question about testing water

[rpc07]

Today i tested my water like i do everyday and came up with


amm - 0
nitrite - 2ppm
nitrate - 5-10 ppm
ph - 8.2

Which is fine considering im coming to the end of my cycle i alsowent to a local shop and had them test my water and this is what they got

amm - 0
nitrite - 5ppm
nitrate - over 100ppm
ph - 8.2

Both of us used an api master test kit so this is some what confusing. All i did was put some of my tank water into a water bottle and drive to the store. My kit is less then 6 months old and i followed the directions on the card for testing the water

Anyone have any insight on what might have happened?

Im going to bring a water sample to a different place tomorrow and see what they get and go from there.

 

[jaa1456]

It is highly unlikely that you would have 100ppm nitrates. How did you cycle your tank? With fish or just live rock?

 

[rpc07]

live rock / raw shrimp

 

[jaa1456]

Raw shrimp as in throwing it in there and leaving it? Then possibly they could be high, But still 100ppm is very high.

 

[Dre]

You left out some information that would be helpfull .Size of the tank ,how long is the tank been cycling, how much live rock/substrate,what size shrimp did you use,what's the age of the test kit used at your LFT.Do yourself a favor and buy a reliable test kit like Salifert in the future and remember every tank is different cycle time may vary.

 

[rpc07]

55gal tank
15 gal fuge
test kit is less then 6 months old
50-55lbs live rock
2" sand bed in dt
2" sand bed in the fuge w/ cheato

been in the cycle around 3 1/2 weeks
as far as the shrimp i went to the seafood section of the supermarket and got one of the shrimp they sell put it in a nylon bad and put it in the sump.

 

[Awibrandy]

Let me ask you this. Did the lfs person then try to sell you some stuff to "help" rid the "high" nitrates???

 

[Dre]

55gal tank
15 gal fuge
test kit is less then 6 months old
50-55lbs live rock
2" sand bed in dt
2" sand bed in the fuge w/ cheato

been in the cycle around 3 1/2 weeks
as far as the shrimp i went to the seafood section of the supermarket and got one of the shrimp they sell put it in a nylon bad and put it in the sump.

Well now i'm leaning towards the test kit from your LFS.A retest should be done though.Your nitrite /nitrate should be at '0' by now but not a problem at this time because there is no livestock in your tank.Remove the shrimp immediately ,the cheato will take care of the nitrates in a week or two, be patient .You used too much shrimp IMO LOL.

 

[rpc07]

Let me ask you this. Did the lfs person then try to sell you some stuff to "help" rid the "high" nitrates???

no they told me to be patient and ride it out