Ammonia Alert remove round yellow sticker?

[tc2007]

So I got an Ammonia Alert today in mail. It says remove plastic film, which I remove (the larger clear plastic covering the whole thing). However there is also a round yellow sticker right in the middle which is hard to remove, which makes me think that is not to be removed

Do I remove that too?

[Spar]

i have never removed that sticker. just that first layer. i think that 'sticker' is actually the sensor.

[tc2007]

that's what I thought. So how does a particular area react when the ammonia is in that range?

[Spar]

what do you mean be 'react'?

[kurt_n]

The entire yellow round area turns color. The color around the outside are just showing you what the color means.

[Sparky305]

Exactly. The whole thing will change color.

[Shanet]

If you read the instructions it says not to touch the centre piece, if you have, its buggered. It pays to read the instructions!

[tc2007]

Originally Posted by Shanet

If you read the instructions it says not to touch the centre piece, if you have, its buggered. It pays to read the instructions!

Yeah I did not read it fully. Anywho I did not peel it at all.

[Shanet]

If you have touched it with your fingers the oil in our skin is supposed to play with the reliability of it, just something to be aware of as it may not give a true reading.

[Indymann99]

I have used the Ammonia Alert badges for years on my QT. I do replace them after each QT use. The yellow in the center is the sensor. don't remove or touch.

[Ron1966]

Wouldnt it be just as simple to test it every few days using the simple API test kit? The kits are good for base line.

[Spar]

Originally Posted by Ron1966

Wouldnt it be just as simple to test it every few days using the simple API test kit? The kits are good for base line.

'just as simple' - No; but agreed it is still simple.

the benefit of the sensor ones is that you can just glance at it as you walk by. not taking the minute or two to perform the test + 5 minutes to wait for result.

[Indymann99]

Originally Posted by Spar

'just as simple' - No; but agreed it is still simple.

the benefit of the sensor ones is that you can just glance at it as you walk by. not taking the minute or two to perform the test + 5 minutes to wait for result.

+1 in an uncycled QT you may have to do a partial WC EVERY DAY to keep Ammonia in check.. the badge is easy quick visual reference.

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

I have never seen these before. Do they make stickers for other parameters that are accurate?

[Spar]

im sure pH, and temp. doubtful for any other stats that are necessary though.

[tc2007]

For temp I got a cheap digital thermometer from Amazon. no more guessing or squinting

[criticalencore]

Originally Posted by tc2007

For temp I got a cheap digital thermometer from Amazon. no more guessing or squinting

Trust the glass... I've seen digital thermometers off by as much as 9°

[john.groves6]

Hi. Why do you need a ammonia alert?. The fish will tell you long before. They will start to jump out of the water. Then die in short measure. Ammonia is 10 times
more toxic than fresh water quick as a flash put in water a pile of amolock. Then find a new home for fish until ammonia readings are zero then put fish back in slowly over a few weeks. PS ammonia means no effective filter, no filter no fish cheers.

[DasCamel]

Originally Posted by john.groves6

Hi. Why do you need a ammonia alert?. The fish will tell you long before. They will start to jump out of the water. Then die in short measure. Ammonia is 10 times
more toxic than fresh water quick as a flash put in water a pile of amolock. Then find a new home for fish until ammonia readings are zero then put fish back in slowly over a few weeks. PS ammonia means no effective filter, no filter no fish cheers.

During emergency QT procedures, that badge is priceless. Even w/o it takes days potentially for ammonia to register and be dealt with swiftly like Amquel or Prime. Even on the main tank, can warn you of low levels in case something is very wrong.