Defective seachem ammonia alert badge?

[Mikee002]

I set up a QT tank which I'm cycling right now. I dosed pure ammonia and when I tested the water to get my starting point, I noticed that my seachem alert badge was showing way less ammonia than my red Sea test kit. The badge is showing .05 and the red Sea test kit is showing 1.2ppm. is it possible that I have a defective badge or is there something that I'm missing? Right now I don't have much confidence in it, and I read that red Sea test results are not accurate when treating with copper correct?

Thanks.

 

[heathlindner25]

Very possible, junk product in my opinion.

 

[Zalick]

I lost 3 fish in QT due to this exact issue. The badge showed the lowest level <.05. My fish were breathing very heavily so I tested ammonia and it was around .5. I lost 3 of the four fish in QT.

Badge was brand new.

 

[CrayolaViolence]

From what I've read about the badges is that they measure a different type of ammonia. That the test kits measure a broader range--some of which--supposedly isn't toxic. I've had people say they've had good experiences and ppl say bad. I personally do not know since I don't use them and rely on constant water changes instead.

 

[LotsaTanks]

I was trying to rely on one in my QT tank. It was showing fine levels and in actuality ammonia was way too high. My opinion is don't use it. If you do don't trust it.


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[Mikee002]

Yea, I'm not going to rely on it. It is true though that the test kits aren't accurate when you're dosing copper? If that's the case... How do you know your ammonia when you're treating with copper?

 

[Dealseer]

I've got 6 of these in qt tanks and all work great. Never had a problem. They only measure free ammonia, of course. Can't imagine why so many are having problems. These have saved me time and fish. They aren't the only line of defense, just the first line.

 

[Dealseer]

I lost 3 fish in QT due to this exact issue. The badge showed the lowest level <.05. My fish were breathing very heavily so I tested ammonia and it was around .5. I lost 3 of the four fish in QT.

Badge was brand new.

The badge showing the lowest level means time to take immediate action...that's a huge amount of free ammonia. You should never let things get to that level.

 

[Zalick]

The badge showing the lowest level means time to take immediate action...that's a huge amount of free ammonia. You should never let things get to that level.

I posted that at work and was trying to go from memory. It was the yellow safe level, <.02. That's what I meant by lowest.

I still use one in my QT, because if it shows ammonia, its easy to see. BUT, I do not rely in it for my ammonia testing. I can live with a false positive, but not a false negative.

 

[Dealseer]

I posted that at work and was trying to go from memory. It was the yellow safe level, <.02. That's what I meant by lowest.

I still use one in my QT, because if it shows ammonia, its easy to see. BUT, I do not rely in it for my ammonia testing. I can live with a false positive, but not a false negative.

Ok, gotcha, that thing is defective then.

 

[thirsty saltine]

If I remember correctly they are supposed to be replaced quite frequently. I used on my QT in the past but recently I have not been using one.

 

[billdogg]

I really don't think they are worth the money. I just do a daily water change in my QT using water from the frag tank. That makes it a win-win IMO. The frag tank gets lots of water changes and the QT stays non-toxic!

 

[Dealseer]

If I remember correctly they are supposed to be replaced quite frequently. I used on my QT in the past but recently I have not been using one.

I replace when I test each one and it fails the test. Often get 11 months out of them.

 

[homer1475]

I've had success and several severe failures with them. I agree they are not worth the money.

 

[OrQidz]

I think every test has a variation in how far off the "true" levels it reports. IMHO, cheaper dipstick, ammonia badge type tests are less reliable and while they're good for quick checks and to monitor and to be alerted to a problem, it's still good to rely on a good test like Salifert or red sea.