Ammonia Alert, Recommended?

[RossC]

I saw this on eBay today Seachem Ammonia Alert Does anyone think this can work as effectively as the test kits?
Thanks

 

[Blubble37]

no, they can take up to 4 hours to change... by that time the damage is already done

 

[RossC]

no, they can take up to 4 hours to change... by that time the damage is already done

I guessed they were to good to be true, thanks

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I think the Ammonia Alert is a very useful indicator to have. What it tells you, which almost all other test kits won't, is the quantity of ammonia (the toxic one) in your water. It starts to change colour at just 0.02ppm ammonia, far lower than any other hobby test kit, and this can be very useful for beginners worrying about lethal quantities of ammonia being in the tank.

Blubble37 is wrong in that it only takes 15 minutes to show a rise in ammonia, but it does take four hours to 'reset' when the ammonia falls. But what you're interested in is keeping ammonia low and so the 15 minute delay is nothing - it'd probably take you as long faffing about with your test kit trying to get a reading.

 

[CrustyOnEastCoast]

I have Seachem Ammonia Alert in my tank and have been relying on it somewhat (though I do use the API test kit at times, too. Especially since the Seachem Alert can't tell me nitrite content). Glad to hear it will only take 15 minutes to rise.

Like Prime Ordeal said, the fact that it shows precisely ammonia and not ammonia and ammonium is helpful. That can help prevent unnecessary water changes and give your filter bacteria a chance to chow down and multiply. While a large water change done properly I suppose is not that risky ... there is still some risk. If my API test kit were ever to show 0.2 ammonia/ammonium, but my Seachem Alert remained bright yellow, I don't need to perform a water change (since I know that only ammonium is present). Though, I would definitely watch my fish behavior and tank closely and retest frequently to see which way the trend is going (up or down).

I have chloramines in my tap water. So my tap water will show between 1-2ppm of ammonia/ammonium when using the API test kit. When treated with Seachem Prime (which dechlorinates AND binds the resulting ammonia), and retested with the API test kit, it will STILL show the same value (all the ammonia is bound as ammonium but the overall total ppm is the same). But if I fill an aquarium with this treated water, the Seachem Alert will stay yellow .. which is an accurate indication in this particular scenario that the water is currently safe for the fish.

After about 24 hours or so, Seachem Prime is no longer effective (says the manufacturer -- exact number probably tank specific depending on water chemistry). So at this point, either the bacteria will have consumed all the ammonium (and the Seachem Alert will stay yellow). Or, the bacteria didn't consume all of it .. and possibly some of it has reverted back to ammonia (in which case the Seachem Alert would show me this).

I am speaking from head knowledge, though, not from experience ... so ... in essence I am putting some trust in this device.

Prime Ordeal, can you speak from personal experience to say that the device can be trusted (i.e. works as advertised .. just like I might trust my aquarium thermometer for instance)?

 

[RossC]

I think the Ammonia Alert is a very useful indicator to have. What it tells you, which almost all other test kits won't, is the quantity of ammonia (the toxic one) in your water. It starts to change colour at just 0.02ppm ammonia, far lower than any other hobby test kit, and this can be very useful for beginners worrying about lethal quantities of ammonia being in the tank.

Blubble37 is wrong in that it only takes 15 minutes to show a rise in ammonia, but it does take four hours to 'reset' when the ammonia falls. But what you're interested in is keeping ammonia low and so the 15 minute delay is nothing - it'd probably take you as long faffing about with your test kit trying to get a reading.

I would only be using it as a safety precaution alongside my test kit. So would you suggest it is worth the investment or not? Thanks for your contribution

 

[StandbySetting]

Just another unnecessary and unsightly piece of equipment in my opinion.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I would only be using it as a safety precaution alongside my test kit. So would you suggest it is worth the investment or not? Thanks for your contribution

That's exactly how I would use it. It's a very useful piece of kit, considering its cheap price. It's nice to have that constant, true free-ammonia reading always in sight.

 

[ian]

Bubble is quite right,it does take a lot longer to show an ammonia spike than Seachem claim.

 

[Blubble37]

Bubble is quite right,it does take a lot longer to show an ammonia spike than Seachem claim.

phew...

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Bubble is quite right,it does take a lot longer to show an ammonia spike than Seachem claim.

How did you test that assertion?

 

[ian]

i didn't test it, Tom Barr did.

 

[Blubble37]

am i missing something? who is tom barr?

 

[Prime Ordeal]

And do you believe everything that Tom Barr tells you?

 

[StandbySetting]

One of the most influential people (in my opinion) in the hobby.

http/www.barrreport.com/