Seachem badge/api ammonia test kit, which is more accurate?

[BigJohnny]

Hey All,

I currently have a Midas Blenny and a Helfrichi Firefish in a 20g QT. Tank was cycled with biospira AND seeded with ceramic media from my sump AND a large 4" sponge filter from my sump. I have run this combo before and have never had ammonia issues with 2 fish. Both fish have been in the tank for 3 weeks. Today I tested for ammonia because I was planning on dosing prazi, it came up at what looked like .25ppm (API), but maybe inbetween 0-.25ppm. I tested again and got the same result. The color is never spot on at 0 anyway but im pretty sure its testing a little positive. My seachem ammonia alert badge is not showing any ammonia. The lowest alert is .05ppm, so its basically showing .2ppm different than my test. I know the bdage works (at least to some extent) because I used it while cycling the tank. Which should I trust? I just did a 25% water change and will re-test. I have not dosed any medication into the tank and the fish are not displaying any symptoms of stress.

I really want to dose prime but I know that I can't use it in conjunction with copper, and I may need to dose copper here shortly (no symptoms yet). Can I ever treat with copper after dosing the tank with prime?

Thanks!

 

[Big G]

Some say the API test are a bit suspect. Have you tried another brand like Red Sea, Salifert, etc? When you check your alert badge are you shining a light from behind it or slightly to the rear and side, to get the correct color. Also the badge can be effected if it is too close to the aquarium lights. Best if it is place deeply in the tank, as far away from the aquarium light as possible.

 

[BigJohnny]

Some say the API test are a bit suspect. Have you tried another brand like Red Sea, Salifert, etc? When you check your alert badge are you shining a light from behind it or slightly to the rear and side, to get the correct color. Also the badge can be effected if it is too close to the aquarium lights. Best if it is place deeply in the tank, as far away from the aquarium light as possible.

I have a salifert but it didnt even detect ammonia when I was dosing 2ppm at a time for a fishless cycle. Don't have any others unfortunately. I've shined a light in front of and behind it. There is no aquarium light on the qt tank, only the room light. I might try to compare the Api results of the tank vs fresh saltwater and see if that works.

 

[BigJohnny]

Has anyone had an ammonia badge not show an alert when ammonia was present? Both the test and the badge are both brand new btw

 

[cmcoker]

API is pretty notorious for showing trace all the time. You can have API read positive when the seachem badge is negative. The badge only reads free ammonia(nh3), where the API reads total ammonia which is nh3 and ammonium (nh4).
NH3, free ammonia, is the toxic form.

http://www.seachem.com/ammonia-alert.php

 

[BigJohnny]

API is pretty notorious for showing trace all the time. You can have API read positive when the seachem badge is negative. The badge only reads free ammonia(nh3), where the API reads total ammonia which is nh3 and ammonium (nh4).
NH3, free ammonia, is the toxic form.

http://www.seachem.com/ammonia-alert.php

Ok, thanks. So you think im good? Do you trust the alert badges alone or do you have another ammonia test you prefer to use as well?

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I would rely on the badge.

You can run an ammonia test on your QT along with your DT and compare them side by side to see if the test kit is still good.

If you get "0" on your DT and something on your QT then I would think the test kit is picking something up and working as advertised.

 

[miPapareef]

I’ve used many Seachem badges and they all worked. Meaning they read alert when there is ammonia and show yellow when there’s none, as checked with a Red Sea kit.

Your API kit is reading total ammonium and the Seachem is only showing the free ammonia. Depending on PH of the water they will be different. I don’t know which form is the one that is bad to mix with Prazipro.

 

[BigJohnny]

I would rely on the badge.

You can run an ammonia test on your QT along with your DT and compare them side by side to see if the test kit is still good.

If you get "0" on your DT and something on your QT then I would think the test kit is picking something up and working as advertised.

OK thanks, I will try that.

 

[BigJohnny]

I’ve used many Seachem badges and they all worked. Meaning they read alert when there is ammonia and show yellow when there’s none, as checked with a Red Sea kit.

Your API kit is reading total ammonium and the Seachem is only showing the free ammonia. Depending on PH of the water they will be different. I don’t know which form is the one that is bad to mix with Prazipro.

K, good to know. Not sure about the Prazipro thing either, maybe @Humblefish @melypr1985 @4FordFamily will know?

THanks!

 

[cmcoker]

Ok, thanks. So you think im good? Do you trust the alert badges alone or do you have another ammonia test you prefer to use as well?

I rely on the ammonia badge. I use copper in my quarantine tanks nowadays, so all other ammonia tests would read positive from the copper anyway.