Best lighting to read API master test kit

So I just got the API master test kit and today I did a test and ammonia looked like it was just under .25ppm when I read it using natural sunlight from my window. I forgot to rinse out the test tubes before I left home and when I got back I checked it again (same tube same liquid everything) and it looked like it was at 0ppm when it was dark outside and I was just reading it with my overhead light. It may be that the test just sat there for so long that the results changed but I just got the test kit so I have no idea. Has anyone else had this issue?

 

I find overhead lighting the best. Usually use my kitchen light, since thats where i end up anyway because a sink!

 

I find overhead lighting the best. Usually use my kitchen light, since thats where i end up anyway because a sink!

That's definitely good to know because I was so confused on if there was ammonia or not. My overhead light is definitely a warm white, so more towards a yellow, so I don't know if that would have an effect on the color? Should I shine my phone's flashlight instead? It also seems weird though that I would get a reading of 0ppm Ammonia since I'm doing a fish in cycle and it hasn't even been 2 weeks. I've been doing daily 20% water changes since I was getting daily readings of ~.20ppm. Could it be the Prime making the reading 0? The test probably sat for a few hours so do you think the results changed because of how long it was sitting there?

 

I usually read my api test by light of a window but sometimes by bright strip light. I find the ammonia one is often hard to tell between 0 and 0.25 anyhow.

I've also left the tubes for hours and not noticed a change in color.

 

When I'm testing the Ammonia, i also test my tap water and use that for referencing the colour (no ammonia in our tap water) its the only way i can see the slight variance between the 0-0.25 Ammonia chart

 

When I'm testing the Ammonia, i also test my tap water and use that for referencing the colour (no ammonia in our tap water) its the only way i can see the slight variance between the 0-0.25 Ammonia chart

I would do that except our tap water is like .5 ammonia :’)

 

I set mine in my kitchen window so it is getting natural light. This has to be done in the daytime though. For those that test at night that of course wouldn't do much good. I've occasionally left my tests sit for a while before emptying the test tubes. The only one I've ever had change colors was the nitrate test. It will go from the original orange at 5 minutes to more and more red the longer it sits there.

Since you have ammonia in your tap water you may want to keep some ammonia free water on hand to follow BeardieMama 's great suggestion.

 

Pick one source of light and stick with it. I use sunlight.

Keep in mind that fluorescent light leans to the bluer end of the spectrum while incandescent light leans to the redder end of the spectrum, and sunlight is happily in the middle.

 

Most good light will work. I hold mine up so there is no shadow against the white.

 

I hold it under a lamp that uses a clear light bulb. I prefer a light bulb that doesn't have any color or filter to it. Natural sunlight works as well.

 

I set my test tubes on the windowsill of my north facing kitchen window. I run my tests during the day so I have natural light. As long as I see blue for pH, yellow for ammonia, sky blue for nitrites and orange for nitrates I am happy.

If I don't see these colors then it is time to do a water change.