Red Sea Ammonia Test observed under natural light vs artificial light

[Robatusan]

Hello

I've been testing my ammonia with the Red Sea test kit and after four months of cycling it has never indicated a level below .1 The color is always slightly green, never the pee yellow that shows 0 ammonia. I always perform the test in my living room, which is lit mostly by indirect natural light. I purchased a new kit and got the same results. I tried a Seachem in-the-tank stick on thing, and after a few days it showed less than .02 ammonia! Happy Days! But today I tested again with the Red Sea test and it indicated my ammonia was around .1 while observed under indirect natural light. Fart! So I moved the testing vial from my living room to my kitchen, which is lit by fluorescent lights, and the color appeared yellow, indicating no ammonia. Wait, what?

So, I guess I'm just wondering if there is a preferential lighting condition under which to observe testing results.

Cheers!

 

[Big G]

Welcome to R2R! Color perception can be very difficult for most of us, especially guys. I like the kitchen lights too. On some of the other tests you will be doing where you are trying to match a color (copper testing) use the same lighting you found helpful and "squint" your eyes a bit. It's amazing how doing the "squint" helps to compare matching color tests. Merry Christmas!

 

[Instigate]

I always put the test under the daylight CFL bulbs to get a good reading with the red sea tests.

 

[Robatusan]

Thank you!