Taking API freshwater master test kit results to store?

I was thinking of bringing my API freshwater master test kit results to my local aquarium store because the colors are kind of in between and I can't tell if I actually have 0 ammonia or .25 and I'm a little confused on the nitrates also.So I was wondering if it is ok to test before I go and bring the test tubes with me or will the colors change if they sit too long??

 

I think it would be alright. An alternative is posting photos of your tests on here, also.

 

Ammonia 0 is really bright yellow. If it is not yellow, but not quite green that means you have some ammonia.

Nitrates are really tough. Especially between 20 and 40.

 

Ammonia 0 is really bright yellow. If it is not yellow, but not quite green that means you have some ammonia.

Nitrates are really tough. Especially between 20 and 40.

Yeah, I can vouch for that. I almost always mix up 20 and 40.. When I can't tell between them I just play it safe and assume it's 40 and do a 40-50% water change.

 

I took about 50 Pictures on my phone but the camera is pretty and the colors look totally different in the picture and I can't find my regular camera lol

 

my nitrates have been somewhere between 5 and 10 for the last few days...I'm just happy to see them!! I have been trying to get my tank cycled for almost 2 months!! The ammonia looks yellow but in some lights it has a very slight light green tint to it...I just got my test kit a week ago and haven't seen any nitrites at all!! Is it possible that I am almost cycled and just missed the nitrite and ammonia spike because I haven't had the test kit or am I no where near being cycled??

 

my nitrates have been somewhere between 5 and 10 for the last few days...I'm just happy to see them!! I have been trying to get my tank cycled for almost 2 months!! The ammonia looks yellow but in some lights it has a very slight light green tint to it...I just got my test kit a week ago and haven't seen any nitrites at all!! Is it possible that I am almost cycled and just missed the nitrite and ammonia spike because I haven't had the test kit or am I no where near being cycled??

How are you cycling the tank? Are there any nitrates in your tap water? I missed both spikes when I cycled my 10 gallon FOWLR. But that did have access to fully cured Live Rock. The same also happened with my 20 gallon hex. I never noticed a nitrite spike. And the cycle was nearly finished when the ammonia was between 0 and 0.25 and the nitrates were 5-20ppm.

 

I got a 10 gallon with 2 green corys,3 guppy's,3 zebra danios,3 black neon tetras and 3 serpae tetras for free 2 months ago and I knew very little about aquariums..I had a 40 gallon about 7 years ago and all we did was decorated it,filled it with water,added fish and wondered why it was always cloudy and why our fish kept dying lol...so after some research I began doing 30-40% water changes everyday with prime and vacuuming 1/2 the gravel once a week and we have managed to keep all the fish alive!! and for the last week I have been doing water changes every 48 hrs so I can get a accurate reading after the prime wears off...I hope it cycles soon! Although I don't know what I am going to do with myself not doing daily water changes...I would really like to be able to just sit back and enjoy it !!

 

So I was wondering if it is ok to test before I go and bring the test tubes with me or will the colors change if they sit too long??

Hi, welcome to Fishlore

Generally speaking, no you can't really test at home, then take to the LFS. The colours can (and do) change the longer you leave them, particularly the Nitrate (NO3) test. Nitrite (NO2) should be ok, but that's pretty easy to tell the difference. Ammonia can go cloudy the longer you leave it.

A better option would be to take a water sample to the LFS, and have them test it.

 

and also there are no nitrates in my tap water.

 

I've had the same issue with my apI test kit when I was first starting up, chances are the ammonia isn't zero yet. I kept getting a color in between 0 and .25. You'll spot the difference it's a very yellow color. Brining the water to get tested at your LFS isn't a bad idea either just for piece of mind.

 

Hi, does anyone have pictures of how these master test kits look like inside the box? And how they are being used? They seem pricey in my country and I'm wondering if I should get them


Vincent Wang