ELOS AQUA TEST KIT - NITRATE
 
The biological filtration is a method that uses naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria to detoxify nitrogenous wastes. One type of bacteria (Nitrosomonas spp.) converts ammonia to nitrite while another naturally occurring bacterium (Nitrobacter spp.) converts the nitrite into a far less harmful form of nitrogen waste: nitrate. 
 
Nitrate is the final stage of the nitrification process. Many invertebrates, unlike fish, are not tolerable to high nitrate concentrations. As a result, it is extremely important to make sure that nitrate levels do not reach high levels. In freshwater aquaria the optimal level of Nitrate should be below 20 mg/l (ppm). Values of over 75 mg/l (ppm) should be avoided at all costs. In reef marine aquarium their level should not exceed 20 mg/l (ppm). A level of 10 mg/l (ppm) is the maximum for reef aquariums. 
 
For these reasons the periodical testing of nitrate in the aquarium water should be considered especially during the aquarium set-up and periodically to avoid high level inside the water of our aquaria. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS: 
 
Easy reading: “RealColor” technology. 
High precision: thanks to the use of calibrated droppers 
NIST validation: each batch of elos reagents are validated using NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) samples 
"Safe reagents": reagents and testing procedures are based on Low Risk Reagents. None of our test kits are based on Toxic Reagents.
This kit allows the determination of the Nitrate level within a range of 5 – 75 mg/L (ppm).

ELOS AquaTest NO3, as well as all the other colorimetric test kit of this line, grant very high precision thanks to several procedures like the use of “RealColor” technology, an accurate system to calibrate the color chart compared to the reagents; the validation of each reagent with NIST (National Institute of Standard and Technology) certified samples and the careful stock management to supply to our customers ONLY the freshest production batch.

Note: if the NO3 value is too high, we recommend a partial water change. Periodical checks on water quality can help to pinpoint causes of deviations in NO3 value and can prevent fish and invertebrates being harmed.