Vigorously shake the Nitrate Test Solution Bottle # 2 for at least 30 seconds. This step is extremely important to insure accuracy of test results. Without a doubt, the hands-down winner for the best liquid aquarium test kit for freshwater aquariums goes to The API Master Kit. GH stands for general hardness and is measured in dGH (degrees of general hardness). GH is the sum total of all the particles dissolved in the water. 1 dGH is equivalent to 17.9 ppm.

Can I use API SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT for reef aquariums (as opposed to API REEF MASTER TEST KIT)? Fairly easy to use, simply fill your test tubes up to the line with your water sample and add your drops of test solution to each tube and watch them change color. 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! Add 8 drops from Ammonia Test Solution Bottle #2, holding the dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops added to the water sample.There is a lot of debate about whether liquid test kits or test strips make a better choice for the average aquarist, so let’s take a closer look at the details. Accuracy and Reliability 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. Carbonate hardness, also known as alkalinity, is the measure of carbonate and bicarbonate concentrations dissolved in water. These minerals are present in municipal, well, and bottled water. The level of carbonate hardness in tap and bottled water depends on the source of the water and the treatment processes it has undergone. Carbonate hardness helps stabilize pH in the aquarium. An aquarium with a low KH level will tend to be acidic. Aquariums with very low KH are subject to rapid pH shifts if not monitored carefully. Water with a high KH level usually has a high pH. When you set up a new aquarium, it needs to go through a period known as ‘cycling’ before it’s ready to use.

Now add 10 drops from Nitrate Test Solution Bottle #2, holding dropper bottle upside down in a completely vertical position to assure uniformity of drops. If you have a heavily planted aquascape tank or a marine aquarium, then you could consider the Nutrafin Master Test Kit, which tests water hardness, phosphates, iron, and calcium levels in addition to the four basic tests that API offers. The API® SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT measures the 4 most important saltwater parameters – pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate – to enable easy testing of your tank’s natural cycle, and to aid in maintaining a thriving saltwater aquarium. Testing is fast, easy, and accurate, yielding precise results, and comes with 4 test tubes and a convenient holding tub for easy storage. This kit also includes a complete, step-by-step instructional booklet with a color chart that provides information on how to correct unsafe water conditions. Each SALTWATER MASTER TEST KIT will conduct 550+ tests, so you can get the most out of your kit for years of fast, accurate water testing. If you’re looking to get more accurate readings from the most reliable source, though, then API liquid test kits are the way to go. If you’re carrying out lots of tests, they’ll likely save you some money too. This means you’d rarely have to go out to buy any additional test kits, except perhaps for chlorine, CO2, and dissolved oxygen, which this kit doesn’t include.

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Cap the test tube and invert tube to mix solution. Do not hold finger over open end of tube as this may affect the pH of the test solution.

Copper tests are useful when treating fish with copper-based medications, and iron tests are important for diagnosing iron deficiency in live plants.Recommendations for how frequently you test your water in a seasoned tank vary from once a week to once a month. Carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, and chlorine tests are also frequently sought after by aquarists, but for those, you’d typically need to buy a separate set.