Water test kit questions

I have been showing 40 on the nitrates, .25 ammonia and low alkalinity, even after water change which I posted a week or so ago with several comments about why that I agreed with. I also was advised the API test kit was unreliable in a lot of peoples eyes.

I stopped by the LFS yesterday and they highly recommended the instant ocean kit (that they had in stock) so I bit.. I also purchased the selifert alkilinity test they recommended...

Got home and tested water and tested totally different as I ran side by side tests of the kits.. The API still showed 40 nitrates (which was 40 before water change and after) and the instant ocean showed 0. The ammonia .25 API and 0 instant ocean. the rest of the tests were almost exact..

Which kit do I believe? I tend to lean towards the instant ocean. I asked them to test the water and they were not able at the time but said they test using the same tests I purchased...

Last question - if instant ocean is the test I use it only came with 1 test tube.. Is it possible to mix the water and packet, then put into a holding container to sit and wait the time period the test requires to be able to speed the total testing time as it took forever to test all the parameters.. I have also attempted to find extra test tube (whatever they are called) but have not been successful...

Thoughts?

 

Im assuming the test tubes are different measures then the oens with your API kit? I agree I use API and find them inaccurate but with cycling a tank it at least gives me an idea of where I may be. Salifert is a trusted kit that many use and review very high rating, unsure of the IO kit

 

Let me add, due to my inexperience, I am trying to learn what is critical and whats acceptable.. It maybe ok for the test to be off a little but I just wanted to have it as accurate as possible until I have more experience..

 

Yes the test tubes are different however, they both hold 5ml of water.. big difference is the IO kit has a plastic chip that is inserted into the holder the is beside the water held for color comparison. Color detection isnt my strong suit but it does appear the chip's color is different when in the holder as opposed. The test water color is impacted as well.. Then again it may just be my poor vision or such a slight difference that it doesnt matter..