Ammonia Alert Device

[Gazoo]

Has anyone used this (or other brand) sensor to detect/monitor ammomia? I have a friend who is thinking about fishkeeping and understands the importance of proper water conditions but I think some sort of visual aid would be helpful.

Is it accurate? How long do they "really" last?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Never used any visual aid before, I would always be more inclined to rely on the old fashioned test kits.

 

[JasonPlus]

I saw one of those at my lfs in one of their tanks. I'm not sure how or how well it works though.

 

[dgwebster]

If I spot on in the next week at my LFS I'll buy one and stick it in the tank im cycling - it will at least let us know how effective they are, wouldn't give any idea of how long they are effective for though. I'd be tempted to remove a third off of any manufacturer times, eg if it says 6 months, replace every 4.

 

[Teelie]

Those are supposed to last a year, at least the ones I saw like that in the store claimed it. IMO though, they're only useful for cycling tanks and saltwater where ammonia is much more deadly than it is in freshwater.

Some people who are beginners, extra cautious, are paranoid, or just plain lazy might want them but the price seems out of proportion to the use as a properly cycled and maintained tank should never have ammonia.

Of course if a fish or other inhabitant dies, they raise the ammonia but it takes a little more time for it to crash a tank larger than a 30 gallon.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

How much are they charging for them where you are?

 

[Gazoo]

How much are they charging for them where you are?

~$8

I thought it would be good for my friend that needs that "nudge nudge, wink wink..." reminder since he's new to the hobby.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

I suppose they would be useful and worth it for that price for people that are only just coming into the hobby, this will encourage them to wait longer for there tanks to cycle.

 

[Teelie]

For newbies, definitely good for them as they'll need the help. That's why I listed them first.

Here, those things sell for around $10 and I'd like one for cycling (I have a 55 I'm going to be setting up soon and then possibly another at work and maybe my spare 10g sometime in the future) but I just can't justify that kind of money on something I'd use for maybe a month and then not need for possibly years only for it to lose it's usefulness after a year.

 

[Vegan Peaches]

That's cheaper than a test kit from where I'm from, although it only tests for 1 thing. It could be useful.

 

[Mikaila31]

I have two of those one in my 55 and one in my 20. the one in the 55gal has never done anything but the 20 gal i setup in a emergency for a sick fish with gill flukes. i never had time to cycle it and the fish being small it only went up to alert. So i guess that would say it works but i perfer the test kit because it says the amount of ammonia in the water.

I've seen these sold $20 in one store and $8 in another store 15 min away