make sure that the cap for reagent A consistently goes back onto reagent A and cap B goes back onto reagent B? (I.e. not switched) Do you shake them for the required time? There's all sorts of things that can go wrong with reagent-based test kits but usually it accidental cross-contamination by switching caps.

 

everything is done by the book. It must have to do with the different lot number on the 2nd bottle. I dont believe it was mixed the same as the other lot of chemical. Atleast that is the way it appears to me.

 

I have both test kits and I just tested my tank with both. Same reading here. Did you shake vigorously for 1 min and reagent 2 for 30 sec like the directions said? I messed that up in the beginning and just inverted it a few times and the results were way off.

 

the lot number, I've read here many times has a use by or sell by date...somebody correct me

 

Heres a thread about the API test kits. Luna


http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/those-who-use-api-test-kits-fyi-48335.html

 

thank you all for your input. not expired product. I think I will try to use bottle 1 from 1 kit and bottle 2 from the other and vice versa, perhaps i can find the bottle that is giving the different results that way.