What Would You Say My Ammonia Reading Is?

[Igniseus]

I finally got an ammonia test kit, and did my first test. However, it looks to be very high (i followed the guidelines for the amount of ammonia to put in my tank, but my method wasn't totally accurate).

What do you guys think? Potentially over the bacteria-slowing 8.0 mark? Should i try taking a few litres out (its 60L without decorations etc) and retest tommorow?

Thanks

 

[rabbut]

It looks about 5ppm to me, but it is hard to tell via photo. Its up to you, if at your end it appears over the 6ppm target, change some water then re-test, if it appears under, leave it be. You will be able to tell the reading better than us. These tests are best measured in sunlight, for greater accuracy, as the colours appear different under different lighting conditions.

HTH
rabbut

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah hard to tell, from the photo I would say around 6ish. One thing though is that it seems to be very full? Not sure about the test kit you have but normally you fill it to the 5mill line then just add about a few drops of whatever. It looks like that tube is completely full though which doesnt seem right (could be for that kit though I guess).

 

[Igniseus]

It looks about 5ppm to me, but it is hard to tell via photo. Its up to you, if at your end it appears over the 6ppm target, change some water then re-test, if it appears under, leave it be. You will be able to tell the reading better than us. These tests are best measured in sunlight, for greater accuracy, as the colours appear different under different lighting conditions.

HTH
rabbut

Ah, my rooms quite dark. So in direct sunlight or just bright light of some kind, it would probably appear to be lower/lighter on the scale?

Thanks

 

[Igniseus]

Yeah hard to tell, from the photo I would say around 6ish. One thing though is that it seems to be very full? Not sure about the test kit you have but normally you fill it to the 5mill line then just add about a few drops of whatever. It looks like that tube is completely full though which doesnt seem right (could be for that kit though I guess).

Yeah its to the 5ml line, its because its laid flat, so the liquid has spread across the whole tube.

Well 2 of you think its well under 8, and that's under dark photo conditions (presumably making it worse/higher) so i'm probably just worrying too much.

Need to get the other test kits though, i have a strip one and i swear i'm seeing about 10 nitrate suddenly after about 1.5 weeks cycling, but the strips havn't showed any nitrite yet, though i didnt buy them until 1 week in but thats still way too early, and im doubting the bacteria products i bought were THAT good. Guess i'll have to wait till next week when i can buy the other liquid tests.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Ahh that explains it

Have you tested your tap water? You might have nitrate in your water right from the tap which is why its showing up on the tests.

 

[Igniseus]

Ahh that explains it

Have you tested your tap water? You might have nitrate in your water right from the tap which is why its showing up on the tests.

I havn't, but for several days when i first got the test strips there was absolutely no nitrite or nitrate reading whatsoever. Then suddenly the nitrate bit started to get a tiny bit of colour (no recent water change, and the day before it was 0).

 

[Igniseus]

Ahh that explains it

Have you tested your tap water? You might have nitrate in your water right from the tap which is why its showing up on the tests.

I havn't, but for several days when i first got the test strips there was absolutely no nitrite or nitrate reading whatsoever. Then suddenly the nitrate bit started to get a tiny bit of colour (no recent water change, and the day before it was 0).

Ok ive been testing for a couple of days now and im not sure its gone down much but its hard to tell.

I'm really not sure how im supposed to measure it, as if i hold the bottle upright facing the sunlight/bulblight it looks like 2-4ppm but if i put it on the booklet where the outline for it is it looks more like 5-8+. In other words, depending on the light and background it can look like anything from 2 to 10.

Should i just do a big water change just in case?

 

[rabbut]

Ok ive been testing for a couple of days now and im not sure its gone down much but its hard to tell.

I'm really not sure how im supposed to measure it, as if i hold the bottle upright facing the sunlight/bulblight it looks like 2-4ppm but if i put it on the booklet where the outline for it is it looks more like 5-8+. In other words, depending on the light and background it can look like anything from 2 to 10.

Should i just do a big water change just in case?

I would leave be. It is normal for ammonia to remain constant for arround a week before dropping. To measure, you generaly have to hold the visal verticaly, up to the light, and compair its colour to the chart under light. Natural sunlight is best for measuring the reading, as light bulbs give off more yellow light than sunlight, which is blueish. This subtal difference in colour can make quite a difference.

HTH
rabbut

 

[Rooster]

Its that watched kettle again ! LOL Test every 3 days until something happens, then goto daily tests... looks about 4.9 to my eyes, but try to read it outdoor in daylight, or under a "daylight" lamp at least.

 

[Meds081603]

Looks like top of the scale to me, but I have terrible vision
As was suggested, it is always a good idea to test tap water to give you a baseline. It is possible through many ways for any water source to become contaminated with things that alter test results. If our water system in our neighborhood has been treated recently, you get the chlorine smell as soon as you turn on the tap.