I finally found a store that had nitrate test kits I am a bit confused on the results.What's the difference with high range and low range? Which result should I be looking at?I also got one of those UV sterilizers.I've read that they help with parasites and water quality.Could someone help me out with the nitrate test results?Please..thanks

I believe some test kits split up into two ranges so it is easier to tell the difference between the colors. It is very common with pH test kits. I would just use the low range first. Most likely your tankwater should fall in that range. If your water registers the highest color of the low range, then you must use the high range.

Interesting. What brand is it? What's the range of the low and high range tests?

It's called RED SEA.I scanned the box so you could see


This is the range thing.


Any help appreciated.Thank you

sorry that pic is too big I can't seem to reduce it's size.

Hi Cathy,

This is the first time I have seen a dual range nitrAte kit but it should work better. The best way to use this is to start with the low range test drops. If the colour comes up red/bright red then it mean your reading is probably beyond 50. Switch to the high range drops and repeat the test. You should get the acurate reading then.

Thanks Captk
But what do you mean when you said switch to the high range drops?I'm sorry but I can't get anything from the instructions from the box.


Do you mean repeat procedure?

OIC, now that is confusing. I'm sorry, I thought that there is a high range test AND a low range test drops but it looks like (from the instructions), you add all 3 drops one after the other so how would you know that it is low or high range?! I'm doing some digging now. I'll let you know when I can.

Thank you(as always) for helping me out!I really appreciate it It really is confusing

Okay, I've found something that give us a clue but still not the full details. It comes from an article here;
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=96
And the important part reads;
"Red Sea Nitrate Mini-Lab test
The Red Sea Nitrate Mini-Lab test kit can be used in both fresh and saltwater and comes with enough reagent for 60 tests.
Unusually, it can be used to measure nitrate at both high and low range, and comes with a single colour chart labelled for both ranges. The low range covers 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20 and 50 mg/l, while the high range covers 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 250 mg/l. If the test result obtained exceeds the 50 mg/l maximum point on the low range markings, you can simply dilute the sample with nitrate-free RO or distilled water and check again using the high range markings. "

So it implies that you do the test, read off the low range chart. If it is at 50 or above (red->very red) then you would clean the test tubes, get more tank water and then dilute the water sample and run the test again but now read from the high range side. From the printed scale you would think that you need to dilute it by 5:1. i.e. 1ml of tank water, 5 ml distilled water. Does that make sense to you? "

Thank you sooooo much
I think I understand it now.It would 've helped if they put that in their instructions

No worries, glad to help (as always).

Yes, universal graphical instruction is all very well but if it doesn't explain all the functions then it is useless.

Thanks again

I tested my water today and these are the results.

PH 6.5~7
Ammonia 0 mg
Nitrite 0 mg
Nitrate 50 ppm

I tested using the low range first and it got all red so I tested again diluting tank water with filtered water and the result is still 50ish on high range.Is this okay or should I do a water change?Thanks...

So, with the after diluting the sample, it is now pinkish colour, right? If it is around 50, I would do a partial water change. Maybe 20%. Up to 40ppm is okay. Not great but acceptable.

Yes it was pinkish...What makes the nitrate go high?I always do 50% water changes every week I have plants in there because I've read that they help keep nitrates down.Am I doing something wrong???I'd better do a 50% water change just to be sure

Thank you very much

It is back to Nitrogen Cycle 101 for you, Cathy.

As you know, the nitrogen cycle converts the toxic ammonia into harmful nitrItes and then a different set of bacterias convert the nitrIte into the least harmful nitrAte but that's where the process stops. Effectively, you are stock piling nitrAtes everyday. Sure, plants and algaes uses it and a small amount is gassed off naturally but a lot more is created than removed naturally. The most effective way to remove nitrAte is via water changes but even then, you are just keeping ahead.

Right...Thanks I guess 50% water change a week is not enough I'd better make it once every four days Thank you very much!!

Well, you have to be realistic too. Sure, it would be great to have nitrAte at zero but that is too hard and 50 is not that far from 40 which is okay so it is not as if your fish are in dire danger. As long as you are aware, and you try to keep it under control then it is fine.

Thanks...I will continue to monitor my water quality.As long as it does not go above 40 ppm is fine,right?I want my fish to be happy and healthy My black moor is not yet well so I worry too much.Thank you very much

It' so hard to type with rubber gloves on

I dunno about you, but I do my partial water changes on weekends. You could do a couple of 50% partial water changes in a row evey so often. That should reduce nitrAte by 75% depending on how much nitrAte is in your tap water.

Does your tap water contain any nitrAte?

I've always done my water changes every weekends too.It's the first time I tested for nitrates so I wasn't sure what was a good result.I'm worried coz one of my fish has white blotches(not ich)for some time now and someone told me it could be due to high nitrates.I don't know if I have nitrates on my tap water maybe I should check that too.Thanks Dataguru

I checked nitrates from tap and it turned out pinkish from the low range.I guess I have 10 ppm nitrates from my tap water. Is that bad?what do I do now?Thanks...

What that means is that 10ppm is your baseline. It will be very difficult to go below 10ppm nitrAte if you keep using the tap water for water changes. Of course, there is no need to panic. It just means that you have to factor that 10ppm in everytime you change water and you will need to change a little bit more and/or a little more often. The goal is still the same, try to keep it under 40ppm and lower is better.

I did a water change today and tested again and this time,it didn't turn red but kind of looks a little darker than the 20 ppm low range So I guess it's more than 20 but less than 50.Am I making sense? Thank you

Yeah, that make sense, you are removing more nitrAtes than what you add back in from your tap water so the end result is less nitrAte.

Thanks for all the help,Captk