A question about ammonia testing with the fish api test kit

[roller]

I've been having an issue with my freshwater test kit. Every time I test for ammonia, my test vial always ends up with a light green color and it says I have 0.25 ammonia. What's going on here? It's always 0.25. Also, I've noticed something else - I've had zero nitrates and no nitrites for months now.

[Snout]

If your water supply uses chloramine, that might be why you're getting those ammonia readings. See, chloramine is basically a mix of chlorine and ammonia, and when you use a dechlorinator, it gets rid of the chlorine but leaves the ammonia behind. That could be why you're consistently seeing that 0.25 ammonia level. As for the cycling, it can take ages and sometimes ammonia just lingers until the tank is fully established and can process it properly.

[roller]

If your water supply uses chloramine, that might be why you're getting those ammonia readings. See, chloramine is basically a mix of chlorine and ammonia, and when you use a dechlorinator, it gets rid of the chlorine but leaves the ammonia behind. That could be why you're consistently seeing that 0.25 ammonia level. As for the cycling, it can take ages and sometimes ammonia just lingers until the tank is fully established and can process it properly.

I've been using Prime water conditioner for the water source and this tank has been set up since October 2022. I've also tested my tap water and I'm seeing that same 0.25 ammonia level. What's the next step to resolve this issue?

[sSjey]

It's likely the chloramine in your tap water is causing the ammonia reading, even with a dechlorinator. The dechlorinator breaks down the chloramine into chlorine and ammonia, but the bacteria or plants in your tank should take care of the ammonia part.

When you're reading the test results, are you doing it in daylight or under room lighting? And if it's room lighting, what kind of bulbs are you using? I've heard that fluorescent lights, whether they're the strip kind or compact, can make the water in the tube appear more green than it actually is.

[boomer]

To add to @sSjey's point, I'd like to mention that Prime works by converting ammonia to ammonium, but this doesn't necessarily mean it won't show up in ammonia tests. According to Seachem, this effect is temporary - lasting around 36 hours - after which the ammonium will revert back to ammonia in basic water conditions.

[Rampar]

I've been having an issue with my freshwater test kit. Every time I test for ammonia, my test vial always ends up with a light green color and it says I have 0.25 ammonia. What's going on here? It's always 0.25. Also, I've noticed something else - I've had zero nitrates and no nitrites for months now.

I'm wondering if the test vial itself has become discolored after repeated use, resulting in the light green color you're seeing. Is the vial dry when you notice this discoloration, or is it just the test result that's always showing a light green color?

You mentioned this issue happens consistently, but is it before or after water changes? I've had issues with ammonia in my tap water, but I've been using API Ammo Lock to treat it and it's worked well. It's strange that you're seeing ammonia in your tank water with no nitrites or nitrates.

I've found Ammo Lock to be effective in removing ammonia from my tap water, bringing it down to zero. It also treats chlorine and chloramine, just like a regular conditioner. I've had no issues with my plants or fish since using it, and I think it's a better option for the fish.

[roller]

I've been having an issue with my freshwater test kit. Every time I test for ammonia, my test vial always ends up with a light green color and it says I have 0.25 ammonia. What's going on here? It's always 0.25. Also, I've noticed something else - I've had zero nitrates and no nitrites for months now.

I'm using Seachem Prime as a dechlorinator, it's supposed to remove chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia. But I still get that small amount of ammonia, .25 to be exact.

I'm curious, do you think the lighting could be affecting the color of the test? I've been reading the test in normal light, but I'll try it in natural light to see if that makes a difference. I've also been using the same test vial for a while, could that be the problem?

[jade]

I've also encountered false positives with API liquid ammonia tests, getting 0.25ppm readings even in tanks that are thriving and heavily planted. It's something worth considering, although it might not be what's happening in your case.

[TwinTankman]

I've been having an issue with my freshwater test kit. Every time I test for ammonia, my test vial always ends up with a light green color and it says I have 0.25 ammonia. What's going on here? It's always 0.25. Also, I've noticed something else - I've had zero nitrates and no nitrites for months now.

As long as the NH3 reading is 0.05 ppm or lower, it's generally considered safe for the aquatic life in our tanks. A total ammonia reading of 2 ppm can be misleading if the NH3 is 0.05 or less, in which case, it's relatively harmless for short periods. In established tanks with fish, this scenario is rare and typically only occurs during a fish-in cycle, which I wouldn't recommend.