So every time I tested my tank with my API reader I always get a slight green/.25 reading. Th tank is cycled, and heavily under stocked. I finally tested my tap water and I got the same reading. Should I start using more Safe based on he dosage amount for ammonia?
Ammonia in tap water
- Thread starter nzafi
- Start date
I vaguely remember something about Prime/Safe can sometimes cause a false positive ammonia reading.
Your water supplier may be using chloramine as a disinfectant, which is usually 5 parts chlorine combined with1 part ammonia. This is what my water supplier did, and my tests on the tap always a slight ammonia reading.
I would have checked for you, but "USA" as your location in your ID is too vague. You can find out yourself by googling your cities "drinking water quality report".
If you see the word chloramine, or Total chlorine as a disinfectant, that's the clue.
If it only states chlorine, then the ammonia is not coming from the tap.
I never added ammonia neutralizers, because with a healthy population of beneficial bacteria it was taken care of.
I would have checked for you, but "USA" as your location in your ID is too vague. You can find out yourself by googling your cities "drinking water quality report".
If you see the word chloramine, or Total chlorine as a disinfectant, that's the clue.
If it only states chlorine, then the ammonia is not coming from the tap.
I never added ammonia neutralizers, because with a healthy population of beneficial bacteria it was taken care of.
The api ammonia test kit is known to have a slight greenish tint for 0 ammonia. I wouldn't worry to much about it.
The API salicylate test seems to be less sensitive than others. It may be due to the lack of nitroferricyanide to enhance the green. A zero is definitely possible with the API test. In fact, it's even easier because its minimum detection level is high.
Commercially distilled water (L), tank water (R). Tank water was 0.04 NH3-N.
Commercially distilled water (L), tank water (R). Tank water was 0.04 NH3-N.