How to measure nitrate in a saltwater aquarium with Hanna Checkers

Regularly monitoring the nitrate levels within your marine aquarium is important for maintaining the long-term health of your tank and its inhabitants. The HI-782 High Range Nitrate Checker is an accurate, digital solution for the clear and easy measurement of this key parameter within saltwater fish tanks. Read on to learn how to measure aquarium nitrate with a Hanna Checker:

Steps for measuring nitrate with a Hanna Checker

The HI-782 Checker is easy to use for the everyday and weekly measurement of water quality in marine fish tanks. The results of testing are displayed clearly on the digital screen, providing peace of mind for accurate water dosing. 

Here’s how to measure nitrate with a Checker using the included reagents:

1. Press the button on the Checker, then fill the vial with a sample of aquarium water and place it in the tester
2. Press the button to ‘Zero’ the Checker before removing the vial
3. Add the contents of a single packet of reagent into the vial and shake vigorously for two minutes before you place it back in the Checker
4. Press and hold the button to start the timer and wait for your results in ppm

Why measure nitrate in saltwater fish tanks?

Nitrate is an important part of the nitrogen cycle in aquariums, the process in which waste produced by fish, corals and plants is converted from ammonia to nitrite and finally to nitrate. This natural cycle occurs in all aquariums, but it is important to measure this parameter to prevent some of the side effects caused by nitrate buildup.

While nitrate itself isn’t directly harmful to your fish, an increase in this parameter provides an ideal breeding ground for algae, cyanobacteria, and dinoflagellates. These can outcompete the coral within aquariums over time, causing potential health problems.

An increase in nitrate can also accompany an increase in phosphate levels. High phosphate can cause staining and odours, reducing the appeal of your aquarium and requiring extensive clean-up through cleaning, water dosing and general water quality management. Measuring consistently with an accurate digital tester like Hanna Checkers helps to prevent problems before they arise, providing the information you need to keep your water in balance.

Why use a digital tester for marine aquariums?

A digital tester like Hanna’s range of Checkers for aquariums is an easy and practical way to get the results you need from measurement without the guesswork of testing strips. One of the key problems in test strips vs an electronic tester is the reliance on personal perception to determine the results of testing, which can lead to the under or overdosing of your aquarium water.

Checkers offer peace of mind by removing the guesswork from testing. The results of water measurement are clearly displayed on a digital screen, providing the information needed to make informed changes to the water chemistry in your fish tank - preserving the health of fish, plant life and corals.

Buy Hanna Checkers today

Hanna’s wide range of digital Checkers for aquariums is available online with next-day delivery. Checkers are available for all key marine and freshwater aquarium parameters, including ammonia, phosphate and marine magnesium.

Buy Hanna electronic Checkers online now.