Question about Seachem PH & Ammonia continuous reading thingys

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Bubbles0815

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 14, 2008
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Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Ok to watch my water parameters regularly I bought the Alert Combo by Seachem. They are little plastic sheets with suctions that monitor PH and Ammonia. The Ammonia one says is inbetween safe and 0.005 ppm. I just did a 50% water change yesterday. How accurate are these things?
I've used the sticks in the past but I liked the idea of continually monitoring. I'm a little concerned that it's moving towards the "alert" level...
 
The write up by Seachem says that it changes color (if needed) within 15 mins, but that can mean going up or down.

Two things:

1) Ammonia readings (from studies I've seen) are not constant. Ammonia conversion (protein to ammonia) does not peak until 2-3 hours after feeding. If you have good bio filtration, feed, then don't look for a few hours, you may not see any ammonia readings because (when you look) they are too low to be detected. Seachem says it detects over roughly .2 mg/liter of water, which is the same as .2ppm, which (in good systems) might appear only for a short time. .2ppm is not dangerous in aquariums unless the pH is extremely high and perhaps the temperature as well. In good systems, .2 readings may disappear within an hour.

2) Ammonia readings are not the same throughout a column of water system. It's possible that if you place it in different locations it will register differently.
 
Drstrangelove said:
The write up by Seachem says that it changes color (if needed) within 15 mins, but that can mean going up or down.

Two things:

1) Ammonia readings (from studies I've seen) are not constant. Ammonia conversion (protein to ammonia) does not peak until 2-3 hours after feeding. If you have good bio filtration, feed, then don't look for a few hours, you may not see any ammonia readings because (when you look) they are too low to be detected. Seachem says it detects over roughly .2 mg/liter of water, which is the same as .2ppm, which (in good systems) might appear only for a short time. .2ppm is not dangerous in aquariums unless the pH is extremely high and perhaps the temperature as well. In good systems, .2 readings may disappear within an hour.

2) Ammonia readings are not the same throughout a column of water system. It's possible that if you place it in different locations it will register differently.
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It seems there is too much variance with these. I will have to look into the API kit or go back to the dip sticks I used before. I have Uarus and I've read their water quality has to be nearly perfect. Trying to stay on top of it. Thanks the info :)
 
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