Test kit readings

squampton · Aug 23, 2018

I have a fish in QT and have done what I always do, and normally ammonia is not an issue, not sure if it is an issue here and could be testing kit error margins, or my interpretation of the colors.....

Any how, the QT in question is a 40 gallon stock tank, with a flame angel.

My usual process is to fill take established bio media from my sump which is live rock rubble, some ceramic balls, and matrix, it's all been in the sump for months 8+ and when I QT, I just take some out usually around 1 cup and place into filter, and I never see ammonia readings on any test.

The difference this time is the fish came to me in hyposalinity so the initial water was at 1.009 and is now sitting at 1.014.

The fish itself is eating, and acting normal no signs of distress.

Temp is 79F

I don't know if hypo slows down the bacteria or maybe they don't survive at that low of a salinity?

Different tests also give different results.

API is highest at 1.0ppm

Salifert is between the <0.15 and 0.25 range but due to their colors being so light it's hard for me to tell exactly, but its not dark enough to be 0.5.

Sea Chem ammonia badge is not quite yellow for 0, but not exactly the color for the lowest ammonia reading, in between.

Nitrite is 0 using API, I don't normally test for this so don't have a Salifert test.

Nitrate is around 2ppm on Salifert and between 0 and 5 ppm on API, again the colors are so similar on the low end it's difficult for me to get an exact reading with API.

I am not an expert in these test kits and how they work, the API just seems so much off compared to the Salifert test and Sea Chem badge.

I did the testing before I added some prime which I have done just in case as well as a water change.

Looking for opinions on what you all think.

Fish as been in QT since Monday.

Brew12 · Aug 23, 2018

squampton said:
I have a fish in QT and have done what I always do, and normally ammonia is not an issue, not sure if it is an issue here and could be testing kit error margins, or my interpretation of the colors.....

Any how, the QT in question is a 40 gallon stock tank, with a flame angel.

My usual process is to fill take established bio media from my sump which is live rock rubble, some ceramic balls, and matrix, it's all been in the sump for months 8+ and when I QT, I just take some out usually around 1 cup and place into filter, and I never see ammonia readings on any test.

The difference this time is the fish came to me in hyposalinity so the initial water was at 1.009 and is now sitting at 1.014.

The fish itself is eating, and acting normal no signs of distress.

Temp is 79F

I don't know if hypo slows down the bacteria or maybe they don't survive at that low of a salinity?

Different tests also give different results.

API is highest at 1.0ppm

Salifert is between the <0.15 and 0.25 range but due to their colors being so light it's hard for me to tell exactly, but its not dark enough to be 0.5.

Sea Chem ammonia badge is not quite yellow for 0, but not exactly the color for the lowest ammonia reading, in between.

Nitrite is 0 using API, I don't normally test for this so don't have a Salifert test.

Nitrate is around 2ppm on Salifert and between 0 and 5 ppm on API, again the colors are so similar on the low end it's difficult for me to get an exact reading with API.

I am not an expert in these test kits and how they work, the API just seems so much off compared to the Salifert test and Sea Chem badge.

I did the testing before I added some prime which I have done just in case as well as a water change.

Looking for opinions on what you all think.

Fish as been in QT since Monday.

Tough call. We do know that different strains of nitrifying bacteria perform better based on water salinity. I wouldn't be surprised if this is part of what is going on.
I'm also not sure how pH will affect these test kits. Both should test NH3+NH4 but they may be more accurate at higher pH's. As long as you aren't using copper I think it is wise to add Prime every 3 days while raising salinity until this issue resolves.

squampton · Aug 24, 2018

I did add some prime when the sea chem ammonia alert was showing a hint of color change from yellow.

From what I can gather the sea chem alert detects free ammonia, where API reads all ammonia? Which I guess explains why API is showing ammonia as its testing for total ammonia and not just free ammonia.

I have a tub of dry rock cycling that I added ammonia to, and Salifert still shows nothing, I am thinking maybe the Salifert ammonia test is a dud or no good, I see some reviews online with people having issues with ammonia test from salifert.