aqua pharm's master water test kit

[v3x10e8]

        imagine my suprise to find my nitrite test tube turned into light blue before my eyes (for those of you that are not using aquarium pharmaceuticals water testing kit, light blue indicates 0ppm NO[sub]2[/sub][sup]-[/sup] level).
could it be? have i finally came through? Had i actually won a battle against myself in resisting the urge in buying fish before the tank is ready? i can't belief it!!
         so i did the testing over again, and light blue once again. (that is it, i am making light blue my favorite color!)  
all this length introduction aside, i have also tested for my tape water for signs of nitrite, which obviously (or thankfully), has 0 nitrite contain.  but i did notice a difference.
for those who uses aq. pharm's testing kit, the color chart is mark with light blue (0ppm) on one end and dark purple (5ppm) on the other.
         When i tested my tape water, it immediately showed up as light blue and the color never changed.
with my tank water, how ever, it first turned dark purple, than slowly dimmed to light blue.
         i know i sounded over cautious, but should this be happening? i guess i had better consult the menu or aqu. pharm for answer, but just want to share this experience.

 

[equinom]

Went purple and then back to light blue?  Weird.  
I don't have the AP Master kit - I have the seperate test kits:
ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH, KH/GH  
(plus some kits for PO4, CO2 and FE)

I have never seen the color development reverse from dark to light.  As the reaction goes to completion, the color darkens.
I am not familiar with the chemistry behind this kit.  

I do know (from my years of experience in a hospital laboratory) that enzymatic reactions that can read falsely low or negative due to an excess in either the antigen or antibody (depending on the test methodology and reagent manufacturer)  I know this isn't an enzymatic test - but that type of reaction does occur.  

 

[dcbluemeanie]

Congrats!  I am almost there and am going crazy from not stocking the tank!!

 

[caveman]

hmm, so the test was unsure in the beginning whether or not you were done cycling.  Sounds a little odd but if you tested twice and got 0ppm both times I am sure you should be fine.  Congratulations, you know they say patience is a virtue.
I think I am virtueless.
Caveman

 

[v3x10e8]

it is not just unsure, it is confusing.
i have tested tape water and the tank water before cycleing, always stayed the same color, or at least from light to dark.  I am only hoping that the nitrite lvl did not went over
sizeof(nitrite).  I know the world is not programmed by c++, but one can't help but wonder, what if.......

 

[v3x10e8]

beware, aqua pharm's nitrite test kits might fail above 30c/86F, which is probably what happened in my case.  Luckily, i was skeptically enough not to add any fish to my tank.  
I just tested my water this morning when new york cooled down after being in the boiler for 3 days, and higher nitrite lvl as it were before.  
i am still waiting for their official explanation...
*laughingcryingsmiley*

 

[koolkatzfish]

How are the nitrates?  if those are high you are probably there, do big water change and get some fishies.  Pretty boring just looking at the plants isn't it.  
When I fishless cycled my 44, I had to place it where it would stay obviously and moved my 20.  I have a small studio and had to place the 20 gallon behind my chair so could not fish watch very comfortably, it was a lonely 5 weeks.  Now everyone has lots of room.

 

[v3x10e8]

actually, i have all kinds of things floating aroud in the tank.
hydras, worms, snails, maybe even a leech.
yeah, i know, tank with only plants in are boring, sometimes i catch a glimpse of something moving and wonder if a fish had jump in to my tank.
*twirlysmiley*

 

[aspguru]

Dude!! This happened to me yesterday. I was testing nitrIte in my 10 gallon. When I put the drops in, I was like, damn thats high nitrIte. The color went from fushia to light purple!! The test was like, hmmm yeah theres a lot of nitrite in here, oh wait, nevermind, no there isn't. It was crazy.

 

[v3x10e8]

finially, i recieved official words from AP.  Indeed, when the test solution turns from purple to light blue/green, this means a overfloat, in AP tech's word:" the reading is off the chart".  So if you also has a AP master water kit, beware, and don't let your impatience mislead you to think there is no nitrite in the tank while there is really a lot.
*twirlysmiley*

 

[equinom]

Looks like my reply on July 3 was correct ...  the term used in immunodiagnostics is "post-zone"  ... because of the high level of the compound, the desired chemical reaction essentially is inhibited, causing a false low/negative value.
 
I have not tried this yet, but if the reading is that high, you might want to try running a dilution.  I would start with a X2, meaning use half tank water and half clean water.  

example:  The test states "fill the tube up to the line..."  on the tests I have seen - this line is usually 5 mls.  So put 2.5 of tank water and 2.5 of clean water.  Continue the test following the directions - change nothing else.  When the test is complete take a reading, then multiply by 2.

another example:  "x" test is off the chart.
run "x" test again, using the X2 protocol.  
at the end of the test, the value is 3, but
the final value is 6