Seachem MultiTest Ammonia - 950
This kit measures total (NH3 and NH4+) and free ammonia (NH3 only) down to 0.05 mg/L in freshwater and marine aquariums. Free ammonia is the toxic form of ammonia (vs. ionized Ammonia NH4+ which is non-toxic) and thus it is much more important to keep an eye on the level of free ammonia in your system. This kit is based on the same gas exchange technology that is used in the Ammonia Alert™ and thus is the only kit on the market that can read levels of free ammonia while using ammonia removal products such as Prime™, Safe™, AmGuard™ and any similar competing products. The other kits (salicylate or Nessler based) determine the total ammonia by raising the pH of the test solution to 12 or greater. At this high pH all ammonia removal products will breakdown and rerelease the ammonia, thus giving you a false ammonia reading.
Whilst slightly more expensive than other Ammonia test kits on the market, the Seachem MultiTest Ammonia kit can be viewed as a professional test kit with the appropriate equipment being provided. This includes:
- Total Ammonia Reagent
- Sensor Container with 6 Sensors
- Total Ammonia Reference
- Forceps
- Sample Pipette
- Ammonia Colour Chart
- Test Plate
Testing Free Ammonia:
- Fill sample pipette to base of bulb and dispanse to a test cavity of the test plate
- Unscrew the cap from the sensor container and remove the sensor using the supplied forceps, rinse with clean water and place in the test cavity containing the sample.
- Read after 10-15 minutes from bottom scale (less sensitive) or after 30 minutes from the top scale (more sensitive) in mg/l
- On completion of tests, rinse sensors, and return to their container where they will will regenerate within a few hours
Total Ammonia Test:
- Follow the process as described in the Testing of Free Ammonia
- Add one drop of Total Ammonia Reagent
- Read after 10-15 minutes from bottom scale (less sensitive) or after 30 minutes from the top scale (more sensitive) in mg/l
- On completion of tests, rinse sensors, and return to their container where they will will regenerate within a few hours
To ensure that your test kit is working, Seachem include a Total Ammonia Reference vial, which has a reference value of 1.0mg/l. Simple use the Test Reference to ensure that your Sensor's are working as they should.
