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NT labs ammonia test kit- tank cycled yet?

Animallover

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2021
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Location
U.K.
Hi guys,

I have been using the API solution test for months and it always says my tank has the smallest amount of ammonia and so not cycled.

As it’s been 3 months or so since I’ve had the fish tank running with ammonia producing substrate and 6 weeks once I’ve had fish in it I would have thought the tank is cycled by now so tried out this NT labs ammonia test kit.

The more yellow picture is of my tank and the slightly greener one is of my tap water which has ammonia in it.

I was just wondering if this yellow is 0 or between 0 and first green colour as I’m wondering if I should continue to add Prime to get rid of the active ammonia still every 2 days.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!
 

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@Animalover The API Ammonia Test Kit will show you total ammonia (NH4+NH3)... the free ammonia (NH3), which is part of the total, is the one to worry about. Also free ammonia depends on temperature and pH which the test kit is not taking into account. Here is a calculator that takes that into account. With the NT Labs Kit that only measure free ammonia (NH3) I personally wouldn't worry unless you're up in the green - say clearly somewhere between 2nd and 3rd patch or above. Judging from the picture (which is hard given the colorimetry of the camera, lighting, the way the bottle is held etc. etc. etc.) I would say it's a a smidge above the first patch.

Cheers,
Michael
 
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