 Lil'
Alert Mates™
are innovative color devices for continuously detecting
and monitoring toxic free ammonia. They work just like
Ammmonia Alert™ but are designed to appeal to
the young aquarist. A sensor changes reversibly from
yellow to green to blue, relative to the ammonia concentration.
No test kits, chemicals, or procedures are needed. The
device detects less than 0.05 mg/L (ppm) free ammonia
and alerts you to the #1 killer before any sign of stress.
It lasts over a year and replacement sensors are available.
Marine or freshwater use.
In the absence of free ammonia the unit will assume
a yellow or faint yellow-green color. It is normal for
the dry sensor to have a greenish hue. It may take up
to a few days for a dry sensor to equilibrate with the
water. No sampling of water, chemicals, or test procedures
are required. The presence of the free ammonia is detectable
continuously with a response time of about 15 minutes.
Response to decreasing ammonia is slower, requiring
about 4 hours to go from TOXIC to SAFE on removal of
ammonia. |
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| INTERPRETATION:
As little as 0.02 mg/L of free ammonia will produce
a greenish hue on the detector surface. This corresponds
to a total ammonia (both ionized and free ammonia) of
0.25 mg/L in marine water at pH 8.3. In freshwater at
pH 7.0, this corresponds to 3.6 mg/L total ammonia.
Free ammonia is much more toxic than ionized ammonia.
As free ammonia, the ALERT color corresponds to about
0.05 mg/L, and TOXIC to about 0.5 mg/L. The ALERT concentration
is tolerated for several days, and TOXIC is rapidly
harmful. This product is not recommended for use at
acid pH |
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| CARE:
No care is required beyond removing algae with a clean,
soft material. Avoid touching the sensor with fingers,
since skin oils can damage it. Do not use bleach, soap,
detergents or hard objects to clean the sensor. Some
dye medications may discolor the sensor. Sensitivity
improves with age, provided the unit is not allowed
to dry out, however, drying does not permanently impair
the unit. For maximum sensitivity, the unit should be
read under natural daylight or daylight simulating light.
Red enhancing light minimizes green and blue hues, decreasing
the apparent sensitivity of the unit. The response of
the unit may be checked by holding it briefly over the
mouth of an ammonia bottle: color should develop rapidly. |
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