Salifert® Nitrate NO3 Profi Test Set

Salifert® Nitrate NO3 Profi Test Set for the exact determination of nitrate.

If there are not enough oxygen-poor areas (= anaerobic zones) in an aquarium or if denitrification is incomplete, nitrate formation will occur. A too high nitrate concentration can lead to undesired algae growth and these can irritate the corals around them. Nitrate as such also inhibits coral growth.

Nitrate concentration in a well-functioning reef aquarium should preferably be below 1 mg/L. Fish-only aquariums would normally have much higher nitrate concentrations.

Most test kits use a method where a certain portion of the nitrate is chemically converted to nitrite and measured as such.

Again, as with nitrite testing, amine interference has a large effect on the reading. If such interference occurs, concentrations are measured that are far below the actual values.

Salifert® Nitrate NO3 Profi Test can of course also be used to measure NO3 in freshwater tanks. Here, too, a low value is the be-all and end-all of a good water balance (algae growth) and prevention of nitrite formation.

Conclusion

Many nitrate test kits are susceptible to amine interference. This can lead to results that are far below the actual results.

The Salifert® Nitrate NO3 Profi test is not affected by such amine interference. The very special ingredients allow a very fast and precise measurement.

The range is from a very low to a very high nitrate concentration (approx. 0.05 - 20 mg/L as nitrate nitrogen or 0.2 - 100 mg/L as nitrate ion).

Approx. 60 measurements can be performed with the kit.