API test kit off?

[Lamboozle]

Hello,
I've been cycling my 54g now for about a month and have been testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate every week for 3 weeks. I'm using the API test kit (batch 01/09 so it's still new) and my levels haven't changed at all, which I think is very strange. They've been every week I've checked:

Amm: 0.25
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

There's green hair algae growth, lots of pods swimming around, and a lot of color and coraline growing on the rock so far. Has anybody had any problems with these test kits or ran into similar problems?

 

[pugmommie]

Sometimes I have a hard time telling the difference between colors. The ph drives me nuts, so I just ordered a ph meter so I can get a number instead of a color.

Seems like you're doing something right with all your pods and coraline!!

 

[shuguley]

If you only tested once a week for 3 weeks, there is a good chance you missed the ammonia spike. My ammonia spike when I cycled was really low and only lasted 3 days. So if I had waited a week between tests, I would have missed it completely

I use API and don't have any problems. If your seeing GHA, corraline and pods, I bet your cycle is complete. I say go ahead and add a few snails and/or hermit crabs.

 

[kraze3]

Why dont you have you LFS check the water for comparison.

 

[mikid]

api test kits..

api test kits..

i general i use them but only for my weekly test,otherwise it would get $$,use them as a basis for you tank,then have a lfs check against them,i do use red sea/elos kits for others......

 

[Lamboozle]

Thanks for the response guys. My LFS is closed today so I will bring it in tomorrow. I just worry about the Ammonia level (0.25) being stagnant for the past 3 weeks. It just seems strange to me.

 

[shuguley]

How much live rock and live sand do you have? Have you added anything to the tank in the last 4 weeks?

 

[Lamboozle]

I've got about 60 pounds of live sand and about 60 pounds of live rock as well. I did and a couple turbo snails and a few nassarius snails to help with the green hair algae and cleaning the substrate about a week ago. They seem to be doing just fine.

 

[shuguley]

Then, I would be surprised if your ammonia is really 0.25, be sure you are looking at it in good lighting and hold the bottle sideways against a white surface. It can be difficult to correctly distinguish between the top two colors.