Ammonia Detector Gadget

[Squeegeatc]

My sweet husband was asked to grab an ammonia testing kit on the way home from work.   He did, but he also got these little gadget to stick to the inside of the tank.   Supposedly they register PH and ammonia levels.  He was sooo proud of himself for having bought me a new toy.   I didn't have the heart to tell him that they were probably garbage.  What are your opinions on this thing?
 

 

[KirkyArcher]

Seachem is a reputable company and many people by their products for water treatments, I don't think they would be too far off the mark in terms of accuracy. Best way would be to get your water tested and compare results I'd suppose.
http/www.seachem.com/Products/Testing.html

 

[techen]

These sadly aren't that great and I believe you must replace them often.
 
Not worth the money.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

The SeaChem ammonia alert is a fine product. It does what almost no other hobby test kit can and that is to measure the actual amount of toxic NH3 in a tank. It is not designed to be used as a normal test kit as the reset time on it is long. But in terms of alerting you a real ammonia problem for the fish, this sensor beats anything offered by any other hobby ammonia kit.
 
Yes it has to be replaced about once a year.
 
This sensor is not useful for cycling as it takes some time for it to register a drop in NH3 when this has been dealt with (or drops) after the sensor alerts you to the problem.
 
For those worried about ammonia harming fish, you can not beat this test as it is directly reading NH3- all other kits you test for total ammonia and thenone  must uses tables or a calculator to determine how much NH3 in in that total ammonia. Using such tables or calculators requires one also be able to enter the pH and temperature of the tank water in addition to the total ammonia reading from the test kit.
 
I see little need/use for the pH alert unless you have very low KH and your tank is at risk of a pH crash.

 

[Squeegeatc]

I am very pleased to see that it is halfway useful.   so far, it appears to be reading the ammonia properly.  But I only added it last night.
 
The PH is also spot on.   I have VERY high PH here.   Most of my fish prefer it lower.   I'm worried about adding new ones.  Trying to decide what I should do.   If I chemically lower it, it'll fluctuate with every water change.   But if I bring in a fish unhappy with the high PH, I kill it. 
 
Thank you for the input!! 

 

[l_l_l]

Those product are good, when they work.
I bought two of them which were defective, then decided to contact the company to get a refund. 

 

[fluttermoth]

The PH is also spot on.   I have VERY high PH here.   Most of my fish prefer it lower.   I'm worried about adding new ones.  Trying to decide what I should do.   If I chemically lower it, it'll fluctuate with every water change.   But if I bring in a fish unhappy with the high PH, I kill it.

Just keep fish that like a high pH then

There are very many to pick from; most livebearers and rainbowfish and many barbs, just as examples

 

[Squeegeatc]

 

The PH is also spot on.   I have VERY high PH here.   Most of my fish prefer it lower.   I'm worried about adding new ones.  Trying to decide what I should do.   If I chemically lower it, it'll fluctuate with every water change.   But if I bring in a fish unhappy with the high PH, I kill it.

Just keep fish that like a high pH then

There are very many to pick from; most livebearers and rainbowfish and many barbs, just as examples

 

OOF  NO more live bearers!!!  LOL   Got myself in all kinds of messes with some dalmatian mollies a few years.  hence the reason I was out of fishkeeping for a while.

 

[fluttermoth]

You could always just keep males.

 

[Squeegeatc]

You could always just keep males.

Supposedly that was all we had when the the mollies, too!!  ONE turned out to be a she.

 

[Freedom]

Just an FYI, there is a 'combo pack,' the ammonia and the pH alert, for about $1 more than the price of either one, on Amazon, at the moment.  Not sure if it is a special or normal pricing.