Prime and/or false AMM reads?

[Mr Pleco]

I'm using a "Red Sea" deluxe fresh water lab kit....for AMM NH3/NH4

Since moving I started a 150 gal rubbermaid storage container for replacement water..since my PH differences between tank and tap are 6.6 (tank) and 8.6+ ( tap ).. I think I have the PH questions resolved...I'm moving on to AMM since lower levels at high PH are toxic..

I have a series of questions will use of "Prime give you a false or low indication of AMM? I've never run into this before until this municpal water supplies usage..Should I have my test kit checked? I'm out of ideas and running out of fish

Tank AMM= 1.0--Note ( additional dosages of Prime nor water changes up to 50% reduces this number)

Fresh Storage water tank after being treated with Prime AMM = .25 to .5

Tap AMM = .5 to 1.0

 

[Mr Pleco]

bump ..I guess everyone is still at work in the U.S.

 

[Mr Pleco]

Bump..a few views no opinions? I thought I'd hear something from So Cal or AZ as I know personally the water out of the tap in those places is as bad as here, liquid rock.

 

[trebor69]

a blurb from Seachem support page....more info there

"A: A Nessler based kit will not read ammonia properly if you are using Prime™... it will look "off scale", sort of a muddy brown (incidentally a Nessler kit will not work with any other products similar to Prime&#8482. A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime&#8482, so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away. However, the best solution ;-) is to use our MultiTest: Ammonia™ kit... it uses a gas exchange sensor system which is not affected by the presence of Prime™ or other similar products. It also has the added advantage that it can detect the more dangerous free ammonia and distinguish it from total ammonia (which is both the free and ionized forms of ammonia (the ionized form is not toxic))."

 

[seangtat2kc]

So i'm not sure if this the "elder" but water problems got you down. Do the humane thing and save the loaches. I have an established 400 with a growing loach community. Don't want to loose those beautiful fish.