Ammonia Doing Odd Things But Fish Seem Fine..

[TubbyLaLa]

Checked water level today and ammonia tested 0.5mg/l...did a 50%water change (adding de-chlorinator) let the tank settle tested again ..0.5mg./l still, rinsed out all my testing equip retest ) 0.5mg/l. One male betta in a 28Litre tank heated and filtered, cycled with mature filter from the previous tank occupants, two live plants not been up and running long but seemed to be cycling. Fish seems swimming merrily no gasping at the surface or signs of distress ate well this morning (hope the is not something hidden he is not telling me!). I am at this point starting to doubt the efficiency of my waterlife test kit. Did treat the water with melafix for 3days when i got him, this is his first day without. Does melafix affect ammonia readings, or will it kill off good bacteria hence this spike in ammonia? Still does not explain how a 50% change does not affect the test kits readings.
Norfolk has notoriously bad water
Tetra test strip:
NO3 25
NO2 0
GH 16"d
KH 10"d
Ph 7.2
Temp: 78 degreesF
I am at a loss at how a 50% water change does not affect ammonia readings. I think I need to go and buy a new test kit!
Any other ideas?

 

[andywg]

If the water contains chloramines and your dechlor utilises sodium thiosulphate then you will have a small amount of ammonia in the tank after a water change. However, this should soon be taken care of by the filter media.

There is a possibility that the test is giving a false reading. No test kits are laboratory grade for accuracy, and they have a shelf life before the chemicals will stop working as they should.

 

[TubbyLaLa]

Have been doing the rounds testing the other tanks in the house, one tropical 60L (a male betta 2ADF's and an amano shrimp) and our really mature coldwater tank to get some comparisons and all are coming out at 0.5mg/l no expiry date on the packet but it is time for me to go shopping! I just hope I don't brings any extras home

 

[mark.w.jones]

Always go for a liquid test kit if you can. The strips are OK in the sort term for a quick test but are really not accurate enough. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is popular at TFF although Hagen do a mini master kit with all you'd need and tetra do a number of individual liquid tests.

 

[rdd1952]

Have you tested your tap water? Could be some present there. But since you are getting he same reading in all your tanks, I'd be inclined to think the test kit was off. And as mentioned strips are terribly inaccurate. Get a good liquid kit. If you compare the number of tests you get from them to he strips, you will see that they are cheaper too.

 

[TubbyLaLa]

I have a liquid kit but just used the strip for speed and a rough guide on other figures thanks for all the recommendations though New ammonia liquid testing has been purchased and ammonia levels are fine!!!!

 

[mark.w.jones]

They do have a sell by date and are worth replacing from time to time or as in your case when you suspect they are telling you a load of old crap!