I have an API Master Liquid Test Kit. I got it when I got the fish, so about a month ago. My nitrates have never read above 5. Now they are at 0. My ammonia has never measure below .25. It has constantly been at 8.0. I have had harlequin rasboras and corys, both of which I don't think could survive in such harsh ammonia measurings. They have been doing fine. The tank has been cycling, but the nitrites have never surpassed 0. What is happening?!?!?!?!?
this could explain a lot
- Thread starter hendrixpujols11
- Start date
how often are you changing the water?
are you using a conditioner like prime?
how are you testing the water?
check this post out: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94915
How well are you shaking the bottles? Well honestly I think the issue has to be more than that. Just to say it, check the last 4 digits of the lot code. That will give you the date the chemical was packaged. That is if it says 0606 it was packaged in June 2006. If its older than 3 years then the chems are expired. If that is the case and you've only had the kit for a month I'd take it back and complain.
If that is not the case you really need to keep your ammonia at or below 1. As far as getting a false positive while using an AP test kit, my current AP master test kit came with salicylate reagents. They shouldn't give a false possitive for non toxic forms of ammonia. Now if you have an older kit it may still have nessler reagents.
As you already know you need to keep doing water changes to keep the ammonia down. What size aquarium is this and how many fish are in there?
If that is not the case you really need to keep your ammonia at or below 1. As far as getting a false positive while using an AP test kit, my current AP master test kit came with salicylate reagents. They shouldn't give a false possitive for non toxic forms of ammonia. Now if you have an older kit it may still have nessler reagents.
As you already know you need to keep doing water changes to keep the ammonia down. What size aquarium is this and how many fish are in there?
10 gallon...two rasboras and two corys. I have not been shaking the bottles. I shake it when it is mixed with the water in the 5 mL test tube thing.