Easy Test for Chloramine in Tap Water
- Thread starter vfc
- Start date
Be aware that you can get false tests for ammonia with the use of Prime (and similar conditioners):
From the Prime FAQ (http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Prime_faq.html)
Q: I am using Prime to control ammonia but my test kit says it is not doing anything, in fact it looks like it added ammonia! What is going on?
A: A Nessler based kit will not read ammonia properly if you are using Prime... it will look "off scale", sort of a muddy brown (incidentally a Nessler kit will not work with any other products similar to Prime). A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away. However, the best solution ;-) is to use our MultiTest: Ammonia kit... it uses a gas exchange sensor system which is not affected by the presence of Prime or other similar products. It also has the added advantage that it can detect the more dangerous free ammonia and distinguish it from total ammonia (which is both the free and ionized forms of ammonia (the ionized form is not toxic)).
Burt
From the Prime FAQ (http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Prime_faq.html)
Q: I am using Prime to control ammonia but my test kit says it is not doing anything, in fact it looks like it added ammonia! What is going on?
A: A Nessler based kit will not read ammonia properly if you are using Prime... it will look "off scale", sort of a muddy brown (incidentally a Nessler kit will not work with any other products similar to Prime). A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away. However, the best solution ;-) is to use our MultiTest: Ammonia kit... it uses a gas exchange sensor system which is not affected by the presence of Prime or other similar products. It also has the added advantage that it can detect the more dangerous free ammonia and distinguish it from total ammonia (which is both the free and ionized forms of ammonia (the ionized form is not toxic)).
Burt
Burtess;1585328; said:Be aware that you can get false tests for ammonia with the use of Prime (and similar conditioners):
From the Prime FAQ (http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Prime_faq.html)
Q: I am using Prime to control ammonia but my test kit says it is not doing anything, in fact it looks like it added ammonia! What is going on?
A: A Nessler based kit will not read ammonia properly if you are using Prime... it will look "off scale", sort of a muddy brown (incidentally a Nessler kit will not work with any other products similar to Prime). A salicylate based kit can be used, but with caution. Under the conditions of a salicylate kit the ammonia-Prime complex will be broken down eventually giving a false reading of ammonia (same as with other products like Prime), so the key with a salicylate kit is to take the reading right away. However, the best solution ;-) is to use our MultiTest: Ammonia kit... it uses a gas exchange sensor system which is not affected by the presence of Prime or other similar products. It also has the added advantage that it can detect the more dangerous free ammonia and distinguish it from total ammonia (which is both the free and ionized forms of ammonia (the ionized form is not toxic)).
Burt
You always have the explanation lol. Sounds like maybe we all have free floating forms of ammonia in our tap water and prime gets rid of both forms anyways, but the test only reads for the free floating.
Dr Joe;1584857; said:Names, we need names
How about a scan of the packaging?
Dr Joe
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It's part of a pre-treatment test kit called Kleanse Pre-Test. It's used by the people who service our water softeners, but for some reason, we can order it. When I get off my lazy arse I'll take a picture.
The water company is the best bet. I couldn't figure out why I had an algae problem until I got a report from the water company. I now do not dose phosphates because there is enough in my water. Algae problem disappeared.
I wonder how much Nitrates I am creating in my tank when I do a 50% water change with tap water that contains chloramine? The ammonia that Prime separates from the chloramine gets converted to nitrates in short order.
It's bad enough that I have 15PPMs of nitrate, and .5PPMs of free floating ammonia out of the tap; when I add in the ammonia created by Prime when it breaks the chloramine down, its no wonder I can't get my nitrates low.
The API test kit must not be Nessler based as my ammonia readings with Prime showed as yellow-green. The one test where I put a drop of Prime in the test tube with my tap water (which has .5PPM ammonia) showed a normal 0-reading yellow color.
It's bad enough that I have 15PPMs of nitrate, and .5PPMs of free floating ammonia out of the tap; when I add in the ammonia created by Prime when it breaks the chloramine down, its no wonder I can't get my nitrates low.
PHP:
A: A Nessler based kit will not read ammonia properly if you are using Prime™... it will look "off scale", sort of a muddy brownsorry to bring this up.. my water report shows chloramines, yet the api kit shows 0 ammonia on my tap water.. is this test valid??
