API Ammonia Freshwater And Saltwater Aquarium Test Kit

Ammonia is the reading that explains most sudden fish losses, and it is the one dip strips leave out. This liquid kit reads it from 0 to 8 ppm and ships with two colour charts, one for freshwater and one for saltwater, because the same reagent develops to different shades in the two. A healthy established tank should read zero — anything above that means a water change now, not later.

What is in the kit

• 2 liquid dropper test solutions
• 1 test tube with a snap-tight cap
• Freshwater and saltwater colour charts, plus instructions

How to read it

Wait the full five minutes for the colour to develop, and read it in good light against something white. Do not tip the tested sample back into the tank.

Looking after the kit

Rinse each tube with tap water straight after use — dried reagent stains the tube and throws out the next reading. Never wash tubes with detergent; the residue is harmful if it goes back into the tank. Shake the reagent bottles firmly, but invert the capped tube gently.

If ammonia is already high, Ammo Lock binds it while the filter catches up. For all five readings at once, see the Freshwater Master Test Kit.

API Ammonia Test Kit on the API website