I have a 65g JBJ. I swap the filter socks 2x a week, 5 gallon water change per week, feed once per day, and have an aquamax 1.5 HOB skimmer that skims brown muck that I empty 2x a week.
Since I started the tank 6 months ago I consistantly read about 32ppm nitrate with this Red Sea test. Today I did a 10 gallon change, and am still reading about the same.
I'm wondering if I'm using the test wrong.
Do I place the vial in the white center, and look through it at an angle to the other colors for a match, or do I place the vial on each color and see at which the vial color is no longer indistinguishable from the card?
Right now, with the vial in the center, it appears I would have between 20 and 50 ppm. It;s slightly darker than 20, but not as dark as 50.
But if I place the vials OVER the color chips, then 5ppm seems like the correct choice.
Since I started the tank 6 months ago I consistantly read about 32ppm nitrate with this Red Sea test. Today I did a 10 gallon change, and am still reading about the same.
I'm wondering if I'm using the test wrong.
Do I place the vial in the white center, and look through it at an angle to the other colors for a match, or do I place the vial on each color and see at which the vial color is no longer indistinguishable from the card?
Right now, with the vial in the center, it appears I would have between 20 and 50 ppm. It;s slightly darker than 20, but not as dark as 50.
But if I place the vials OVER the color chips, then 5ppm seems like the correct choice.