API tap water conditioner and nitrite false positive?

[AJ356]

That can also be tested easily, Take a tube of 5 ml for a test, put 2 drops of APi in it and perform a normal test.

You should have a really exaggerated results if there's some kind of interaction between the products.

What's interesting is I did this yesterday. If I added just a fraction of API (say 5% max of a 5ml vial of water with no detectable nitrite), it went from sky blue (undetectable) to slightly darker blue (about 0.1 or 0.15ppm of nitrite) instantly, and then didn't go darker than that. And I even tried 50% API and 50% water. The same reaction. Only went a tad darker blue. Nothing like the purple readings (1.0ppm or more) when I've let the API dose sit in 15 litres of tap water for 48 hours.

 

[Essjay]

I always completely remove the aerator from the taps used to maintain aquariums.

I tried removing the whole thing and water just sprayed out sideways and made a mess. So I put enough back to 'straighten' the water. Some of the inserts in the UK restrict water flow to 4 litres or 1 US gallon per minute. It would take forever doing a water change at that rate.

 

[AJ356]

Unrelated, I bet you haven't tried this at home.

I once spilt neat API conditioner onto a fresh paper cut. Actually stung like hell but only for a second. I was surprised. it really stung. I know that is NEAT conditioner, but still... wasn't expecting that from something I put in my tank. Obviously I'll always use something to neutralise chlorine/chloramine.

 

[AJ356]

Edit - found it! I'd forgotten I'd saved the pdf of the DWI 2014 Northern England report.

"Nitrite may be formed when chloramine is used as the residual disinfectant to maintain the microbiological quality in the distribution network. The formation of nitrite is controlled by careful optimisation of the chloramination process (list of places using chloramine)
Nitrite can also form in samples of water, after collection and before analysis, especially if the sample is not kept cool."

Thank you, interesting

 

[MaloK]

I tried removing the whole thing and water just sprayed out sideways and made a mess. So I put enough back to 'straighten' the water. Some of the inserts in the UK restrict water flow to 4 litres or 1 US gallon per minute. It would take forever doing a water change at that rate.

The aerator is the white plastic insert with the circumference filled with tiny holes. All the rest should put back to avoid spraying... I concur