Ammonia test reading zero after dosing?

[fabio_a]

My ammonia (nh3) test is still yellow (0 ppm) after I’ve dosed the tank with ammonium hydroxide, to 4ppm. Test kit is new. Is it not working?

 

[allof fish]

When did you dose it? Did you also add bacteria recently. They could have cycled it to nitrite or nitrates. What test kit is it?

My ammonia (nh3) test is still yellow (0 ppm) after I’ve dosed the tank with ammonium hydroxide, to 4ppm. Test kit is new. Is it not working?

 

[fabio_a]

When did you dose it? Did you also add bacteria recently. They could have cycled it to nitrite or nitrates. What test kit is it?

My ammonia (nh3) test is still yellow (0 ppm) after I’ve dosed the tank with ammonium hydroxide, to 4ppm. Test kit is new. Is it not working?

5 minutes before testing. No bacteria could chew on that ammonia so fast. Lol. My doubt is as the test is NH3 only, it is not sensitive to the type of ammonia I’m dosing? Test is a Brazilian one By OceanTech.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

how do you know the potency of an ammonium hydroxide solution?

 

[fabio_a]

how do you know the potency of an ammonium hydroxide solution?

It’s a 0,6% pharma grade solution. I even tried to “test” the ammonia solution itself but the vial is still yellow (0 ppm).

Which made me think that if the test is nh4 only, would it not react to ammonium hydroxide?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s a 0,6% pharma grade solution. I even tried to “test” the ammonia solution itself but the vial is still yellow (0 ppm).

Which made me think that if the test is nh4 only, would it not react to ammonium hydroxide?

No, that last sentence is not correct. Any ammonia test can detect that ammonia.

I would not try to test the solution itself, since that may not work. If you take a liter of tank water, add enough of that solution to attain 4 ppm, it should work. If it does not, the solution is not what it claims, or the kit is not working.

How did you determine how much to dose?

 

[fabio_a]

It’s a 0,6% pharma grade solution. I even tried to “test” the ammonia solution itself but the vial is still yellow (0 ppm).

Which made me think that if the test is nh4 only, would it not react to ammonium hydroxide?

No, that last sentence is not correct. Any ammonia test can detect that ammonia.

I would not try to test the solution itself, since that may not work. If you take a liter of tank water, add enough of that solution to attain 4 ppm, it should work. If it does not, the solution is not what it claims, or the kit is not working.

How did you determine how much to dose?

Randy, I’ve been using this website for a long time

Ammonia Dosage Calculator | Fishkeeping Help | Freshwater Aquarium Services

When completing a fishless tank cycle it is necessary to dose an ammonia source to feed and promote the colonisation of beneficial bacteria in your biological filter. This simple calculator will guide you to determine the correct dosage of a liquid ammonia source.

www.freshwateraquariumservices.co.uk

Will also try to mix some ammonia solution in water before testing and will report back.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That calculator seems reasonable.

 

[fabio_a]

Just to give some closure, contacted the test manufacturer, and they will be sending me a new one. Thanks everybody for the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just to give some closure, contacted the test manufacturer, and they will be sending me a new one. Thanks everybody for the help.

Be sure to let us know if it still isn’t giving the expected result. :)