Nitrate in Diamond (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

I mean Black Diamond carbon. I just tested the Black Diamond carbon and found 2.5 ppm nitrate. I soak the carbon for 48 before testing with RO/DI water. For those who have detected nitrate in their tank, might want to discard the BDC. I believe they label as No Nitrate and No Phosphate.

 

[Guest]

then what is a good brand to use instead of black diamond?

 

[Niko5]

Hummm.. im going to test my carbon.. I have some of that bulk carbon from Global anyone else test that?

 

[Guest]

Kevin,
What made you test it? did you notice something when you used it?

 

[Guest]

I heard other reefer been using this brand and I don't usually use carbon but lately I been using for different reason. My tank nitrate reading have always been 0 ppm. Later I been doing alot of changes to my tanks and I been detected nitrate in my tank from Sailfert test kit. I didn't think anything of it and I just decide to test the carbon. I have not tested any other carbon before. I will buy different brands and post the result later.

 

[Guest]

am I wrong by thinking that carbon kills fish waste inwhich is the place that alot of nitrate comes from? So the end result would still be good?

 

[Guest]

how on earth do you have zero nitrate in your water...unless u dont feed your livestock

 

[Guest]

Yao,
It is not unusually to run reef tanks with undetectable nitrate level. If you have problem with nitrate don't expect the corals to thrive in your system.
I feed my corals with Golden Pearl and fish with Frozen MS and my system able to keep nitrate at undetecable rate using Sailifert test kit.
It is depends on how well your system setup. Refugium combine with skimmer will lower the nitrate level.

 

[Guest]

my nitrate is at 20-40.hope that'd be OK for corals.i also use salifert..

 

[KarenB]

Kevin, did you try using any other test kits besides Salifert to compare the results? I don't know if Salifert is more sensitive (though my last Salifert calcium test kit is off by 50 points.....grrrr). I use the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals ones for the ammonia, nitrate and pH, and I have always tested at 0 ppm nitrate. I use Kent Marine charcoal, though, not Black Diamond.

I'm sure we could start a whole debate about test kits alone....LOL.

 

[Guest]

Karen,
Salifert is the most trusted test kit in this hobby. They just have a bad batch of calcium test kit off by 50 ppm. I will test with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit later.

I don't know about Kent, I have not tested Kent.

 

[Guest]

Please post more details of the test. I can't tell if you were testing the water or if you actually had carbon granules in contact with the test kit chemicals.

Carbon could be having an effect on the reagents in the test kit, giving a false reading.

A good way to do this experiment IMHO:
1) Mix up a batch of seawater divide it into two cups

2) Add fresh carbon to one of the cups

3)Test the water from both cups to see if there's a difference

only then you can conclude that the carbon is adding nitrates to your water.

 

[KarenB]

That is a good experiment if the source water you use for the mix tests zero for nitrates, also, so you are starting with a proper base for your tests. Of course, I figure you would assume that to begin with...just a thought that crossed my mind.

 

[Guest]

I tested the RO/DI water first and the result is undetectable nitrate but with carbon is show nitrate.

 

[Guest]

Did you test phosphates also?? How old is the carbon??

 

[Guest]

I did tested phosphate but I think my test kit is bad. I will use a phosphate colorimeter to test it next week.

 

[fishcraze]

Kevin, My 2 cents about doing the no3 test on your carbon:

Take 2 samples (1 gal each?) of your tank water (not the fresh mixed water). Then put some carbon in one of the samples. Let the samples stand for 24 hr and test both samples several times and calculate the difference b/t the averaged results of the two samples.

The reason I suggested your tank water, not fresh DI/RO or fresh saltwater mix is maybe the actual amount of NO3 leaching from the carbon to the water depends on the difference in NO3 concentration in your carbon and your water. The cleaner (in NO3) the water, the more NO3 leaches out. JMO

 

[Guest]

Quoc,
I will try that and see what is the result.

 

[Guest]

what was your result?