Please help me interpreting API test kit results.

[Kashif314]

Its either I am color blind or if there is something off here. I am having a hard time distinguishing between the 0 amonia or 0.25 ppm amonia. It looks same. With a sight movement of angels it matches with both colors. In the below picture it somehow looks 0 ppm but even the slightest angel change makes it matching with 0.25 ppm. Please let me know shall I take it 0 or 0.25 ppm?



Then comes the most trickiest part. I am sure its not me only. Can you guys see any difference between 10 ppm or 20 ppm Nitrate color chart? I don't see any difference. Both are identical. Is it me or or if you also have issues matching such minor changes?



Please advise how can I accurately check my readings? My amonia is 0 or 0.25 ppm? And how to check for 10 ppm and 20 ppm Nitrate readings difference?

 

[esoxlucius]

The ammonia chart isn't that bad really, there is a noticeable difference between the bright yellow of 0ppm and the ever so slight lime green of 0.25ppm. Your reading is looking like a 0ppm to me, all good.

It's the nitrate chart that's tricky, API really need to get their act together and do something about it. The difference between 10-20ppm and 40-80ppm is almost impossible to see.

All I do now is look at it like this, anything orange is acceptable, anything red and it's water change time.

 

[Kashif314]

The ammonia chart isn't that bad really, there is a noticeable difference between the bright yellow of 0ppm and the ever so slight lime green of 0.25ppm. Your reading is looking like a 0ppm to me, all good.

It's the nitrate chart that's tricky, API really need to get their act together and do something about it. The difference between 10-20ppm and 40-80ppm is almost impossible to see.

All I do now is look at it like this, anything orange is acceptable, anything red and it's water change time.

Thanks a lot. Yes your idea of seeing makes perfect sense. I ll watch it as you suggested. Big thanks bro.

 

[tlindsey]

Learned this from Duane. Buy a gallon of Deionized water or Distilled water and use to rinse out your testing vials. Regular tap water doesn't remove all the residue from the testing chemicals l found out. This could always make some test give false readings.

 

[tlindsey]

Learned this from Duane. Buy a gallon of Deionized water or Distilled water and use to rinse out your testing vials. Regular tap water doesn't remove all the residue from the testing chemicals l found out. This could always make some test give false readings.

The gallon of Deionized and Distilled water will last awhile and not that expensive.