How Long Do You Wait

[phoenixgsd]

how long do you wait before reading the results of a liquid test? i ask because i tested my bucket yesterday and it was 1ppm after 10 minutes but i forgot to empty the tube and 10 mins later it was almost 0ppm, i would have thought the longer its left the more ammonia would register, or do i simply not understand the chemistry

 

[jimmy_veal]

When i do a water test - i leave the chemiclas to react for about 5 mins. I use a API master test kit. I think it should tell you on the instructions for the test kit how long to leave it for.

 

[Salam]

I just follow the instructions. I have various kits, should have invested in a master test kit which I will do soon, but at the moment they are all different brand ones. My ammonia kit for example says to read the results immediately, the nitrite one says to wait five minutes.

 

[Iiriva]

My master kit (liquid one from Sera) has usually 5 minutes in it's instructions.

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

API Master kit: 5 mins

 

[KISSfn]

From Seachem's website if you use Prime: "A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime®), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away." API and other kits that the color chart goes to dark green are salicylate based.

 

[FishBlast]

Tetra ammonia test.
I read them both times, once in the first 5 minutes and the second time after 20 minutes. (it says wait 20 minutes in the instructions).
Usually, it detects ammonia right away, as it detected my turtle pond ammonia level immediately and it was 0.25+.

 

[phoenixgsd]

From Seachem's website if you use Prime: "A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime®), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away." API and other kits that the color chart goes to dark green are salicylate based.

i do use prime and the API liquid so should i take the readings straight away and not wait for the accurate result

 

[KISSfn]

Yes.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

From Seachem's website if you use Prime: "A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime®), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away." API and other kits that the color chart goes to dark green are salicylate based.

i do use prime and the API liquid so should i take the readings straight away and not wait for the accurate result

I'd say yes, if you are knowingly overdosing Prime (something I tend to do) to give you a little extra piece of mind about the new tap water and helping tanks stay safe for fish for upto 24 hours following the water change.