API Water Test Ammonia & Nitrite

[Stefany]

I have a Biocube 32 with about 30 lbs live rock, 2 inches live sand, 4 astrea snails, a cleaner shrimp, lawnmower gobie, clown fish, 10 tiny hermit crabs.
Two powerheads, Protein Skimmer, purigen and chempure elite in the back.
I feed a cube of shrimp every other day. Tank has been up and running since end of August. Everything has been added slowly.

I test with API test kit and the ammonia always looks to be higher than 0 but nitrites look like they’re 0. The colours look different in different light. I want to add coral and some other fish but I’m afraid my ammonia levels are high. I’ve attached a photo, can anyone tell if it’s just the lighting or if it looks high? It’s been steadily like this for weeks.

Thank you!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R Stefany!

#WelcometoR2R

Unfortunately the API test kits are notorious for giving false ammonia readings. I would suggest looking into a better testing kit. The Salifert or Red Sea test kits are some of the best in my opinion

 

[Stefany]

Thank you. I figure since the nitrites look to be 0 ammonia can’t be high... right? I’ll have to get one of the kits you mentioned. I’m not spending a fortune on a tank and filling it to have it all crash on me!

 

[AustinB]

My API ammonia test did the exact same thing! Always read
.25 even after a 25% water change. After that I switched to salifert test kits since my LFS carries them. I’ll never be able to trust an api test again