Strange Ammonia reading, why?

A

aquaruss

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May 24, 2006
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My tap water has no measurable amount of ammonia,

When I do a water change I add 10ml of Amquel+ to my 20L bucket (to treat the water & make safe, for my 150L tank), then test the water in the bucket after 10 mins.... It gives a very high ammonia reading????? Thought Amquel+ was supposed to help remove ammonia!
Temp of water was 18 c at time of testing, does this have any effects on the results?

Pics below of 'Salifert' test results (if anyone else uses the same)

Left- Tap water Middle- Premix (no salt added yet) Right- Tank water

IMGP0640.jpg


Can anyone tell me why tap water results are crystal clear, but tank results are just cloudy with no colour?

Many Thanks for your help :dance2:
 
Try a different test kit as i had the same problem with the Salifert ammonia test kit i bought a tetra for ammonia & red sea for ammonia & both read fine but the salifert ammonia test kit still had the same cloudy water as a result
 
There's nothing wrong with your test kit.

I'm a bit foggy on the exact chemistry of it all, but Amquel works by binding ammonia ions (NH4+) and neutralizing their toxicity. However, this process causes false readings of ammonia with test kits using the Nessler method (most do) since this method cannot tell the difference between neutralized "bound" ammonia and toxic "free" ammonia. You'd have to get a test kit that use a salicylate-based test kit which can distinguish between the two.
 
Crown Royal said:
There's nothing wrong with your test kit.

I'm a bit foggy on the exact chemistry of it all, but Amquel works by binding ammonia ions (NH4+) and neutralizing their toxicity. However, this process causes false readings of ammonia with test kits using the Nessler method (most do) since this method cannot tell the difference between neutralized "bound" ammonia and toxic "free" ammonia. You'd have to get a test kit that use a salicylate-based test kit which can distinguish between the two.
Click to expand...

Yes your right, I've read the Amquel+ bottle but was unsure as to what method Salifert used (Nessler or Salicylate).

So..... if my test results show a cloudy mixture with no yellow/brown, then I have no ammonia?
Infact, the results show what appears to be a very very pale foggy blue in normal daylight.
If you or anyone else are getting the same results, please let me know :confused:
 
Your options are to:

1. Find a salicylate test kit (I think Seachem may be one but not sure)

2. Stop using Amquel. If your tap water is ammonia-free and you have a properly cycled tank, you have no need for Amquel. Switch to a plain old dechlorinator like Novaqua or even better use RO/DI water. Personally, products like Amquel are useful in emergency situations, but are completely unnecessary for routine maintenance if you have an otherwise healthy tank.
 
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