Ammonia badge color?

Dawson_hatton · Jan 6, 2021

I’ve had this ammonia badge up and it’s been the same color from the day I set it up, but the thing is the color isn’t really anything on the color wheel, it’s like a whitish grey. it’s closest to the “alarm” or “alert” color if anything. I’m not too worried about it as all my coral are open, fish are happy, and inverts active, but i’m wondering what you guys think. when it’s back-lit with my phone light it looks yellow, but not in normal lighting.

DC Reefer · Jan 7, 2021

Mine looked gray on my QT when I was cycling the tank and the ammonia was outside of the alert range. Once it was cycled and ammonia was 0 then it was yellow like on the chart. I would recommend testing the ammonia with a test kit to "check". The top right picture you posted looks like the "alert" color of green to me.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 7, 2021

I’d highly advise to get a good test kit and not an API kit either. Badges and test strips are less than reliable and have failed many aquarists. They’re intended for both fresh and saltwater which should tell you a little something

homer1475 · Jan 7, 2021

And this is exactly why I do not trust these things.

I had a QT I was cycling. Put in a fresh badge, added ammonia(directly at 2ppm) and the olor never changed. Bought a new one, same thing, bought another, same thing.

Even putting a drop of ammonia directly on the color change part never produced a color change. I have never used these or suggested anyone use them since that incident many years ago.

Clownfish_Boy · Jan 7, 2021

Get a Salifert test kit. I had trouble with an API kit reading false negatives; caused me to lose fish one time.

Dawson_hatton · Jan 7, 2021

this morning it’s definitely yellow...or a light yellowish grey at least. my fish and inverts are completely fine, the new mushroom coral and zoas I just got last night opened up this morning. I’m assuming it’s all good. I’ve heard mixed things about the badges, never had an issue with them myself except for this badge in particular. anyway I added some seachem stabilizer and some Dr.Tims ammonia remover just in case and tested the strip in normal clean water and it read the same. I plan on getting a test kit instead of strips and the ammonia badge but literally everywhere i’ve been seems to have a shortage of them these days, however I guess I could always order online. anyone have a kit they recommend?