Leo.LA Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I have a API freshwater master test kit that I bought back in 2017/2018, but the expiration in the bottles are still good. I just set up my nano tank (Fluval evo 13.5g) RO/DI water 10lbs of live rock (real reef) from LFS which is supposedly cured but the guy said "I would still cure it to not blame the store" but I transported it in a bucket with water and saw some pods Bio-Spira (Instant Ocean Nitrifying Bacteria A snail and hermit crab No fish or corals yet Based on my research, it looks like I can reuse this kit for saltwater (ammonia, nitrite, nitrates) for the most part, but the color card is different. I've seen different card by googling it so not sure which is correct. I also don't know if I can test my pH level using the high-range? Today is now the 4th day and the ammonia color is making me insane since I do not have the color card for the saltwater. Attached are the pics. I tried getting pics from different angle and lighting but I think what I got is very close in person. yellowish/greenish - ammonia blue - nitrite light orange - nitrate purple/violet - high range pH If I am going to interpret this using the freshwater card, it's looking like ammonia - either 0 but most close to 0.25ppm nitrite - 0 ppm nitrates - 5-10ppm ph - 8.4 I'm hoping someone who has the correct color card can compare with theirs. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 API is notoriously unreliable, due in part to the difficulty in reading. Trying to get someone to read it over the Internet is NOT going to work, due to color differences in monitors. It's not even an accurate kit when you have the card right there and can put the test tube up against it. You need to get a better test kit. What you're attempting is clever, but not going to work. If you know you have good bacteria (from the rock and bottle), and you have nitrates but no nitrites, it's a reasonable bet that your ammonia is 0. If the snail and hermit are moving around appropriately, that's another good indicator. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Yellow means 0 ammonia. Any green means there is ammonia present. Checking the tubes against the white part of the card in natural light is the best way to determine the colors. 2 Quote Link to comment
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