Confusing ammonia readings

[Toolfan333]

Hello,
I have 60gal with 65lbs cured LR from a reef tear down. It's been up for about a week and I added a 1" maroon clown and a 1.5" samsmara squirrel fish 2 days ago. I was told that since the rock was cycled that I wouldn't get much of a cycle and I could start stocking the tank. I put a sea chem alert in and it consistently reads safe,but when I use my API test, it reads about .25. I heard that API can give false positives, so which of the tests should I believe?

 

[Toolfan333]

Forgot to mention that I also tested my freshwater tank with the API and it read 0

 

[thegrun]

Neither, get a Salifert ammonia test kit. You are correct that the API test kit frequently shows a false 0.25 positive test result, the Sea Chem alert just isn't very accurate.

 

[tkeracer619]

It's probable what you are seeing is a false positive on the API. I find it is more sensitive to the light you are using to read the test kit. What looks like .25 indoors can look like 0 in the sun.

You may have a little bit of a cycle, especially if you didn't transport the rock in water. If that is the case it should go away quickly.