API Ammonia Test

[SirReefsALot]

Has anyone tested pure yellow?

I've always got a shade of green in all three tanks even when seachem reads rull yellow.

It would seem like an important number.

 

[ScottR]

Has anyone tested pure yellow?

I've always got a shade of green in all three tanks even when seachem reads rull yellow.

It would seem like an important number.

Seachem only tests for NH3 (ammonia). I believe the API kit tests for NH3 and NH4 (ammonium).

 

[SinkyShippy]

I've never gotten a yellow test. It always is a shade of green. I chalk it up to false positives.

 

[AdamNC]

In my freshwater tank it’s pure yellow but the same test kit on my reef is slightly yellowish green always.

 

[SirReefsALot]

ScottR is correct. I checked the API kit and it does state that is testing for BOTH NH3 and NH4.
So if the Seachem badge is solid yellow, the pale green on the API is probably fairly normal if there are trace amounts of NH4.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

IME, API will always read .25 if you let it sit long enough. If I don't see immediate changes in color or if I see less than .25 for the first 30-45 seconds, I read it as zero.

 

[SirReefsALot]

IME, API will always read .25 if you let it sit long enough. If I don't see immediate changes in color or if I see less than .25 for the first 30-45 seconds, I read it as zero.

I'm thinking the same way.

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

Agreed! If you let it sit long enough (like the 5 minutes it suggests) I always seem to get a shade of greenish yellow and never pure yellow (unless reading it immediately after shaking). I always use the "ammonia badge" as well as a double check and everything seems fine

 

[SinkyShippy]

Nope. I always get false positives.

 

[ClearLife]

If you look closely at the color chart, the 0 ppm color is not pure yellow, but rather a slight yellow-green off yellow.

 

[BadFish619]

It reads total ammonia so it's always a false positive. If its .25 I count it as zero