Ammonia Discrepancy

[MitchSutherland]

I am using a seachem alert test kit. And I test with API. I understand the alert badge detects only free ammonia, while the api does any ammonia. My question is: will the safe ammonia eventually turn into the toxic? What causes the ammonia to be safe? I am getting a 0 on my seachem and 2.0 on the total. I would give you the ph, but no test kit for that yet.

 

[MondoBongo]

this thread might be helpful:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1458684

Ammonia exists as two forms, one is NH3( Ammonia) and NH4((Ammonium). Free is the NH3 form. Total ammonia is both. We refer to total ammonia as TAN or total ammonia nitrogen. The pH determines which one is more prevalent. As pH goes up the shift is towards NH3. NH3 is more toxic than NH4. This is why the fish survive the trip in the bags from the Indo-Pacific. As the pH in the bag drops, the equilibrium is shifted to NH4( Ammonium), the non toxic form. The cycle is complete when there is no longer nitrite present in the water.

 

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

Trust the Seachem for now...get rid of the API, and buy a better test kit. I recommend red sea...

 

[Marchillo]

Red Sea is a good one. If you are dosing with prime then you will get strange test results with most kits. The seachem test does free and total. But honestly it utilizes the same concept as the badge.

If you are using prime check out the FAQs. It will give info on why test results may look high.