lighting for reading water tests?

**rodzilla** · 05-11-2013, 02:22 PM

where do you guys and gals read your water test at inside outside under "led" or what? seems the shade of green in ammoina can vary depends on lighting

**mommy1** · 05-11-2013, 03:09 PM

I put the vial against the white part of the color chart and read it in a well lit room. I've never had a problem reading the ammonia or nitrite tests, yellow and blue are pretty definite, the nitrate can be a bit tricky though.

**Rocksor** · 05-11-2013, 03:20 PM

indirect white light or indirect sunlight.

**Sligg** · 05-11-2013, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Honey Badger 1

I put the vial against the white part of the color chart and read it in a well lit room. I've never had a problem reading the ammonia or nitrite tests, yellow and blue are pretty definite, the nitrate can be a bit tricky though.

Do you actually hold the tube directly onto the card or hold it a little bit raised?

Depending on if I hold it on or raise it I get a completely different results. Nitrate in particular, if raised a fraction away from the card I get 20~40. If pressed on it goes the most menacing shade of scarlet which would be indicative of 80~100.

I've taken to not holding the vial near the card as I just can't work out how close it should be...

**Slaphppy7** · 05-11-2013, 06:24 PM

I hold the TT against the card, outside, in indirect sunlight...

You can also use the chart here, just hold the TT up close to your monitor: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Downloads.html

**mommy1** · 05-11-2013, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Sligg

Do you actually hold the tube directly onto the card or hold it a little bit raised?

I hold the vials directly on the card, like I said, yellow is yellow and blue is blue, any hint of green or purple, no matter how light, water changes are needed. My nitrates stay below 20ppm and I don't have issues with that color card until the 40ppm color on the chart. All of my tanks have been fully cycled for at least a year or more, so I really don't have issues with parameters.

**mojosodope** · 05-12-2013, 01:56 AM

Indirect sunlight.

**Goes to 11!** · 05-12-2013, 03:32 AM

+1 to 'Holding it directly on the card'

The type of lighting is likely less important than using a consistent source. Pick a room or a corner of a room or whatever and do it there.. Always.

I check mine in my bathroom because that's where I dump/clean the test tubes.

**MrJim** · 05-12-2013, 11:45 AM

Someday someone will come up with a better testing method especially for us partially colorblind folks..if I didn't have others around to check colors I'd be in trouble.

Something like a sensor that can simply be put into the water and give a digital reading of water parameters~I'd pay a few hundred bucks for something like this.

**KingFisher** · 05-12-2013, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by MrJim

Someday someone will come up with a better testing method especially for us partially colorblind folks..if I didn't have others around to check colors I'd be in trouble.

Something like a sensor that can simply be put into the water and give a digital reading of water parameters~I'd pay a few hundred bucks for something like this.

They have electronic testers.

I hold my vials against the card under the T5 lights that are on my tank.