Andy D
Member
- Joined
- 27 Apr 2013
- Messages
- 1,461
Hi All,
This subject crops up quite frequently and whilst I have read the many informative posts I still have a couple of queries.
1. Do hobby grade kits measure zero accurately?
Now I have read many of Clive's and Darrel's post about the inaccuracy of kits like the API Freshwater test kit and I accept that they do not give an accurate measure of the level of ammonia, nitrite and nitrite. But, do they read zero correctly?
If we take Nitrite for example. If I test for nitrite and get a result of 2ppm I accept that this could be wrong and may not be solely measuring nitrite. But if there is no nitrite or any other chemicals that will give a read on the kit then can we be sure that the zero read is zero? (I hope my rumblings here make sense ) I have to assume that it does measure zero correctly as so many people have followed the fishless cycling with ammonia process and all go through the same pattern of results. Sure the levels detected could be wrong when 'something' is detected but they cannot all have inaccurate zero reads surely?
2. Fishless Cycling with ammonia.
I appreciate that ammonia can kill the bacteria that we are trying to cultivate. BUT, does it mean the process does not work?
Assuming the answer to my question above is 'yes, hobby kits can measure zero' then the fishless cycle with ammonia would seem to work. I am sure we are all aware of the process. Let's ignore any test kit result apart from zero as we know they are most likely incorrect. If we dose ammonia and the ammonia level and nitrite level test at zero 12 hours later is the tank not cycled?
(I appreciate that within the context of this specific forum and with heavily planted tanks this process is not necessary but there are a few experts on here who can at least advise if the process works).
This subject crops up quite frequently and whilst I have read the many informative posts I still have a couple of queries.
1. Do hobby grade kits measure zero accurately?
Now I have read many of Clive's and Darrel's post about the inaccuracy of kits like the API Freshwater test kit and I accept that they do not give an accurate measure of the level of ammonia, nitrite and nitrite. But, do they read zero correctly?
If we take Nitrite for example. If I test for nitrite and get a result of 2ppm I accept that this could be wrong and may not be solely measuring nitrite. But if there is no nitrite or any other chemicals that will give a read on the kit then can we be sure that the zero read is zero? (I hope my rumblings here make sense ) I have to assume that it does measure zero correctly as so many people have followed the fishless cycling with ammonia process and all go through the same pattern of results. Sure the levels detected could be wrong when 'something' is detected but they cannot all have inaccurate zero reads surely?
2. Fishless Cycling with ammonia.
I appreciate that ammonia can kill the bacteria that we are trying to cultivate. BUT, does it mean the process does not work?
Assuming the answer to my question above is 'yes, hobby kits can measure zero' then the fishless cycle with ammonia would seem to work. I am sure we are all aware of the process. Let's ignore any test kit result apart from zero as we know they are most likely incorrect. If we dose ammonia and the ammonia level and nitrite level test at zero 12 hours later is the tank not cycled?
(I appreciate that within the context of this specific forum and with heavily planted tanks this process is not necessary but there are a few experts on here who can at least advise if the process works).