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Measuring Nitrates higher than 40
http://byap.backyardmagazines.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7565
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Author:  kwieland [ Jun 2nd, '10, 10:39 ]
Post subject:  Measuring Nitrates higher than 40

As TCLynx pointed out, it is best to keep the nitrates in a range you can read them. I have the same problem she has, namely high nitrates to the point of not really being able to read them. Anything higher than ~40ppm is really hard to distinguish. Is it 80? 160? I've no clue, really. (Does it really matter? Perhaps not. Especially for the plants!)

Say I really wanted to measure it, though. What if I dilute down the fish tank water with rain water (assuming that rain water is ~zero nitrates) five to one or ten to one and then use the same test? Wouldn't 40ppm on that really be 200ppm (5:1) or 400ppm (10:1)?

The vials are 1tsp (5ml). I was thinking of a 1ml syringe. (pretty cheap, ~0.13US$ea HERE, probably cheaper (because of shipping) at your local pharmacy)

Thoughts? Errors? Bring another grow bed online?

Author:  orcy2010 [ Jun 2nd, '10, 11:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Measuring Nitrates higher than 40

definately.

standard practice for many chemicals is to water them down to a point where you can read them on the scale you have. certainly wont be much further out than average error for a backyard test, anyway.

a syringe is also an excellent way to measure stuff out. I always prefered to take water from the tank with a syringe too, rather than dip the kits little test vial in every time.

Author:  earthbound [ Jun 2nd, '10, 12:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Measuring Nitrates higher than 40

Definitely bring more growbeds online, or perhaps make a floating raft for the top of your fish tank with some fast growing water loving plants in it..

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