Ammonia tests came out really weird

sivic

sivic

rum's my friend
Aug 6, 2004
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16
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Cincinnati Ohio
sivic.has-my.info
So ive done this ammonia test alot of my tanks for awhile and it usually turns a light green meaning 0 mg/l. The color scales is light green for 0 going to blue with is 5. Keep in mind the only colors are between green and blue. Well i just tested my new tank and the color was orange. I thought i might have messed it up so i tried it in another tube. Colors came up red. I decided to test my other tank where i put all my fish and the color came out right to green being 0. I dont understand how im getting an orange and red color out of this test. Does this mean i might be above 5.0 mg/l of ammonia? I did drain all the water out of the tank when i changed my gravel but i keep the media in my canister filter wet and my aquaclear 500 wet so the media should be seeded.

My nitrate and nitrite levels were fairly normal being < 0.3mg/l for nitrate, 0 for nitrite.

Any ideas? Maybe my tank has began cycling again?
 
Thats strange, the only thing I can think of is to take a sample to your lfs, maybe they use a different test and can give you an idea of what the number really is.
 
reiverix said:
How's about trying a test on some distilled water and then maybe overload the water with some pure ammonia and do another test.
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I dont have any ammonia, but this shouldnt make a difference since the test has worked numerous times on both tanks until i added eco complete and driftwood in my new tank.
 
sivic said:
So how come its working on my on my other tank water?
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You mean you have tried it after it gave you those strange results, and it worked fine on the other tank?
 
slipknottin said:
You mean you have tried it after it gave you those strange results, and it worked fine on the other tank?
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Yes. Im sorry i thought i stated that in the post. I tested my 55gallon first, got the orange color. Tested it again in another tube came out red colored. Tested my other tank and it was green which is normal. Now as i just have typed this i tested it again after doing a small water change and now it is a normal green color again :huh:

Still scared to add my fish back in it. I guess im just going to leave this thing sit until i get back from vacation. and see where the test goes from there.
 
Did you use the same test tube each time? Is it possible you used the nitrate or nitrite test tube instead? If so, residue from a previous test (if the tubes weren't thoroughly cleaned) might have mixed with the current test, giving an odd result.
 
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