{"product_id":"api-ammonia-test-kit-fresh-saltwater","title":"API Ammonia Test Kit Fresh\/Saltwater","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe one reading that explains most unexplained fish losses.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe API Ammonia Test Kit measures total ammonia from 0 to 8 ppm in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums, using two liquid reagents read against a printed colour chart. The pack is rated at approximately 130 tests, and a result takes five minutes from filling the tube. Ammonia is colourless and odourless in water, so testing is the only way to see it before the fish show you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat it actually measures:\u003c\/strong\u003e total ammonia, which includes ammonia that has already been detoxified by a product such as Ammo-Lock. A positive reading is not automatically a poisoning — see the questions below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReads 0 to 8 ppm\u003c\/strong\u003e — wide enough to cover a fully crashed filter, not just a mild spike.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo colour charts in the box\u003c\/strong\u003e — one for freshwater and one for saltwater, because the chemistry reads differently in each.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLiquid reagents in dropper bottles\u003c\/strong\u003e — measured drop by drop rather than a strip that degrades in a humid cupboard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAbout 130 tests per kit\u003c\/strong\u003e — enough for weekly testing on several tanks for well over a year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFive-minute result\u003c\/strong\u003e — quick enough to test, act, and re-test the same evening.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's included\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmmonia test solution bottle #1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmmonia test solution bottle #2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlass test tube with a snap-tight cap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFreshwater colour chart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaltwater colour chart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstruction booklet covering how to test and how to correct unsafe readings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eNot included\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo reference or calibration standard is supplied — the kit is read by colour comparison, not calibrated against a known sample.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo treatment product. If the reading is above zero you will need something to act on it — see \"Goes well with\".\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eParameter measured\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTotal ammonia (free ammonia NH3 plus ammonium NH4+)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRange\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 to 8 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTests per kit\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 130\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eReagents\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwo liquid dropper bottles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSample volume\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTime to result\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 minutes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater types\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater and saltwater, with a separate colour chart for each\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eReading method\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVisual colour comparison against the printed chart\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to run the test\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFill the test tube to the 5 mL line with aquarium water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd 8 drops from bottle #1.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd 8 drops from bottle #2.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCap the tube and shake vigorously for 5 seconds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWait 5 minutes for the colour to develop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare against the freshwater or saltwater chart in good natural light, holding the tube against the white area of the card.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHold the dropper bottles vertically so the drops are a consistent size. Rinse the tube with tank water, not detergent, between tests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat the reading should be\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe target is the same across every setup — zero. What changes is how much urgency a positive reading carries, because the share of total ammonia present as free ammonia (NH3, the toxic form) rises as pH and temperature rise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSetup\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTarget total ammonia\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat a reading above 0 means here\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommunity freshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUsually overfeeding, a filter cleaned too thoroughly, or a dead fish behind the hardscape. Act the same day.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlanted freshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlants take up some ammonia, so a positive reading in a heavily planted tank suggests the load has outrun the plants and the filter together.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAfrican cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThese tanks run alkaline, so more of the total ammonia is present as toxic free ammonia. A reading that would be borderline in a soft-water tank is more serious here.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine fish-only with live rock\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMarine pH sits above 8, so the same caution applies. Use the saltwater chart, not the freshwater one.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 ppm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCorals and invertebrates are less tolerant than fish. Any reading above zero is a reason to stop dosing and feeding and investigate immediately.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTank still cycling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFalls to 0 as the cycle completes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpected. Track it alongside nitrite and nitrate to see where the cycle has got to.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeekly routine testing on established freshwater or marine tanks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking a fishless or fish-in cycle from start to finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiagnosing sudden fish losses, gasping at the surface or red gills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChecking a quarantine tub, which usually has no mature filter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistinguishing free ammonia from ionised ammonium. This kit reads the total; the split between them is set by your pH and temperature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirming that a detoxifier has worked. Detoxified ammonia still shows on the test.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who needs a logged, digital number — this is a visual colour match.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTesting anything other than ammonia. Nitrite, nitrate and pH each need their own test.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and storage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore the bottles upright with the caps firmly on, out of direct sun and away from heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck the use-by date printed on the pack. Liquid reagents drift as they age, and an old bottle #2 is the usual reason a test reads oddly green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep the kit out of reach of children and away from food preparation areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-ammo-lock\"\u003eAPI Ammo-Lock\u003c\/a\u003e — the immediate action when the reading is above zero and you have fish in the tank.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-quick-start\"\u003eAPI Quick Start\u003c\/a\u003e — adds the nitrifying bacteria that bring the reading back to zero permanently.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-freshwater-master-multi-test-kit-5-in-1\"\u003eAPI Freshwater Master Test Kit\u003c\/a\u003e — if you also need nitrite, nitrate and pH, the master kit is better value than buying each separately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-freshwater-ph-test-kit\"\u003eAPI Freshwater pH Test Kit\u003c\/a\u003e — pH is what decides how dangerous a given ammonia reading actually is.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/api\"\u003eThe full API range\u003c\/a\u003e — test kits and the treatments that correct what they find.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNothing here limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If reagents arrive leaking, short-dated or the glass tube is broken, contact us for a replacement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFreight is standard. The kit ships as an ordinary parcel with no dangerous goods surcharge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many tests does the API Ammonia Test Kit do?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately 130, based on API's pack claim. That figure assumes 8 drops from each bottle per test and a 5 mL sample; using a larger sample volume will reduce the count.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is a safe ammonia level in an aquarium?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZero. API's guidance is that small amounts of ammonia stress fish and large amounts kill fish, and there is no level that is actively beneficial. Any reading above zero in a stocked tank is a reason to act.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eI dosed Ammo-Lock and the test still reads 1 ppm. Is the test broken?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Ammonia detoxifiers convert ammonia to a non-toxic form rather than removing it, and API's own Ammo-Lock label states the water will still test positive until the biological filter processes it out. The reading falls as the filter matures, not as the detoxifier works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I use this kit on a saltwater tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The kit is made for freshwater and saltwater aquariums and includes a separate colour chart for each. Read salt water against the saltwater card — comparing it to the freshwater card will give you the wrong answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy choose a liquid kit over test strips?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiquid reagents are dosed drop by drop into a measured 5 mL sample, so the result does not depend on how long a strip sat in the water or how much humidity got into the tub. The trade-off is five minutes of waiting instead of thirty seconds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eThe colour sits between two blocks on the chart. What now?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead it as the higher of the two and act on that. Colour-match kits are deliberately banded, and in a stocked tank the cost of over-reacting to 0.25 ppm is a water change you did not strictly need.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"API","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54774194766115,"sku":null,"price":54.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/APH151_3.png?v=1772082100","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/api-ammonia-test-kit-fresh-saltwater","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}