Sick of Api Ammonia test

[Kammetal]

So i been using the Api reef test to test my 120g reef. When it comes to ammonia i had been alarmed...my test always stated was at .50 ! I panicked did water change! Had it tested at LFS said it was O! Today after two weeks of not testing i tested it again and it was .....50! So i again panicked this time doing a 45 gallon water change! I tested again and this is what i got....

Makes no sense!....
I also checked the experation says 2021...

 

[James M]

They aren’t reliable

 

[ihavecrabs]

How long has the tank been set up for and have you used a bacteria in a bottle product, shrimp, or have live rock?

If you want to validate ammonia, get a sachem ammonia badge. $7 on Amazon and they continually test for a year. I use them in QT.

 

[WVNed]

Are you using Prime or something like it in you water. Doing so seems to really mess with this test.

 

[Kammetal]

How long has the tank been set up for and have you used a bacteria in a bottle product, shrimp, or have live rock?

If you want to validate ammonia, get a sachem ammonia badge. $7 on Amazon and they continually test for a year. I use them in QT.

The tank is almost almost a year old. And the water came from an existing system when first set up

 

[Kammetal]

Are you using Prime or something like it in you water. Doing so seems to really mess with this test.

Nope no prime

 

[Kammetal]

I also have a ton of live rock

 

[JumboShrimp]

I had your same experience with the API test— never, ever had it show a true yellow color, even when the LFS said ammonia was zero. I still use it as a rough gauge, but I rely on the SeaChem Amonia Badge just as much, if not more. $7 on Amazon and they last a year; I have one in every tank, and of course the hospital/QT tank, as the badge won’t be thrown off by copper.