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

Product Information

Add 3 drops of pH Test Solution, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. 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. If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable freshwater testing kit, you should look no further. Add 5 drops of Nitrite Test Solution, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. If you don’t measure your water parameters on a weekly basis, or even longer, you, your tank, and your fish will run into some problems. Ammonia spikes, bacterial blooms, and dead fish are just a few examples of what can happen when your water health is not on your priority list.

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Large pallet items like aquariums are deemed delivered successfully with no damage once the the driver has left the property. If a report of damage is submitted after the driver has left we may be unable to assist with replacements. We recommend refusing a damaged delivery, this is the fastest resolution. For an affordable price, this testing kit will allow you to test all the crucial parameters that affect the life of the animals and plants in your tank. Now add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution #2, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops.

How to Use the API Master Test Kit:

The test kit comes with (4) mixing test tubes that you perform the tests in, (4) caps to cover the test tubes with (handy since the tests require mixing by shaking or inverting), (7) individual bottles of various fluids that are used individually or in pairs for testing, instructions, the results color chart, and a handy container that keeps it all together. The container also holds the test tubes upright for you while you perform the testing. API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT tests for high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, all of which need to be regularly monitored for proper water conditions for your fish. A pH of 7.0 is ideal when keeping a community aquarium containing a variety of tropical fish. That said, research is king in this department as each fish has their own recommended pH levels. Results that you care about: I don’t worry much about PH readings. The PH in our aquarium is influenced by the tap water. I don’t worry with trying to move it up or down with chemicals or additives. I leave it where it is (probably mid 7’s) and just maintain consistency in PH with regular water changes. What is critical is to have an aquarium with healthy bacteria that will break down fish waste fully, resulting in a 0.0 ppm reading for both ammonia and nitrite. This is the result that shows your tank has the proper beneficial bacteria. If your tank ever reads something other than 0.0 ppm for ammonia and nitrite, it’s time to look carefully at what’s going on. As I have said above, Nitrate level readings above 0 ppm are normal and not necessarily bad. I expect 20 ppm to 40 ppm for nitrate; If it climbs into the 80 ppm or 160 ppm range, I would try to understand why it is so high and perform a large (70%) water change.

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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). Note that the minimum pH reading for the API Freshwater Master Test Kit is 6.0 and the maximum is 7.6. Under extreme water conditions, readings below the minimum will read 6.0, and above the maximum will read 7.6. pH Test DirectionsIn new aquariums, the nitrate level will gradually climb as the biological filter becomes established. A nitrate level of 40 ppm (mg/L) or less is recommended for freshwater aquariums. High Nitrate Solution All Products ALGAEFIX™ STRESS COAT™ MELAFIX™ ALGAE SCRAPER FOR ACRYLIC AQUARIUMS ALGAE SCRAPER FOR GLASS AQUARIUMS ALGAE PAD FOR ACRYLIC AQUARIUMS ALGAE PAD FOR GLASS AQUARIUMS TURTLE FIX™ 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. Comes with 6 bottles of liquid test reagent, 4 glass test tubes with snap-tight caps, a holding tray, and instruction booklet

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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. PH of tap water can change after a period of time: If you test the PH of tap water immediately after it flows from your faucet, it might read higher than you expect. The water in your pipes has a higher concentration of dissolved CO2 and this makes the PH reading high. Let a sample of tap water rest over 24 hours in an open container to off-gass this CO2, then test it. The result will be a more representative PH reading of your tap water. Fish continually release ammonia directly into the water through their gills, urine, and solid waste. Uneaten food and other waste also add ammonia to the water. A natural way that your aquarium handles this ammonia is through the biological filter, or natural aquarium cycle. However, as with any natural processes, imbalances can occur. This is why it’s important to regularly test for the presence of ammonia, which can spike unexpectedly in your aquarium. As soon as it is detected, ammonia should be removed, otherwise it will damage your fish’s gill membranes and harm their respiration, which can eventually result in fish death. Even small amounts of ammonia stress fish, suppressing their immune systems and increasing the likelihood of disease outbreaks. You can remove ammonia from your tank by performing a partial water change, and by dosing with a solution specifically designed to treat ammonia. Test frequently for high ammonia using API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT. 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.Add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution #1, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. Note that the API Freshwater Master Test Kit reads the total ammonia level in parts per million ( ppm). Ammonia Test Directions Every parameter has different instructions, so you need to be accurate while following the steps. However, all the bottles are numbered, and the steps are detailed, so you won’t struggle to get the results right. Effective Results 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 FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT measures pH, high range pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in your freshwater aquarium.

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Note that the API Freshwater Master Test Kit reads the total nitrite (NO2) level in parts per million ( ppm). Nitrite Test Directions We recommend that you take a few minutes each week to monitor your aquarium conditions and create a better underwater world for your fish. Testing your aquarium water has never been so easy or accurate! The color chart is very easy to understand and is waterproof, so you can keep it to test the water later on.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. Cap the test tube and shake vigorously for 1 minute. This step is extremely important to ensure the accuracy of test results. API ALGAEFIX algae control effectively controls many types of algae in aquariums and will not harm to your fish or plants when used as directed. You can use ALG... The ammonia test reads both ammonia and ammonium: The test does not differentiate between Ammonia (NH3) and Ammonium (NH4). It reads the total of both compounds that are present in your aquarium water. There is a big difference between the two. Ammonia is the waste product that your fish produce. Levels of ammonia above 0 ppm are not healthy for fish and inverts. Ammonium is ammonia that is ionized; it is not as toxic to fish. Ammonia converts to ammonium in acidic water. I have observed that our straight tap water contains ammonium. I discovered this when I rescaped our tank and put entirely new water in the aquarium. The API test returned a slight reading of ammonia; unexpected in a tank with plenty of beneficial bacteria and new water. All this to say, be aware of sources of non-lethal ammonium in your aquarium that may be influencing test results.