Testing for chloramine and chlorine

[reef_lover24881]

What can I use to test for both chlorine and chloramine?
It was suggested that I use the Hanna chlorine colorimeter and ammonia colorimeter since chloramine is essentially made up of those two. If I test both and both test show zero readings then would it be safe to assume zero chloramine?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any normal chlorine kit will detect both added together. If you are just interested in showing the water has none, that's all you need. If you want them quantified independently you'd need a special chloramine kit.

I would not assume chloramine will show correctly in an ammonia test.

I discuss such kits here:

Chloramine and the Reef Aquarium - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

[reef_lover24881]

Any normal chlorine kit will detect both added together. If you are just interested in showing the water has none, that's all you need. If you want them quantified independently you'd need a special chloramine kit.

I would not assume chloramine will show correctly in an ammonia test.

I discuss such kits here:

Chloramine and the Reef Aquarium - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/index.htm

So a Hanna chlorine colorimeter will give me one value that equals both total ammonia and chloramine?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So a Hanna chlorine colorimeter will give me one value that equals both total ammonia and chloramine?

I do not know the chemistry behind the Hanna, but I'd guess yes. Normal cheap chlorine kits do both.