Test Kit Out Of Date?

[NathanPrince]

Hey guys, I can't help but notice everytime I test my tanks I keep getting 0.25ppm of Ammonia no matter what I do. I set up my new shrimp tank yesterday and tested it after around 2 hours of it running. 0.25ppm of ammonia, so I did a 25% water change.... still 0.25ppm.

So I tested both my main tanks, both 0.25ppm and they were water changed today. Its always shown a bit of green on the test and my fish have been fine so I've usually ignored it but I don't want to risk my shrimp because my only 2 females are heavily berried and gonna drop anytime now.

I didn't buy the test kit, it came with a tank a bought about 4 months ago.


Cheers

 

[Tizer]

tested the tap water? maybe its already at 0.25?

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

tested the tap water? maybe its already at 0.25?

My tap water is 0.25 when it comes out of the tap, so Tizer may be right there.

the ammonia in my tanks is 0 so it is ok

 

[NathanPrince]

I haven't no I shall test it later when I get home, if it is 0.25 out the tap then is it ok? I haven't had any fish loss for months so I presume its fine, just don't wanna lose my pregnant shrimp

 

[Tizer]

your filter should eventually process it to zero, so, no its not really ok

 

[the_lock_man]

You may not actually have a problem at all. There have been a few incidences where people with the API kit have viewed the result under artificial lighting and it's looked like 0.25ppm, where they then viewed the result under sunlight or under flourescent light, and the same test shows 0ppm.

 

[AshP1986]

I also had this problem and then tested the ammonia of a bottle of water and got the same reading. Also took a water sample to my lfs and they got a reading of 0.

 

[NathanPrince]

Seems to be the only time I do it and read it outside in daylight its actually 0ppm, just my dodgy indoors lighting and there was 2 bottles of ammonia 1 test. I used both on a sample of water one read 0.25 and one read 0, did this a few times and came to the conclusion one bottle was knackered so threw it out!

Cheers guys

 

[AshP1986]

my ammonia test requires 2 bottles

 

[NathanPrince]

So does mine, I have 2 Ammonia test 1 bottles... or should I say had. And then the #2 bottle too