Tropic Marin NO2/NO3-Test Professional

Tropic Marin's NO2/NO3-Test Professional is a test for checking the nitrite/nitrate content in saltwater and freshwater aquariums. All the necessary test cuvettes, reagents, dosing syringes and colour cards are included in the delivery. Once the reagents have been used, they can be bought as refill packs separately.

The nitrogen cycle, nitrite and nitrate in aquariums

During the nitrogen cycle and over the course of the nitrification process in an aquarium useful bacteria break down waste products such as dead plants and fish excreta, mineralise them and render them harmless. In the first part of this process, ammonium is converted into nitrite which is toxic to aquarium dwellers. In the second stage of the nitrification process, toxic nitrites get oxidised to nitrates. Plants absorb these nitrates and the cycle starts all over again.

Nitrite and nitrate concentrations must be checked regularly in aquariums. High nitrate concentrations can inhibit coral growth or result in algal blooms. Low levels, on the other hand, can result in nitrate deficiencies and have a negative impact on aquarium inhabitants.

Nitrite values must be kept low in all aquariums - the optimal value is below 0.2 mg/L. The nitrate level in freshwater aquariums should be less than 50 mg/L. Saltwater aquariums should not have a nitrate level above 20 mg/L. In aquariums with corals, the nitrate value should be below 10 mg/L.

Instructions for use:

The nitrite concentration influences the nitrate measurement. Therefore, before the measurement, both nitrite and nitrate must be measured and the nitrate results corrected if necessary.

Nitrite measurement:

1. Shake the dropper bottle vigorously before use.
2. Rinse the glass cuvette first with tap water and then with aquarium water.
3. Fill the glass cuvette with 15 ml aquarium water use the dosing syringe.
4. Attach the dropper tip to the 1 ml dosing syringe. Add 1 ml of Test Reagent A and seal the glass cuvette with a stopper. Shake the solution gently and place it back in the comparator.
5. Add 4 drops of Test Reagent C, close the glass cuvette with a stopper and shake the solution gently. Place it back in the comparator.
6. After a development time of 3 minutes, place the glass cuvette in the comparator on the white circles of the nitrite colour chart. The empty comparator opening without cuvette should be below the colour card and the narrow end of the comparator should be pointing to the colour fields. Compare the colour of the water sample to the colour fields in natural daylight. To do this, look into the open cuvette from above. Move the water sample on the colour chart until the colour of the cuvette and the colour field match.
7. Now read the nitrite value under the colour field. If the colours do match exactly, you will need to find an intermediate value.
8. After the measurement, rinse the glass cuvette and syringe with tap water.

Nitrate measurement:

1. Shake the dropper bottle vigorously before use.
2. Rinse the glass cuvette first with tap water and then with aquarium water.
3. Fill the glass cuvette with 15 ml aquarium water using the dosing syringe. Place the cuvette in the comparator which serves as a cuvette stand.
4. Attach the dropper tip to the 1 ml dosing syringe. Add 1 ml of Test Reagent A to the water sample and close the glass cuvette with a stopper. Shake the solution gently and place it back in the comparator.
5. Shake the bottle containing Test Reagent B in the horizontal position for about 30 seconds. Add 10 drops of Test Reagent B to the water sample. Close the cuvette, shake it briefly and place it back in the comparator.
6. After 3 minutes, add 4 drops of test reagent C, close the glass cuvette with a stopper and shake the solution gently. Place it back in the comparator.
7. After another 3 minutes, place the glass cuvette in the comparator on the white circles of the nitrate colour chart. The empty opening without the cuvette should be below the colour chart and the narrow end of the comparator should be pointing to the colour fields. Compare the colour of the water sample to the opposite colour fields in daylight. To do this, look into the open cuvette from above. Move the water sample on the colour chart until the colour in the cuvette matches a colour field on the colour chart.
8. Now read the nitrate value below the colour field. If the colours are not exactly the same, you will need to find an intermediate value. If necessary, the nitrate values should be corrected.
9. After the measurement, rinse out the glass cuvette, syringe and dropper tip with tap water.

Note: If the nitrate content is too high (over 20 mg/L), you can dilute 3 ml of the test water with 12 ml reverse osmosis water and carry out the test again. Multiply this result by 5.

Contents of the package:

• 1 x 50 ml Reagent A
• 1 x 20 ml Reagent B
• 1 x 10 ml Reagent C
• 1 x 5 ml reference solution standard
• 1 x 20 ml glass cuvette
• 1 x 20 ml dosing syringe
• 1 x 1 ml dosing syringe with dropper tip
• 2 x colour cards
• 1 comparator
• 1 x instruction manual

Our expert Oliver Knott recommends:

Regularly checking the water values ensures a stress-free environment for all aquarium inhabitants!