Ammonia kit not accurate?

[mooputingtong]

Im currently cycling my tank and just recently added fritz ammonium chloride as directed to reach 4ppm. So before i added ammonia i tested the water and ammonia came around 0.15-.05_with rodi filter. It isnt really accurate so i cant really tell exact numbers. I also tested after adding ammonia and i still cant tell exact numbers mabye around 2ppm? I feel like all of these kits are never accurate and waste of money. Does this happen to all the reefers? Should i just get hanna checkers? I heard those are way more accurate then those clumsy test kits.

 

[cassilyn]

Which test kit are you using?

 

[Krixic]

Im currently cycling my tank and just recently added fritz ammonium chloride as directed to reach 4ppm. So before i added ammonia i tested the water and ammonia came around 0.15-.05_with rodi filter. It isnt really accurate so i cant really tell exact numbers. I also tested after adding ammonia and i still cant tell exact numbers mabye around 2ppm? I feel like all of these kits are never accurate and waste of money. Does this happen to all the reefers? Should i just get hanna checkers? I heard those are way more accurate then those clumsy test kits.

I am also curious as to what test kit you are using. Keep mind test kits will never be dead on accurate, same goes the more high-end testers (of course they will be more consistent). There will always be outlying factors that will make test kits off by x amount whether it is human error or even time of day.

While cycling what you are looking for is if you are getting Nitrates to be produced. Don't not matter how much, just that you are getting there. A cheap API test kit will get you that information. Don't chase numbers....especially when you are just starting cycling. Your ultimate goal right now is to get your nitrite/ammonia at or close to 0 after you add your ammonium chloride

 

[mooputingtong]

Which test kit are you using?

salifert kit!

 

[Krixic]

salifert kit!

Give this thread look at. I found it to be really interesting and may answer some you questions a bit better

How to unstick any seemingly stuck cycle

Updated Cycling Science in Action This is a testless reef tank cycling thread, the only one from any board. If you ever had trouble with reef tank cycling in the past, you won't any longer after working some jobs with us. chances are you are using/about to use a method of reef tank cycling...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[mooputingtong]

I am also curious as to what test kit you are using. Keep mind test kits will never be dead on accurate, same goes the more high-end testers (of course they will be more consistent). There will always be outlying factors that will make test kits off by x amount whether it is human error or even time of day.

While cycling what you are looking for is if you are getting Nitrates to be produced. Don't not matter how much, just that you are getting there. A cheap API test kit will get you that information. Don't chase numbers....especially when you are just starting cycling. Your ultimate goal right now is to get your nitrite/ammonia at or close to 0 after you add your ammonium chloride

i use salifert ammona kit. After adding ammonia, test kit did show increase level of ammonia but hard to tell exact numbers. I will test my water after 3 days and see what happen.

I am also curious as to what test kit you are using. Keep mind test kits will never be dead on accurate, same goes the more high-end testers (of course they will be more consistent). There will always be outlying factors that will make test kits off by x amount whether it is human error or even time of day.

While cycling what you are looking for is if you are getting Nitrates to be produced. Don't not matter how much, just that you are getting there. A cheap API test kit will get you that information. Don't chase numbers....especially when you are just starting cycling. Your ultimate goal right now is to get your nitrite/ammonia at or close to 0 after you add your ammonium chloride

I just did nitrate test with salifert kit and its showing around 25ppm and ammonia more than 2ppm. So i guess its start to work now? I will test water 3days later and see what the results are!

 

[Krixic]

i use salifert ammona kit. After adding ammonia, test kit did show increase level of ammonia but hard to tell exact numbers. I will test my water after 3 days and see what happen.

I just did nitrate test with salifert kit and its showing around 25ppm and ammonia more than 2ppm. So i guess its start to work now? I will test water 3days later and see what the results are!

Sounds like you are on the right track. Just keep an eye on the results. If the ammonia does not want to move but your nitrates keep rising, I would feel that your tank is cycled enough. Keep in mind the amount of ammonia you are dumping in the tank is waaaay more than what your fish are going to produce in 24 hours. So as long as you have a decently size beneficial bacteria population, you should be good!

 

[mooputingtong]

Sounds like you are on the right track. Just keep an eye on the results. If the ammonia does not want to move but your nitrates keep rising, I would feel that your tank is cycled enough. Keep in mind the amount of ammonia you are dumping in the tank is waaaay more than what your fish are going to produce in 24 hours. So as long as you have a decently size beneficial bacteria population, you should be good!

Should nitrate also show as zero? I know zero ammonia means cycle is finished but how about nitrate?

 

[Krixic]

Should nitrate also show as zero? I know zero ammonia means cycle is finished but how about nitrate?

Nitrates will never be 0 during a cycle. Unless you get some kind of unholy algae outbreak from hell that eats it all up. If you are talking about Nitrites, then yes they should be at or close to 0. But follow the same principle for Ammonia. Also keep in mind there are two forms of Ammonia. Toxic free ammonia referred to as NH3 and its not so toxic friend NH4 (I believe its an ionidized salt but may be wrong). Test kits typically test for total ammonia (NH3 AND NH4). So while your test kit may be accurate as to how much ammonia is in the tank, it won't be 100% clear what ver of ammonia it is. Fortunately, safe ammonia tends to be very low and so when testing, your result should be very low.