Advice on Ammonia Testing

[BigEarsNYC]

I've always had an issue testing my Ammonia levels in that I can never determine is I have 0 or .25 on the test. The color of the water is neither really.

This morning I tested the water from my system (on the left in the pictures) and the water from my RODI filter (on the right).

Do I have bad eyes? Does anyone else have this problem?

The rest of my parameters seem to be within an acceptable range:
57g tank
Temp 76
SG 1.023
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0
"Calcium" 23/460
KH 9/161

My salinity has been testing lower than I want for the past couple of weeks. I am trying to bring it up by adding IO SeaSalt to my RO top off water. It doesn't appear to be changing much which makes me think I need to upgrade my hydrometer to a refractometer.

A second set of eyes and opinions are welcomed.

Thanks

 

[edd]

i have the same problem with colors. i would say that looks like more of a yellowish tint, so i'd say its 0. try keeping the vile away from the card a little bit and against the white back ground.

 

[lnevo]

0 to me. +1 on leaving some space behind the vial.

 

[BigEarsNYC]

Thanks guys - yeah I have tried holding the test tube away from the card, into sunlight...away from sunlight...looking through the tube on top of the color. The colors are always a little ambiguous which always makes me ask if I'm just getting old!

The good news is that it is never been a greener color.

 

[mbg75]

Looks like an API kit. The are not the best.
You can get an ammonia alert badge. They are good for a year as long as they are in the water