hello all. ive been using the api master test kit for a month now and am not sure how much i can trust it at this point. ive been reading 0.25 ppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrite and my nitrate just tested at 10 ppm. i am doing a water change either tonight or tomorrow so that should lower the nitrate. ive been doing weekly 50% water changes to help keep all of the levels as low as possible. one of my hermit crabs just died and i am wondering if all of my levels are actually higher than what the test kit is telling me. any help or recommendations are appreciated. if im doing something wrong please let me know as well since im fairly new to this hobby. thanks.
test kit question
- Thread starter snesbit01
- Start date
username in use
Sciencing Daily
How long has the tank been set up? If you are getting any ammonia reading it sounds like the tank isn't mature enough to have anything in it.
Bldgengineer
New member
Api is horrible ammonia. I tested it on distilled water and it still comes up .25. I'd suggest a kit like salient or red sea
Reef Frog
New member
Hermits die off for many reasons. I wouldn't necessarily blame ammonia.
I used to poo poo API ammonia tests but haven't used them for years since cycle. I bought one recently for a QT tank I had to set up with short notice. I didn't want to trust an ammonia badge for my special back ordered fish I waited for a year that arrived @ LFS unexpectedly. It was the only ammonia test available immediately.
I'm glad I did. It saved my fish - long story. It is hard to discern the yellow from the green yellow color, but I learned how to do it. A start is to test a pure new SW sample along side your tank water sample. Subtle color variations became apparent to me. Fresh kit - that may make a big difference. IMO the test doesn't deserve the bad rap.
Keep in mind when he differential between an ambiguous color between zero and .25 mg/L is not likely to be a big problem and is easily dealt with with a tiny tiny dose of Prime or other ammonia lock product. As always JMO.
I used to poo poo API ammonia tests but haven't used them for years since cycle. I bought one recently for a QT tank I had to set up with short notice. I didn't want to trust an ammonia badge for my special back ordered fish I waited for a year that arrived @ LFS unexpectedly. It was the only ammonia test available immediately.
I'm glad I did. It saved my fish - long story. It is hard to discern the yellow from the green yellow color, but I learned how to do it. A start is to test a pure new SW sample along side your tank water sample. Subtle color variations became apparent to me. Fresh kit - that may make a big difference. IMO the test doesn't deserve the bad rap.
Keep in mind when he differential between an ambiguous color between zero and .25 mg/L is not likely to be a big problem and is easily dealt with with a tiny tiny dose of Prime or other ammonia lock product. As always JMO.
Scuba_Steve
Premium Member
If you don't want to buy another kit just to verify your results, then take a sample in to your lfs. They should test it for free.
Now I wouldn't rely solely on these results, but it is a good sanity check.
Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
Now I wouldn't rely solely on these results, but it is a good sanity check.
Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
Ron Reefman
Active member
I use API and Salifert. I use the API all the time for Ca & alk. If I get a crazy reading I double check it with the Salifert and 99.9% of the time I get almost the exact same number from the Salifert.
Personally, I think the API work just fine... but I do have a back up!
Personally, I think the API work just fine... but I do have a back up!
BigEZ77
Member
Agreed. I got rid of my API kit and use Red Sea for everything now, except Mag and Phos...Salifert for those.
