API Freshwater Master Test Kit, Kit includes laminated color card, 4 test tubes & holding tray

Product Information

This time around, I have learned more about what is going on with the water and how the biological filter works, where bacteria in the tank breaks the fish’s ammonia waste into Nitrite; then nitrite into nitrate. This healthy bacteria is the goal of completing a fishless cycle; will talk more about this in a separate upcoming post. The bottom line is that API’s freshwater master test kit has been invaluable to me as I got our aquarium setup for the first time, guiding it through a fishless cycle, and continues to be useful for my periodic testing to make sure things are working well. I am very happy with the accuracy observed. I get consistent results that I can trust. As long as you follow instructions, you will be rewarded with accurate results. Invert that bottle: The testing seems reliant on putting in an exact amount of both water and test solution(s). API has calibrated the solution to add in drops, but the drops need to be the correct size; namely, from an inverted bottle that is straight up and down. Also take care to not touch the dropper to the edge of the test tube as this will not result in a full drop. The water tested should initially be filled to the test tube white line, preferably following the protocol of bottom of fluid meniscus at the white line. Performing partial water changes can also help reduce nitrate, especially if the level is very high. However, because many tap water supplies contain nitrate, it can be difficult to lower nitrate levels by this method.

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The bottom line of testing your aquarium water with API’s liquid test comes down to reading and following exactly the instructions they provide ( API’s pdf instructions are here). It is a bit daunting in that all 5 test are unique and require slightly different instructions. They all start in the same way, and that is to fill a clean test tube (provided) with 5 ml of aquarium water (up to a white line on the side). I would imagine many people are in the same situation with their aquarium PH. I wish that instead of providing two separate tests that supposedly span from 6.0 PH to 8.8 ph, they would instead provide a narrower range in one single test, say from 6.5 to 8.0. While some aquarist certainly have tanks that fall outside this range, I think it would meet the needs of most. Read the test results by comparing the color of the solution to the Ammonia Color Chart. The tube should be viewed in a well-lit area against the white area of the chart. The closest match indicates the ppm (mg/L) of ammonia in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after use. I’m very happy with how API’s test kit works. It is cumbersome the first few times you perform all the test, but again, it gets faster and easier with practice. Low water quality can cause stress and illness. It might even kill some of your fish and other aquatic animals.The real positive of the liquid master test kit is the pricing. It is a bit tough to breakdown the number of available tests in the bottles. API advertises ‘over 800 tests’ but this is for all the separate tests combined. Each bottle has 37ml of fluid, but they each utilize different numbers of drops per test. I think the Nitrate test would run out first and I estimate that it would be good for around 80 tests. Other tests would last much longer. pH is the measure of acidity in your water. A pH reading of 7.0 is neutral, a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline, and a pH lower than this level is acidic. It is important to keep your aquarium at the appropriate pH level to ensure optimal water quality for your specific fish species, as different types of fish require different pH levels for their habitats. API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT will enable you to test the pH levels in your water as often as needed! This testing kit is accurate, fast, and reliable, so you can depend on the results you’re getting. You can use the testing kit, even if you have no previous experience with chemicals or using testing kits. You need to keep an eye on the water quality and monitor all the visible and invisible changes that directly impact the inhabitants of your aquarium. This is a 5-in- 1 testing kit that allows you to do that.

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You don’t have to test all the parameters each time. I usually only test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The PH tests I sometimes perform by themselves, but I have not found the results from the PH tests to be helpful to me, so I usually skip them. Note that unless you come up with another test tube, the four provided with the kit will not allow you to perform all the testing at the same time; you will need to choose either the low or high range ph test. This shouldn’t be a problem; after you test once side by side, you should have an idea of which range applies to your tank.

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Add 8 drops from Ammonia Test Solution #2, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. Add 8 drops from Ammonia Test Solution #1, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. Add 5 drops of High Range pH Test Solution, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops.

API Freshwater Master Test Kit Review 2023: Test pH, Nitrates API Freshwater Master Test Kit Review 2023: Test pH, Nitrates

You can use API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT to test parameters in an aquarium with reefs; however, for best results, it is recommended that you use API REEF MASTER TEST KIT.Nitrate might read high in a planted tank: If you are adding fertilizers to your planted tank, this can lead to high Nitrate readings. Specifically, KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate), as you will note the ‘NO3’ being Nitrate, will make the Nitrate levels go up. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Nitrate is not as critical to your critter health as ammonia or Nitrite. The plants need it to survive so you certainly don’t want Nitrate down to 0 ppm. 40 ppm I am fine with; above 80 ppm might indicate I am over fertilizing.

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Learn to raise pH levels effectively in various simple methods in a different article. High-Range pH Test Comes with 6 bottles of liquid test reagent, 4 glass test tubes with snap-tight caps, a holding tray, and instruction booklet Note that the API Freshwater Master Test Kit reads the total nitrite (NO2) level in parts per million ( ppm). Nitrite Test Directions

API Freshwater Master Test Kit:

Read the test results by comparing the color of the solution to the Nitrate Color Chart. The tube should be viewed in a well-lit area against the white area of the card. The closest match indicates the ppm (mg/L) of nitrate in the water sample. Rinse the test tube with clean water after use. If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable freshwater testing kit, you should look no further. API PH Test Kit (Low Range) : This is the test for PH levels from 6.0 to 7.6. It has enough solution for around 250 tests.