REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
I’ve never really had any problems using api test kits in the past yrs
New to Saltwater, Tank Pics
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MrWheelock
Valuable Member
Maybe I'll give them a shot again
REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
How do you like the Red Sea test kits? I would love to try out the Hanna checkers
MrWheelock
Valuable Member
I Really like my redsea kits, however I use the pro which has both high and low nitrate. Recently for alk, and cal I switched to the Hanna and my wife is much happier with less "hassle". I havent used them yet but happy wife happy life right?
REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
Lol yea your right.. well when you do get a chance to use them let me know been thinking about getting some myself
MrWheelock
Valuable Member
Will do. Might pick up the api mag and try that one out.
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
It looks like the ammonia is still about 0.50ppm... but the API kits usually always show 0.25ppm! What did you add as your ammonia source? The bacteria are working well because you have a huge amount of nitrates present. This tells me you've had a lot of ammonia breaking down! If you used your old live rock without curing it this time, I suspect it is full of dead organics from the last tank and slowly breaking down into ammonia... leading to the really high nitrates.Been out the hobby for 3 yrs the tank been sitting there empty for like 2 yrs till now . I used turbo start 900 to cycle tank which is suppose to cycle in like a week i think never done it this way. Been stuck on these test results probably for like a week but compared to what is was 3weeks ago It’s gotten way better not sure if I added to much ammonia. I’ve always cycled my tank By waiting it out for a month
Also, read the API test kit directions. Some of their tests wasn't you to compare the test tube color to the card by looking down thru the top of thes vial target than from these side. That wel change the colors you see some as well. I can't recall which tests say to do that...i have their copper test and you look down thru the top on that one.
REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
For Ammonia I used algae barn nitrocycle and no I did not use my old rock actually used new dry rock because I didn’t cure my old rock and yes I have tried looking at it from the top and still always gives me the same results
REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
Today’s test results Same test just one inside and one outside in natural light
Last edited:
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
Amazing the color differences with inside light and outside daylight! The nitrate is a little difficult to tell the color compared to the card. But, it seems the ammonia is really low if not zero with outside light and 0.5ppm with inside light! But as said previously, API almost always shows some ammonia with their test. Because of that, I don't use it.
I use Red Sea for ammonia testing and Salifert for nitrate testing... easier for me to tell the color differences on those tests!
But, there doesn't seem to be a difference in the ammonia test from yesterday to today. So either the ammonia isnt there or something slowly leaking ammonia. New dry rock so probably not that unless dead organics in the rock. I used pukani rock and it had a lot of dead organics from probably a million years ago that released organics for a longtime. I cured that dead rock for 6 weeks to clean it out!
So, hard to give advice besides maybe try a different test kit to validate...or take a chance and start with a hardy fish, like a clownfish.
I use Red Sea for ammonia testing and Salifert for nitrate testing... easier for me to tell the color differences on those tests!
But, there doesn't seem to be a difference in the ammonia test from yesterday to today. So either the ammonia isnt there or something slowly leaking ammonia. New dry rock so probably not that unless dead organics in the rock. I used pukani rock and it had a lot of dead organics from probably a million years ago that released organics for a longtime. I cured that dead rock for 6 weeks to clean it out!
So, hard to give advice besides maybe try a different test kit to validate...or take a chance and start with a hardy fish, like a clownfish.
REEFLIFE.27
Active Member
Rock is dead new so I know it’s not the rocks and I didn’t want to use my old rock and wait for it to cycle. no difference I always get the same reading for ammonia and (nitrate =10-20 ppm) I don’t really want to add anymore ammonia I used algae barn nitro cycle and fritz 900 which should of cycled the tank in a week haven’t done a water change I always wait till everything hits zero but with this tank it’s not the case. I’ll try and test my water at a lfs or get a clownfish
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