Inconsistent Ammonia results

I'm using DrTim's Ammonium chloride for cycling. So, on his website it says 0.05ml = 1 drop and to add 4 drops/gallon for 2ppm. I wanted 4ppm for cycling so I added 8 drops/gallon.

(0.05 * 8) = 0.4 ml/gallon
0.4 * 53 gal (200l tank) = 21.2 ml

So I added 21.2ml of the stuff (about a third of the bottle), left a day, came back and have an ammonia reading of 8ppm per the API test tube but about 4ppm per the API test strip.

Now, you guys regard the test strips as less accurate but somehow it's much closer to what my result should be? Why is my test tube saying 8ppm when I only added enough for 4? Is it faulty?

Thanks.

 

I'm using DrTim's Ammonium chloride for cycling. So, on his website it says 0.05ml = 1 drop and to add 4 drops/gallon for 2ppm. I wanted 4ppm for cycling so I added 8 drops/gallon.

(0.05 * 8) = 0.4 ml/gallon
0.4 * 53 gal (200l tank) = 21.2 ml

So I added 21.2ml of the stuff (about a third of the bottle), left a day, came back and have an ammonia reading of 8ppm per the API test tube but about 4ppm per the API test strip.

Now, you guys regard the test strips as less accurate but somehow it's much closer to what my result should be? Why is my test tube saying 8ppm when I only added enough for 4? Is it faulty?

Thanks.

Another member is having the same issue. Contact Dr. TIMS. I think the sent out a batch that's about 4 times the concentration they say it is (mislabeled) Use 1 drop per gallon. Contact Dr. Tim's.

 

Another member is having the same issue. Contact Dr. TIMS. I think the sent out a batch that's about 4 times the concentration they say it is (mislabeled) Use 1 drop per gallon. Contact Dr. Tim's.

Hmm, I never considered that. Thank you.

I've contacted the supplier I bought the ammonia from.

 

Yeah sometimes those kits give false ammonia readings. Have you tested all the parameters of your tap water? Mine will give me a .5 ammonia reading even using bottled RO water, API test just sucks.
There are other companies that make water test kits that are slightly more dependable for the same ish price or just a tad more. I'm not every buying the API master test kit again. Go with fluval or marineland or aqueon test kits.

 

Yeah sometimes those kits give false ammonia readings. Have you tested all the parameters of your tap water? Mine will give me a .5 ammonia reading even using bottled RO water, API test just sucks.
There are other companies that make water test kits that are slightly more dependable for the same ish price or just a tad more. I'm not every buying the API master test kit again. Go with fluval or marineland or aqueon test kits.

I've used the API KIT since it was a kit. Only had one issue in decades (bottle leaked with cap on). The OP is having the EXACT same issue as another (or more) people are having with the Dr. Tim's. It's mislabeled. Dr. Tim's sells 2 concentrations of ammonia. I believe the more concentrated formula (for cycling larger tanks) is being labeled and packaged as the less concentrated formula. When the amount is added to the tank, as directed on the label, it is having a much more extreme effect. So it appears to be 2 times more concentrated.

 

Another member is having the same issue. Contact Dr. TIMS. I think the sent out a batch that's about 4 times the concentration they say it is (mislabeled) Use 1 drop per gallon. Contact Dr. Tim's.

I filled a spare bucket with a gallon of water and added 0.5ml (4 drops). Was expecting 2ppm, got 8. You were right! I was given the wrong concentration of ammonia for my instructions. That means I had 16ppm in my tank, not 8 as I had thought or 4 as I had intended. I guess I'm lucky it's a fishless cycle, else my tank would have been a graveyard by now.

I've just done a 75% water change to fix my tank. Thank you!!