To keep your saltwater reef aquarium healthy, you want to maintain low nitrites (under 150 ppb) to ensure the health of fish and corals. It's important to test for nitrite when an aquarium is first being set up and when the tank is being cycled to make sure waste is being properly recycled. The easy-to-use Hanna Marine Ultra Low Range Nitrite Checker HC - HI764 generates accurate, digital readouts in parts-per-billion (ppb) versus trying to judge traditional nitrite test kit color charts.
Note that the Hanna Marine Ultra Low Range Nitrite Checker HC - HI764 gives readings in parts per billion (ppb).
Our marine nitrite checker is supplied as a complete test kit and retails for $49. The kit includes:
The Hanna Marine Ultra Low Range Nitrite Checker HC - HI764 is designed to make testing quick and easy.
Many reefers and aquarists are aware of nitrite as a component of the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle begins when aquarium organisms produce ammonia as a toxic waste byproduct. From there, beneficial bacteria in the aquarium use the ammonia and convert it to nitrite, a less harmful byproduct. The nitrite is ultimately converted to nitrate by further oxidation from bacteria.
Nitrite is of biggest concern when an aquarium is first being set up and when the tank is being cycled. Cycling an aquarium is the process of growing beneficial bacteria for the establishment of a bio-filter to support aquatic life. Having the ability to measure nitrite in parts per billion (ppb) gives you a precise reading of their nitrite level that is not possible from most test kits, as well as a better understanding of whether or not their tank is cycled. Regularly measuring nitrite is also needed to check the effectiveness of an aquarium’s bio-filter. Adding new fish, overfeeding, and poor husbandry practices can all lead to stress on the aquarium’s biological filtration.
In a healthy reef aquarium nitrite and ammonia are consumed by the bacteria, providing and maintaining a very low, steady concentration in an established reef tank. The ideal concentration of nitrite in a reef aquarium is less than 0.2 ppm or 200 ppb. Nitrite levels above this value may weaken sensitive fish and corals. The Hanna Marine Ultra Low Range Nitrite Checker HC HI764 is a compact and portable meter that measures from 0-200 ppb (µg/L), which is ideal for the range nitrite is found in established reef aquariums.
Many test kits on the market rely on a color change that needs to be judged by eye. These are notoriously inaccurate and difficult to use, especially in the lower ranges. The Hanna Marine Calcium Checker HC - HI764 bridges the gap between simple chemical test kits and professional instrumentation. The one-button design makes testing for calcium a cinch to use.