Trace Ammonia? Can't Read Api Results...

So until recently I have been using the tetra 5 in 1 strips to test nitrate, nitrite, gh, kh, and ph. The 5 in 1 doesn't test for ammonia so I had purchased a separate ammonia test strip kit (jungle). After my tanks finished cycling, I was consistently getting a 0ppm result on the ammonia test with the strips in both tanks. When my 5 in 1 strips ran out last week, I went out and bought the apI liquid master test kit on the recommendation of others from Fishlore But the ammonia result from the liquid kit looks like it's saying .25ppm in both tanks. I tested my tap water and got the same result. Is it possible that there's ammonia in my tap water that the strips didn't pick up on? Or am I reading this wrong? Picture attached.

 

API is more exact, do a water change, though the ammonia low enough that it's no a big problem. You should take care of it before I gets worse though.

 

API is more exact, do a water change, though the ammonia low enough that it's no a big problem. You should take care of it before I gets worse though.

That is actually the result straight from my tap water so I'm not sure a water change will help.

 

That is actually the result straight from my tap water so I'm not sure a water change will help.

If you are using tap water in your tanks I would do a water change. Before you and the water to your tanks use something like Seachem AmGuard.

 

That is actually the result straight from my tap water so I'm not sure a water change will help.

If you are using tap water in your tanks I would do a water change. Before you add the water to your tanks use something like Seachem AmGuard.

 

Ok. It'll have to wait a day or two tho. We don't have any LFS nearby, and the nearest LPS that has a decent aquarium supply section is a 30min drive, as is petco

 

Is your cycle done? I find it extremely difficult to tell the difference between 0.25 and 0 on the ammonia tests. My 0 to me always seems more like the nitrate 0, more lemony then an orange 0.

I would get some distilled water and test that. It should tell you what a true 0 looks li. If that looks similar to your results, then you know it's a 0. I also find it easier to look down through the tube, at least for the difference between 0 and 0.25.

 

Is your cycle done? I find it extremely difficult to tell the difference between 0.25 and 0 on the ammonia tests. My 0 to me always seems more like the nitrate 0, more lemony then an orange 0.

I would get some distilled water and test that. It should tell you what a true 0 looks li. If that looks similar to your results, then you know it's a 0. I also find it easier to look down through the tube, at least for the difference between 0 and 0.25.

Yes my cycle is done, has been fully cycled for months. I did fish in cycles, so they cycled rapidly.

 

Yes my cycle is done, has been fully cycled for months. I did fish in cycles, so they cycled rapidly.

It might just be the weird yellow colour they call 0 then. I'd try testing distilled to see what you get.

 

It might just be the weird yellow colour they call 0 then. I'd try testing distilled to see what you get.

That's a good idea. I didn't think of that!

 

It might just be the weird yellow colour they call 0 then. I'd try testing distilled to see what you get.

Well mystery solved... I never got around to testing distilled, but when I tested my 30 gallon today before my water change, it finally came through as true 0 (matched the card)... the 20 gallon was still testing with a trace ( I recorded as .125)... After the water change, now the 30 gallon is showing a trace, and the 20 gallon is showing .25. It seems my tap water is the culprit.