When ammonia tests go bad....

[LeahK]

When the API liquid ammonia test goes too far past its expiration date, does it give false positives?

My test bottle is stamped with 83A0307, which I believe means March, 2007.

I woke up to a cloudy tank this morning and tested my water, and the ammonia test quickly turned an inky green. I find this very difficult to believe, because the tank (1) has been running and cycled for three years, (2) is 55 gallons and contains only 1 betta, and (3) I do a 50% water change at least once per week.

The only thing I did differently this week was that, when I did my last water change, I ran out of Prime and used Ammolock as a water conditioner. I can't imagine why this would cause either the cloudy water or a false positive ammonia test.

Anyway, I'm doing a big water change now to be safe, and I'll get a new test kit later, but I was wondering if anyone knows whether expired tests give false positives or false negatives.

 

[jpappy789]

Definitely. Ammonia tests expire after 3 years so I'd definitely get a fresh one.

 

[H2Ogal]

Definitely get a new test kit.

Others here have advised against using Ammolock, but I don't know specifically why. Might try searching on the name to see what you can find out.

Is the bioload of a single betta enough to maintain a full bacterial colony in a 55g? I believe that bacteria colonies grow (or die off) to the size needed to process available ammonia. Did you recently reduce the number of fish in the tank? Did you make any other changes to the tank? I think that cloudy water can be a sign of a bacterial die-off or a bacterial bloom. Someone more knowledgeable than me should be able to help.

Good luck sorting things out!

 

[LeahK]

Thanks guys! I'll definitely be getting a new test kit, and some more Prime. The cloudy water is kind of a mystery. I don't think Ammolock should make the tank go funky. It neutralizes chlorine and chloramine like regular water conditioner. As for the bacteria colony, I've always wondered about what happens with such a low bioload. The betta has been living solo in the 55 since around October of last year. Prior to that, I had 8 rosy barbs and some celestial pearl danios and otos. I rehomed them because I thought I would be moving, but I wasn't ready to part with my 55, so I stuck my betta in there. I never saw any signs of a mini-cycle. I'm sure the bacteria colony is significantly smaller than it was, but my guess is that it's big enough to support the betta.
There's also a ton of trumpet snails and some ramshorns, so those must add to the bioload, too.

 

[247Plants]

Cloudy water is usually caused by a bacterial bloom which in my experience have been caused by excess ammonia. Try testing some tap or bottled water and see if you get a false positive.

 

[fishorama]

I don't know about Hawaii but here the water co. sometimes flushes the lines & add extra chlorine periodically. If you have chloramines instead & they added more to "fix" seasonal water changes the ammonium (safe form of ammonia) formed from Prime breaking the chloramine bond. It still would show as ammonia on API type tests, though Seachem makes a test that shows ONLY ammonia not ammonium. Is your betta acting ok?

I'm not sure the exact pH needs to be for the ammonium to form, not much above 7, lower is safer. I assume Ammolock works like Prime.

The nitrifying bacteria colony is only as big as the waste, food etc going into the tank. They grow or die as needed. Did you really go OCD cleaning your filter? Bacterial cloudiness should go away. It could also be the beginning of green water type algae, it can look white at first.

 

[flossyfloofloo]

if thats an api amonia test that is the date of production not expiery

i think tghe amonia last 5 years not 3

 

[Rbishop]

true floss...but it can be contaminated from heat, light and airborne....just a possibility.

 

[jpappy789]

if thats an api amonia test that is the date of production not expiery

i think tghe amonia last 5 years not 3

I'm going by this...

Your solutions are not expired. Each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed
on the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of
manufacture. Example: Lot # 28A0102. This is a pH reagent manufactured
in January of 2002. Pond Care Wide Range pH, ammonia, High Range pH,
Nitrate, phosphate, Copper, calcium and GH all last for three years.
nitrite and KH will last for four years. Freshwater pH(low range) and
Pond Care Salt Level will last for five years. I would not trust these
kits after they have expired.

http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/t...ion-api-freshwater-master-test-kit-users.html

so going by 3 years the test would have expired this past March.

 

[kevinb120]

I have found the seachem ammonia alert in-tank cards to be very accurate as a constant-reading backup. They last a year each, and are formulated to not give false readings or have any other issues with Prime(or other Seachem products). I was skeptical at first but it was accurate every single time I checked with the API master when I was cycling tanks and beyond. You'll know immediately if there is an issue at a glance, it changes quickly and decisively even at .25ppm. I don't think my ammonia has ever been over zero after cycling, but I periodically test the water for ammonia to check on the alert card's accuracy.