How do i use api ammonia test strips

So I just got an aquarium with no fish yet. I want a betta. I couldn't find any of the liquid tests so I picked up some test strips but im not quite sure how to use it and everywhere I look only talks about the liquid tests. So when I follow the instructions on the package and take the strip out at first its good but then half of it goes to the darkest color and the other side is still the 0 ammonia. If one side is dark does that mean I have alot if ammonia and if so how do I lower it without fish because I have been cycling it for about 2 weeks now and nothing has changed.

 

Hi! I think that it is probable that the strip wasn't placed on a level surface while you waited for the colour to develop (causing the colour agent to all seep to one side), or you didn't dip the whole strip into the water. Did you move it around in the water for 5 seconds and then wait for 60 seconds before you took a reading?

When you say you have been cycling your tank for two weeks and nothing has changed, what do you mean? Also, what are you cycling your tank with, just out of curiosity?

 

Welcome to the forum. I can’t help you with the test strips themselves, but two weeks aren't enough for the cycle to be fully over yet. How big is the tank? Did you add anything to the tank, so the beneficial bacteria can colonize?

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

It looks like the Ammonia test strips kind of have the same colors as the liquid test kit does. Yellow to Green. If it is yellow it will have no ammonia.

I agree it takes more than 2 weeks to cycle a tank. Have you added ammonia, fish food, any bacteria starter? Or has the tank just been running?

 

Hi! I think that it is probable that the strip wasn't placed on a level surface while you waited for the colour to develop (causing the colour agent to all seep to one side), or you didn't dip the whole strip into the water. Did you move it around in the water for 5 seconds and then wait for 60 seconds before you took a reading?

When you say you have been cycling your tank for two weeks and nothing has changed, what do you mean? Also, what are you cycling your tank with, just out of curiosity?

Not completely sure how to answer cause I'm still a noob but I have had the filter in my tank going the whole time. I added the conditioner to the tank when I first put the water in 2 ish weeks ago. I also heard somewhere that I should add some food to the water so I did that and I also have some plants but they havnt been on for that long. Maybe only 4 days. My tank size is only 5 gallons because I heard thats a good starter size for a betta

 

Not completely sure how to answer cause I'm still a noob but I have had the filter in my tank going the whole time. I added the conditioner to the tank when I first put the water in 2 ish weeks ago. I also heard somewhere that I should add some food to the water so I did that and I also have some plants but they havnt been on for that long. Maybe only 4 days. My tank size is only 5 gallons because I heard thats a good starter size for a betta

Did you just put food in one time? How much did you put in there?

A lot of fish stores give out some bad info and newbies just dont know it is wrong. Not your fault at all it happens every day. Click on the blue letters and read it and you will have more of an idea what everyone is going to ask you questions about.

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle .....read this then come back, Im sure you will have some questions.

 

Welcome to Fishlore!

It looks like the Ammonia test strips kind of have the same colors as the liquid test kit does. Yellow to Green. If it is yellow it will have no ammonia.

I agree it takes more than 2 weeks to cycle a tank. Have you added ammonia, fish food, any bacteria starter? Or has the tank just been ru

I

Did you just put food in one time? How much did you put in there?

A lot of fish stores give out some bad info and newbies just dont know it is wrong. Not your fault at all it happens every day. Click on the blue letters and read it and you will have more of an idea what everyone is going to ask you questions about.

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle .....read this then come back, Im sure you will have some questions.

I added a couple flakes every couple of days. I didnt know about adding ammonia and also I couldn't find any bacteria at the store to get that I could add to my tank but im also not exactlysure w. And I will go read about that rn!

Did you just put food in one time? How much did you put in there?

A lot of fish stores give out some bad info and newbies just dont know it is wrong. Not your fault at all it happens every day. Click on the blue letters and read it and you will have more of an idea what everyone is going to ask you questions about.

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle .....read this then come back, Im sure you will have some questions.

Ok I read about it and now im even more confused. How come I have alot of ammonia if I have no fish pooping in my tank and never have

 

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I added a couple flakes every couple of days. I didnt know about adding ammonia and also I couldn't find any bacteria at the store to get that I could add to my tank but im also not exactlysure w. And I will go read about that rn!

Ok I read about it and now im even more confused. How come I have alot of ammonia if I have no fish pooping in my tank and never have

The ammonia is what feeds the bacteria you are trying to grow in your tank. This bacteria is what will eat the ammonia after it is cycled to take care of the ammonia from the fishes poop.

 

The ammonia is what feeds the bacteria you are trying to grow in your tank. This bacteria is what will eat the ammonia after it is cycled to take care of the ammonia from the fishes poop.

So I already have alot of ammonia in my tank so what do I do from there. How do I k ow if its growing the bacteria?

 

So I already have alot of ammonia in my tank so what do I do from there. How do I k ow if its growing the bacteria?

When you start seeing nitrite readings. How much is a lot of ammonia?

 

When you start seeing nitrite readings. How much is a lot of ammonia?

The colors it shows is closest to 6.0 ammonia

 

Ok change some water and get it closer to 2ppm. You don't need that much. Then wait for it to go to zero or close before adding more