Api test kits

[dawson1]

Any help out there.

I'm always getting 0.25 on my ammonia from day 1 and I'm a year and a half in same level never changed.

I see I have nitrates so iv been and bought a bubble Magnus reactor,
It's been running about a week,

How long does it take to start working,

They all tumbling in the reactor so I'm guessing that right.

 

[billsreef]

0.25 on the API ammonia test kit is functionally 0. Several years ago I had the opportunity to make the comparison of several test kits to results from a University seawater analysis lab. All the kits ran high. API by 0.25ppm, some kits even higher.

 

[heathlindner25]

bio pellets take months to start working,you are trying to build a bacterial culture

 

[dawson1]

But once they do start working all should be good, il just do some big ish water changes till then

 

[shifty51008]

API nitrate and ammonia kits IMO are worthless, always gives a false reading, I would suggest switching to something like salifert. cost more but are much better quality.

 

[ClownnGoby]

Api always says I have 0 nitrates using salifert I have a .20 reading .. Also shows I have ammonia

 

[dmh41532]

Hope I don't post twice, my first didn't seem to post. I honestly don't trust Api tests anymore. I've used them for a while, but lately I've been questioning the results.

 

[davehead86]

Im glad i found this thread.

My API test kit reads .25ppm EVERY time i test the water. My fish always look so happy and swim like crazy and are never showing any signs of ammonia poisioning. I swear with how long htey have been in there with ".25ppm" they should be dead by now.


What are recomended test kits. Clearly these API Master kits arent really that good. Id like to know what the LFS's use? Read Sea?

 

[shifty51008]

I like useing salifert for cal, alk, mag, and nitrate and hanna checker for phosphate. Ive also used red sea for cal, alk, and mag with good results.

 

[Buzz1329]

Api always says I have 0 nitrates using salifert I have a .20 reading .. Also shows I have ammonia

I have had the opposite results. When testing NO3 on my own tanks, the API results have ranged from 80 to 0 ppm while Salifert always read zero. Can't say for sure whether API kit is accurate.

BUT, the only time I have ever gotten a positive reading from a Salifert NO3 kit was when I recently tested a large tank (filtered only by filthy bioballs, a filthier blue pad mechanical filter, and an Eheim filter). The tank containing 6 x 2-3' bamboo sharks and some other large fish and tested at 0.25 ppm with a Salifert kit a few minutes after a heavy feeding. An API NO3 kit showed NO3 at 300+ while a mid-range Hach kit that tops off at 5.0 ppm, showed a reading higher than 5.0.

Can't speak to accuracy of API Ammonia or Nitrite kits, other than that they seemed to rise and fall in line with my expectations when cycling my tanks. Haven't used them since.

Good luck,

Mike

 

[davehead86]

I have a HOB Tetra Whisper filter on my tank i rinse the pads off in RO water to remove any poop and extra food but keep the pad with the algae on it. Thought that was always a good idea to keep the good bacteria that accumulate on those pads.

I have only ever used API tests and am irritated that Im just finding out about these problems. Guess ill try the Red Sea and Salifert and see which ones i like.

 

[BeachVacationer]

Test with new batch of water before a WC and see if both gives you the same readings then you will know. Does using Prime give a false o.25 reading? After the cycle is completed I don't test for ammonia, just nitrate.

 

[davehead86]

Test with new batch of water before a WC and see if both gives you the same readings then you will know. Does using Prime give a false o.25 reading? After the cycle is completed I don't test for ammonia, just nitrate.

I dont use PRIME since I use RODI water.

I understand the principal there of not testing ammonia but only nitrites and nitrates. Im just not sure if I trust my 4 month old tank enough to not test ammonia.

 

[Buzz1329]

I have had the opposite results. When testing NO3 on my own tanks, the API results have ranged from 80 to 0 ppm while Salifert always read zero. Can't say for sure whether API kit is accurate.

BUT, the only time I have ever gotten a positive reading from a Salifert NO3 kit was when I recently tested a large tank (filtered only by filthy bioballs, a filthier blue pad mechanical filter, and an Eheim filter). The tank containing 6 x 2-3' bamboo sharks and some other large fish and tested at 0.25 ppm with a Salifert kit a few minutes after a heavy feeding. An API NO3 kit showed NO3 at 300+ while a mid-range Hach kit that tops off at 5.0 ppm, showed a reading higher than 5.0.

Can't speak to accuracy of API Ammonia or Nitrite kits, other than that they seemed to rise and fall in line with my expectations when cycling my tanks. Haven't used them since.

Good luck,

Mike

CORRECTION

Sorry, but my middle para in the above post is not accurate. I confused results of comparative PO4 tests with those of NO3 tests, which I have not yet conducted. My apologies for the confusion.

Mike

 

[Allentown]

Any test kit is subject to up to a 10% error rate. Add in issues such as did part of the reactant end up on the side of the test tube or was it mixed, now add in slight variations in drop sizes, now add in peoples different perceptions of different colors, now add in people counting the color change at JUST the drop that changes it..or one drop after, now add in how the sample in the vial might look different under different lights, now add in the fact that their refractometers may not have been calibrated correctly and what they THOUGHT they had mixed their salt to, they hadn't, now add in people who calibrate their refractometers with RODi water versus a calibration solution, now add in the fact that you can test the same water 3 times with the exact same tester and technique and get 3 different readings (sometimes drastically different).

What do you get? Answer: Don't chase small differences or low level elevations or deficiencies, trend the data on a graph and only take notice if you see something WAY off.