Red Sea Test Kits??

[cliffrouse11bas]

I have a marine lab red sea test kit. Everytime I check the ammonia it looks as if there is .25. I just mixed up a batch of new saltwater and it tested the exact same, but when i test the kit with freshwater it tests 0 it is the exact yellow color. Do you think I have 0 ammonia in the water and the test kit is just a misread????

 

[aarone]

I dont like red sea kits. It is probably a misread. Get a salifert kit.
aaron

 

[karajay]

I've got a red sea also, and my ammonia reads the same way. You can't accurately test fresh water with a kit intended for salt water. It can't react properly without the salt content. That's probably why it looks like 0 in fresh. I've learned to just make sure I keep the tank at the same level as the new water. I'll be getting a different test kit when I run out of this one.

 

[badkharma]

I get the same thing with my red sea test kits!! I hope one day someone invents a digital test kit where all you do is set it on the proper mode (ie. ammonia, NO2, etc) and stick it in the water to get a reading... lol

 

[jacksonpt]

I've had bad luck with Calcium and Alk kits from Red Sea. They are not reliable and I would advise against them.

 

[broomer5]

sorry to hear you having test kit troubles.
my personal opinion on Red Sea test kits ..... they are worth their weight in skimmer gunk.
Not very reliable - a lot of folks have reported similar troubles.
I had one - I don't anymore

 

[kzlen]

I bought a Red Sea Calcium, the directions arent clear .. Dunno if the end result is supposed to be orange or a variation of orange. Maybe its just me . Dunno
Any new test kits will be the Salifert , me thinks
Just My Opinion

 

[jagermeister]

Yep, same problem here.
Ammonia always reads 0.25, even with newly mixed saltwater.

 

[soupysteve]

I bought a Red Sea kit that tests for five things... AMM, NITRA, NITRI, pH, ALK, and something else. The directions weren't THE EASIEST to read, but once I saw that you are supposed to be in a well lit room and to LOOK DOWN the test tube 8" above a white surface for the reading, everything made more sense. I haven't had any problem with the Red Sea Kit of mine.
To be honest though, this is the first water test kit I have purchased in some 14 years... and whatever brand (for freshwater) I bought back in the day was some lame kind with a fish dressed up like a doctor (stethescope whole 9 yards).
Just putting in my $.02

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by SoupySteve
and to LOOK DOWN the test tube 8" above a white surface for the reading
I think the only ones you're supposed to look down through are the nitrite and alk tests