Will the API test kit harm fish (discus) if put in Aquarium

[Plecolover18]

When I was testing my water earlier today I, on accident thought there was Aquarium water in my test tube but it was actually my ammonia solution. The test tube had about 5 ml of water in it but will it harm my fish.


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[Fishfur]

How big is the tank and how long since the solution went in ? I think probably you're ok, the solution in the test is a salicylate, and it's going to be so diluted once in the tank, I doubt it will hurt the fish. Even API doesn't say on their site what happens if you accidentally put the test solution in a tank.. you'd have to write them to ask what happens. But I'm guessing nothing much, particularly if it's a big tank.

 

[Plecolover18]

It's fifty gallons


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[PNWaquarist]

Add a little Prime to your tank. That should take care of it.

 

[Plecolover18]

So basically water conditioner


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[Fishfur]

I think you're probably ok. Bet that's one mistake you won't make again though !

 

[PNWaquarist]

Yes, but it must complex ammonia. Not all of them do.

How much ammonia got into your tank?

 

[Plecolover18]

5 mL got into the tank

 

[PNWaquarist]

If what you put in your tank was the test tube in which you tested your tank water for ammonia, I'm not sure. I believe that the first solution is sodium hydroxide. Not sure what the second one is.

You'll find out soon enough!

 

[Plecolover18]

I only added the first bottle because it looked like Aquarium water

 

[Fishfur]

The API ammonia test has salicylate in it, not sodium hydroxide. Either way, with fish as sensitive as discus, if there were going to be a problem I think it would be showing up by now. Sincerely hope nothing happens, but in 50 gallons of water, the dilution factor is very high for 5 mls of solution.

 

[PNWaquarist]

My guess is that you'll be OK. Re-test your tank pH and see where you are.

 

[PNWaquarist]

The API ammonia test has salicylate in it, not sodium hydroxide.

In which bottle? There are two of them.

I don't think that salicylate would be a big problem, but am not sure.

 

[Plecolover18]

On the bottles it has a number. I used the number one bottle of ammonia

 

[Fishfur]

http://www.apifishcare.com/pdf/3335...SVendors_2014_February_04_06-03-52-499_AM.pdf

Safety Data sheet for the #1 bottle of the test kit. It's salicylate and while it's nasty stuff if you consumed it or poured it on yourself, I still think the chances of it hurting the fish in a 50G tank are very slim. And there isn't anything you could do short of doing a total water change.

Might want to do a major water change anyway just to be super safe.. should have suggested that sooner.

 

[Plecolover18]

I added prime and water clarification to the aquarium, I hope that helps for now.

 

[PNWaquarist]

Ah, so it's the PEG that gives it the high viscosity. Interesting.

Salicylate is the starting material for aspirin. It's an irritant in high concentration, but I don't see a very dilute solution harming your discus.

 

[Plecolover18]

Okay great!