[fishscale]

How would you go about testing a test kit? I just took 2 readings from one of my tanks that is definitely off (says I have 8.0 ammonia). This doesn't make sense because the two readings have been a day apart, and I used a dose and a half of Ammo-Lock on the tank after the first reading. Also, how do you clean your test tubes after you test? I suspect that they might be contaminated.

 

[Rex Grigg]

Be sure to read the Ammo-Lock directions closely. With most common ammonia test kits you will get a false positive result. Unless you have a salicylate based test kit you will get the false positive result.

 

[fishscale]

Ah, ok, that makes so much more sense now. So how would I test for the true ammonia level? I've been using ammo-lock as the dechlorinator (going out to get Prime tomorrow).

 

[Left C]

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes a Freshwater/Saltwater Ammonia test kit that uses the salicylate reagents that Rex mentioned. This kit works with Ammo-Lock, Amquel, Prime, etc. Note that there are two reagent in the salicylate ammonia test kit and only one in the regular freshwater ammonia test kit. Here's a pic.
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/...erformics&cm_cat=Shopping.com&cm_ite=DDI Link

 

[fishscale]

I actually use the API Master Kit which has the salicylate test, but the instruction manual says that it will still give a false positive reading.

"AMMO-LOCK does not remove ammonia, it simply converts toxic ammonia to a non-toxic form, Ammonia test kits will still test positive for ammonia, even though treating with AMMO-LOCK has made it non-toxic. The biological filter will then consume the non-toxic ammonia, converting it to nitrite and then to nitrate."