False tests

[DustyBootsAZ]

Does anyone have experience with Red Sea testing kits giving bad readings? I’ve been consistently getting the same .2 ammonia reading on my tests even if I test before and right after a water change. I even just checked the ammonia on the pure RO/DI water before I even mixed it and still got the same .2 reading. Either I’m getting bad tests or the bin I’m using to mix the water is causing ammonia? I’ve ordered some salivary tests to double check. Was just wondering if anyone else had any experience with this? Also none of my fish or coral seem to be all fine too and this has been something I’ve been fighting with for months.

 

[Fish Fan]

It's a test error

We see this all the time with the popular API brand test kits, and I would think the Red Sea likely does the same thing; it reads ~0.25 ppm ammonia when other indicators (like the age of the system) would suggest it's much lower near zero.

And even if it's real, I don't believe that 0.25 ppm ammonia is dangerous. I wouldn't worry until it starts going over 0.50 ppm or higher.

I hope that helps!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Many ammonia kits read low levels when none is present.

Regardless, that level is no concern. This has more;

Ammonia is Our Friend!

Ammonia is Our Friend By Randy Holmes-Farley Yes, I know the title is provocative, and likely goes against much of what you read and hear in the reef aquarium hobby. I believe, however, that the hobby may have been harmed by the continual...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[KrisReef]

Stop worrying about the test results, they reflect errors not ammonia

 

[BryanM]

I had the same issues and concerns and received the same advice. The whole ammonia must be 0 mantra is a bit misleading.

 

[Dan_P]

Does anyone have experience with Red Sea testing kits giving bad readings? I’ve been consistently getting the same .2 ammonia reading on my tests even if I test before and right after a water change. I even just checked the ammonia on the pure RO/DI water before I even mixed it and still got the same .2 reading. Either I’m getting bad tests or the bin I’m using to mix the water is causing ammonia? I’ve ordered some salivary tests to double check. Was just wondering if anyone else had any experience with this? Also none of my fish or coral seem to be all fine too and this has been something I’ve been fighting with for months.

The total ammonia test can have a high baseline, making zero ppm look like 0.2 ppm. Red Sea is a pretty good ammonia test but not immune to the high baseline and subject to human error in discerning subtle color differences. Sometimes though, an ammonia reading can be real, like in a freshly prepared Instant Ocean. I assume your system is new because you are still testing for ammonia.

 

[DustyBootsAZ]

Does anyone have experience with Red Sea testing kits giving bad readings? I’ve been consistently getting the same .2 ammonia reading on my tests even if I test before and right after a water change. I even just checked the ammonia on the pure RO/DI water before I even mixed it and still got the same .2 reading. Either I’m getting bad tests or the bin I’m using to mix the water is causing ammonia? I’ve ordered some salivary tests to double check. Was just wondering if anyone else had any experience with this? Also none of my fish or coral seem to be all fine too and this has been something I’ve been fighting with for months.

The total ammonia test can have a high baseline, making zero ppm look like 0.2 ppm. Red Sea is a pretty good ammonia test but not immune to the high baseline and subject to human error in discerning subtle color differences. Sometimes though, an ammonia reading can be real, like in a freshly prepared Instant Ocean. I assume your system is new because you are still testing for ammonia.

It’s a fairly established tank, almost a year old. I just randomly did a full test on everything and saw it was high so started testing for it trying to bring it down.

 

[lmfbs]

It’s a fairly established tank, almost a year old. I just randomly did a full test on everything and saw it was high so started testing for it trying to bring it down.

I think this is an excellent example of why we don't chase tests (let's just ignore the fact that I have a post right above yours complaining about my inconsistent kH testing...)

 

[winxp_man]

If you’re really concerned, do an ICP test for your rodi. Otherwise as stated by all above me. These test can be funky at times and non that I know of are ULR ammonia readers. So anything below .25 can’t truly be relied upon.

 

[Dan_P]

It’s a fairly established tank, almost a year old. I just randomly did a full test on everything and saw it was high so started testing for it trying to bring it down.

Got it. I do the same thing on an even older system.