nitrate monitor

hey yaw...was wondering if anybody uses the nitrate monitor from pinpoint? i have been searching for one and its the only one i can find on the net...if anybody uses a monitor to keep an eye on nitrates, please tell me what you use and what you think about it...also, can you leave it in your sump for continuos monitoring (on all the time)? cause i've read the add for pinpoint that it was designed for accurate "SPOT TESTING"...thats why i havn't gotten one yet...if i have to get out the probe and hook everything up and spend 250$, i might as well just keep using my api liquid test kit as a matter of fact, i would love to have one of those things that tell you everything about whats going on in your tank...i think otty has one of those...can i get some feedback on that as well? it would be great if there was an electronic device for everything we check for....i sure do get tired of liquid test kits and all the clean up afterwards...but, you do what you gotta do ;D

 

Yeah, wouldn't that be nice. I did a complete test on the tank today and it took quite a while. But that's OK, I was in no rush. Test, write, test, write. A little me time with my chemicals and my water.

 

I have been looking into the same stuff.. Mostly so I can plug it all into my linux box and add it to my home portal. But I'm going old-school... I spent too much already on sand and rock - gonna have to "kick it old school" on my testing for a while...

Aquarium Water Quality & Testing: Seachem Ammonia Alert Device

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578 4345 17340 9848&pcatid=9848

and the strips... I can't find a link to them.. but yea... Test, write, test, write... my note-book is getting full... time to steal some from my kids school-supplies in the kitchen... <g>

GL for finding an all in one electronic tester that is gonna be affordable! Let me know what you find!!!

-fritts

 

I have to ask:

Is it really all that important to always know your nitrate level? Seems kind of expensive for something that's not that critical to know every moment of the day. I'd rather save the money and keep using the API test kits. I usually only test nitrates about once a month, as an established tank (that's not overstocked) should maintain low nitrate levels anyway.

Now, a refractometer is money well spent.

 

Heres what I really dream about (really I do, its sad). I want an entire digital monitoring system. Temp, SG, everything, from phosphates and calcium to nitrates, ammonia, nitrites, I mean EVERYTHING, all in one integrated digital display. And not for spot testing, but permenately in the tank, giving real time info, with the digital display mounted outside the glass in like say, the rear upper corner. Thats my current wet dream

 

Haha. We share the same dream!

 

Correct....if you were leave the probe submerged continuously, you would ruin the ISE probe. Basically, Lou took the current pH monitor and added an ISE to it and adjusted for seawater.

IMO, for the cost involved, I wouldn't bother. In my circumstances it has a very nice use. In the Quarantine Warehouse, we were running 6 independent systems totaling 10000 gallons. The store had 19 completely different systems also totaling roughly 10000 gallons. Having the independent systems was insurance against on disease or pest ruining everything but it sure made testing not fun.

 

hey pharmrjohn...i used to have the ammonia alert thing, total piece of crap....i didn't test to see if it even worked, but as far as i could tell it wouldn't register for anything under 1ppm...which is considered dangerous levels for ammonia...i am currently using the hanna ph/temp tester....descent piece, but sometimes mine is hard to get to turn on....i think the batteries are loose, tap a few times and it works fine...just don't shake off water or it will turn off (loose batteries)

packleader AKA: screw you guys i'm going home---cartman
yeah that would be the ultimate addition!!!! i'm getting wet right now just thinking about it ;D

reeron....i have been fighting nitrates for a long time now, my tank is over 2 years old....i think that it comes from not enought(probably not the right placement of ph's)flow....deitrus you know!!! i would like to have an eye on it so i'll know when i find the right solution to the problem.....plus, one day i want to keep sps corals!!!!

inwall75....i can feel your pain,but having that many systems in perfect,clean condition would make it all worth while ;D:

 

my bad...first part is for fritts.

hey pharmrjohn...we still friends though!!!!;D

 

I'd rather just control them rather then test for them , If you have zero amounts then there is not much for the monitor to monitor I know the Ca. and Oxygen meter's is a high dollar hunk's of crap.