I've had my tank up and running smoothly for about 8 months now. It's a cichlid stocked 60 gallon. My ammonia was at 0ppm for most of the past months then about a month ago my API kit turned a very dark greenish blue which isn't even on the color chart. I immediately conducted a 30% water change. No luck. Over the month I have tried everything from extensive water changes to chemicals. I have always conducted two 15% water changes a week, and used a vacuum. My tank is normally stocked and I haven't added fish in months. I have tried changing filter media and bought a hang in the tank ammonia monitor but it reads zero. I tested an extra I bought with winded and they do work. My fish are all normal and healthy, am I using a bad kit or something. I figured if the ammonia is as high as it indicates everything would be dead

BTW...nitrites are at 0, and nitrates are right around 40. Thanks in advance for any and all help

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'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things; Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, Of cabbages and kings, And why the sea is boiling hot, And whether pigs have wings.'

--Lewis Carrol

It is very odd for a test reagent to go bad, but I'm sure it's possible. It could have been stored improperly or exposed to temp extremes giving you strange test results. Check the test reagent bottles for any expiration dates. It could also be that the test chemical for ammonia somehow became contaminated. It might be best to simply purchase a new API master test kit. Amazon.com has them for under $24 in the U.S. If possible take a clean water sample to your local LFS, many offer free water tests. Continue with routine water changes to keep your water quality up.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Was starting to pull my hair out. My ammonia was fine in my other tanks but they all have a digital monitor. Will grab a new kit so I can stop worrying about my Convicts. Didn't ever really think about the experation date or storage temp so thank you again.

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'The time has come,' the walrus said, 'to talk of many things; Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, Of cabbages and kings, And why the sea is boiling hot, And whether pigs have wings.'

--Lewis Carrol

Typically API kits are good between 2 and 3 years after the dates on the bottles, but sometimes they can last longer or shorter times depending on how they are stored etc.. Like it was stated above, there is a good chance there is just something wrong with the kit since your other tanks are fine and the fish are fine and you are still doing your PWCs. Now if the new kit says that you still have that much ammo, you might want to lay out some more details and test your tap water as well as check some other things in your tank that could be causing ammo spikes like overstocking etc.. BUT...hopefully it's just the test kit. Good luck. - Ash

Petmountain has APi Master Kit on sale $17.95, just saw it yesterday.