testing water - why not ammonia?

I see most strip test kits test for GH, KH, NO2, NO3 and pH. but why not NH3? or will the presence of NO2 or NO3 signify NH3?

trying to wrap my head around water parameters and the nitrogen cycle!

 

sorry, hate those strips. This is just my opinion, but they are very inaccurate!!

 

I've wondered the same thing myself. I assume it's because the method of testing doesn't work for ammonia.

No. You will need to test separately for ammonia. I use the drip test for ammonia and the strips for the rest.

 

Hi There Anine,

I found in my cupboard a NH3/NH4 test kit. Alltough the best before date is 2006.

The brand is Nutrafin. If you google it you might find a lfs that perhaps still sells it.

Good luck,

GDT

 

No, the one is the bi product of the other. In the cycle, you first get the NH3, it breaks down to NO2 and that breaks down to NO3. So, if there is NO3, there used to be NH3, but you do not know the current level.

All you can conclude from the presence of NO2 and NO3, is that your bio filter is working. You def. need to test NH3/NH4.
Check out my ammonia discussions thread.

The liquid drop test kits work fine.