Nesslers and salicylate test methods for ammonia will give false positive results when dechlorinators are used
They raise the pH of the test water and cause the total ammonia to become free ammonia, thus giving a positive result where there wasn't free ammonia in the water sample to begin with
In my freshwater days I used a
Hagen 0-7.3mg/L Nesslers kit and had false positives
I switched to the
Hagen 0-6.1mg/L Indophenol based test kit and all was good
Now that I'm into saltwater, I use Seachem Ammonia Badges, a Seachem Ammonia test kit, and an Elos Ammonia test kit
I don't know if Prime affects the Elos kit, but it doesn't affect the Seachem ones
As was suggested, if you keep using tap water, let your new saltwater mix for 24 hours with a heater (optional) and powerhead
The circulation is enough to off-gas the chlorine and you can then use whatever ammonia kit you like
Our water here is pretty clean, but we still have around 8ppm TDS from the tap. Not knowing what that 8 consists of is enough for me to use RO
