What is my Ammonia? *photo*

[Steverd]

I am trying to figure out my Ammonia level in a Fusion Lagoon 25.

Using an API test kit, I have three test tubes.
1. Straight RO water
2. RO water with Kent marine to 1.025
3. Tank water

What can I make of this? Do yo think my tank is at zero ammonia?
Does the RO with Kent Marine look a little green?
Does Kent Marine have ammonia in it?
Is there a better test kit for Ammonia I should be using?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

An ammonia alert badge is the cheap go to for double checks

 

[Steverd]

An ammonia alert badge is the cheap go to for double checks

Yes, I do have one in this tank, About 4-6 months old here:

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Interesting. Are you using prime?
Or other conditioners?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, fresh salt mix often has some ammonia in it (say, 0.2 ppm or less), and generally is no concern when used for normal size water changes.

Ammonia and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-02/rhf/index.php#5

Sources of Ammonia in Reef Aquaria: Salt Mixes

There are a variety of sources of ammonia in reef aquaria. Minor sources include: 1) tap water (especially if it contains chloramine and is not treated with a deionizing resin) and 2) impurities in salt mixes and other additives. It has previously been shown that the total NH4-N ranged from 0.55 to 11.9 micromole/kg (0.008 to 0.17 ppm total NH4-N) in an analysis of eight brands of artificial seawater mixes. At the higher end of the scale, those levels will be detected with an ammonia test kit and can present potential toxicity concerns if fish are kept at those levels (see below). These levels of ammonia may be introduced from impurities in calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, where ammonia is a well known impurity resulting from some of the commercial manufacturing processes used (such as the Solvay process, which involves ammonia).

Calcium and magnesium additives can also be a significant source of ammonia, especially for aquarists who are trying to use inexpensive sources of bulk calcium or magnesium chloride. I discussed testing calcium chloride for ammonia in a previous article.