Ammonia test results cloudy white

[Lynchcon]

Hi... I'm new to salt water tanks and I just set mine up yesterday with some coral rock that was live but the person I got it from said it was out of water for 1 week. I expected to see high ammonia levels today when I tested. Expected the tank to start cycling. Anyway when I did my first test it came back cloudy white. Did it again same result. I was careful to follow instructions so happy I did it right. The chart I have says colour should be yellow to dark green. Anyone any ideas? Thanks.

 

[DLHDesign]

Hi - welcome to R2R and to your new hobby! Glad you found us.

What test kit are you using?
Could you take a picture of the testing vial next to the color-comparison chart?

It might take a little bit of time for the dead stuff on the rock to decay enough to create enough ammonia to register on the test. Patience is key in this hobby - nothing good happens fast.

 

[Lynchcon]

Thanks
..It's a Red Sea Marine Lab test kit. I've packed it all away now but will upload a pic tomorrow when I test again.. I actually just checked the expiry on the kit and it expired a few years ago. Would that be the reason? The phosphate test worked fine though..

 

[Lynchcon]

Got a new test kit and Ammonia test worked fine. Lots of it so tank is cycling. Yay! Guy in the store said the reagents expire within a year of opening so that was the problem. Thanks for your help DLHDesign.

 

[Drew Lallathin]

Could be die off , but could also be a bacterial bloom from some that could’ve possibly survived in the rock. If that’s the case it will go away

 

[Lynchcon]

Thanks Drew. Tank cycling now.. I hope. I'm not the most patient so hopefully it won't take too long!