Salifert NH3 test and Dr Tims Ammonium Chloride

[Kimdive]

So I am starting a fishless cycle but I'm a little confused.

I have the salifert NH3 test kit and I have added Dr Tims Ammonium Chloride (NH4) to the tank at the dosage that should give me 2ppm, its just showing .25 though.

Is this because I am using the Salifert NH3 test kit and I should have bought the NH4 test as I know it converts due to PH?

My ph is between 8 & 8.15 if I'm reading it right.

 

[bertoni]

The ammonia kits all read total ammonia (NH₃ and NH₄⁺). The kit might be having problems or maybe there was a mixup on the instructions. As long as the ammonia is measurable, that should be good enough, but 0.25 ppm is low enough that it might be more of a sign that the kit has failed. You could try dosing up a gallon of water separate from the tank, and testing that.

 

[Kimdive]

Thank you so much for the help. Yes it looks like it's the test kit playing up. Any suggestions of what to replace it with or try salifert again?

I

The ammonia kits all read total ammonia (NH₃ and NH₄⁺). The kit might be having problems or maybe there was a mixup on the instructions. As long as the ammonia is measurable, that should be good enough, but 0.25 ppm is low enough that it might be more of a sign that the kit has failed. You could try dosing up a gallon of water separate from the tank, and testing that.

 

[bertoni]

I have had good luck with Salifert kits on average, but ammonia kits (from all brands) seem to fail over time. I'd probably go with a different supplier, if not a different brand, to avoid getting a kit from the same batch, but that's probably not all that useful. Maybe a LFS will run a test for you?

 

[Kimdive]

I did by the test nearly 2 years ago and it's in date until November this year. Maybe it just went off early. My nearest LG's is an hour drive, so a real pain I'll just buy another and see how it goes.
Thank you though.

I have had good luck with Salifert kits on average, but ammonia kits (from all brands) seem to fail over time. I'd probably go with a different supplier, if not a different brand, to avoid getting a kit from the same batch, but that's probably not all that useful. Maybe a LFS will run a test for you?

 

[bertoni]

Oh, well, it was an idea.

 

[Dr. Reef]

I have 5 different salifert ammonia kits from last year when I was testing 9 bacteria in bottle manufacturers and all of salifert kits were NH3 despite their instructions and website says TAN.
0.25 sounds about right on NH3 if ph is between 8.1 to 8.4. It would equal out to 2 to 2.25 ppm TAN

Initially I thought kits were bad too but comparing them against red sea api ang elos also against Seneye monitor I soon realized salifert was measuring NH3. Seneye monitor also measures NH3.

Sent multiple email to salifert, multiple emails to CEO Salifert and even tried Facebook for the CEO. He is member on many online reef forums.
Never got a reply from any source. So I dumped the kits and went on with other kits available.

Note: Seneye was generous to give me 5 units for free to conduct my testing. I want to thank them for their generous support.
And not just that I use these units on my current qt tanks and they are the best device I have on my tanks, monitoring ph temp and ammonia in real time.

 

[mcgyvr]

I wouldn't even waste my time/money buying another kit..
Just dose the tank up per recommended drops and wait 4-6 weeks if using all dry rock/sand..

If you want you can dose it up 1 more time in a week or so..

 

[bertoni]

That's probably a fine approach, too. Having a working ammonia kit on hand for emergencies is useful, though, in my opinion.