API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit

I moved away from test strips and bought the API 800 Test Freshwater Master Kit. One of the best decisions I have made for my aquarium. Test strips may look convenient but once the container is opened and the strips are exposed to air the clock is ticking. Moisture and oxygen start degrading the reagents immediately. After about 30 days the accuracy drops off badly. At that point the readings are questionable and you may as well consider them unreliable. For something as important as water quality, that simply is not good enough. The API Freshwater Master Kit solves that problem completely. The reagents are stored in sealed bottles so they remain stable and accurate for a long time. Using it is straightforward. Fill the test tube with tank water to the line, add the correct number of drops from the bottle, cap the tube and shake. For nitrate there is a second bottle and a longer shake but it is still very simple. Wait the specified time, then compare the colour against the chart. That is it. What you get in return is far more reliable information. The colour changes are clearer and the scale is more precise than strips. You can properly track ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH rather than relying on vague strip colours that can be difficult to read. Each kit also lasts a very long time because you get a large number of tests from the bottles. It ends up being far better value than constantly replacing strips that degrade quickly. If you want accurate, repeatable readings and a clear picture of what is happening in your tank water, this kit is excellent. Simple to use, dependable and well worth the money. Highly recommended for any serious fish keeper. 🐟

The only freshwater master kit i will use. Test strips i never used due to there poor accuracy. There are some other brands like Seachem for example that do great water testing products but much more expensive to. If you want good accuracy for a reasonable price that will last a reasonably long time then overall value and quality is definitely given to the API Freshwater Master Kit. You can perform the following tests with this kit: - pH - low range - pH - high range - Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate Comes with easy to follow instructions and colour chart. The most annoying are the test tubes, i always end up breaking them and having to buy spares, i also hate they are push caps and not screw on as you have to keep your thumb on top of the cap when shaking as it tends to leak out otherwise, i also wish the case layout was better as well as it's a bit annoying and fiddly specially the position of the test tubes. I also purchased the API liquid Kh and Gh kit to make it a true master test kit. I think they should be included as standard as this is called a master test kit after all. Make sure you shake the plastic liquid bottles very well before using, i shake longer than the instructions state to ensure it's mixed well, specially the nitrate bottle as it's very thick formula and prone to giving inaccurate readings simply because the bottle was not shaked enough before using, so take note shake and shake again. I recommend this kit for any fish keeper whether you are newbie or advanced user, this kit is suitable for most peoples needs. I tend to only test frequently when cycling a tank and for approx 6 months after cycling complete whilst beneficial bacteria still colonizes in the filter, i don't test often from then on as i find observing the tank and fish can give you good indicators of problems, but nonetheless still a great kit to have to hand for as and when needed. Check readings in natural daylight if possible as can sometimes be hard to judge colour of tested water against colour chart. Best kit for overall price accuracy and price. Highly recommend. Tips: - Check expiry date is well in to the future on case when it arrives as they last ages. - I find placing the colour chart up against a window with natural daylight (but not direct sunlight) and then placing the tube by the side of the test i'm testing enables me personally to take a better reading. - Another way some people find easier is to place the colour chart down flat on a surface in a room with natural daylight, then remove cap from test tube and then place the testing tube on top of the colour chart and test they are testing for, then look straight down the test tube and compare colour. - Some people complain of the colour in the test tube changing over time and not sure which reading was correct, this will happen hence why it's important to follow instructions. If for example you are told to compare the test tube with colour chart after 5 minutes, then ensure you compare after 5 minutes and not for example 10 minutes, as overtime the colour will continue to change and people then get confused which is the correct reading. - Shake the Nitrate bottles as it's very thick formula and prone to giving people false readings, read the instructions very carefully, a number of people do the Nitrate test wrong and get inconsistent inaccurate readings. You must shake this bottle excessively. I always shake the bottles longer than the instructions state to ensure they've been shaken enough, if you don't shake them enough you can end up with inaccurate false readings.

I was recommended this kit by a Knowledgeable fish man in one of my local fish/pet shops. Even over buying what they had in their store (strips). It’s brilliant. Also fees like doing potions. I thought it would be difficult to do but it’s so easy. My fish tank is thriving

The test kit appears to have been good but I strongly recommend checking the expiry dates (stamped on each bottle) as soon as you receive this - mine expired 18 months after purchase and it was impossible to use all on my testing schedule before expiry. This also means that the perceived better value of buying a kit with 500 tests versus a kit with 200 tests may not be accurate. I didn't notice the expiry (or forgot about it) and I am still using the same kit 3.5 years after it expired. Having just noticed this, I've now decided to order another kit. I haven't decided whether to buy this or the similarly priced kit from NT Labs, or the slightly more expensive JB or Columbia. According to Claude, API, NT Labs and Columbia have tested the most accurate. Assuming the kit hasn't changed in the 5 years since I bought it- I like 1. The packaging, which makes great long term storage, isn't cheap deteriorating plastic, and has space to add at least a few more test kits within it. 2. The pH, Ammonia, Nitrite testing is essential to fish health and the Phosphate is useful for tackling algae. 3. Proper test tubes 4. Include the test tubes. I dislike: 1. Would have been useful to have tests for Oxygen and water hardness. 2. My readings never quite align to the chart and I sometimes have real difficulty telling the colours apart. On my 7-in-1 Tetra test strip kit it has an app that helps with this, but there wasn't anything like that here. I ended up buying pipettes to help put the water in the test tubes.

This fish water testing kit is a must-have for any aquarium enthusiast! It’s incredibly easy to use, and the results are both accurate and reliable. The instructions were straightforward, and I was able to test my water in just a few minutes. The kit includes everything you need to check all the essential parameters—pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels—and the color-coded chart made reading the results super simple. I love how this testing product gives me peace of mind, knowing my fish are living in a safe and healthy environment. It has really helped me maintain the perfect balance in my tank, and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in the health and activity of my fish since using it regularly. The value for the price is fantastic too—there’s enough material in the kit to last for multiple tests, so I feel like I’m getting a lot of use out of it. I would highly recommend this testing kit to anyone who wants to ensure their aquarium stays clean and healthy. It’s a reliable, affordable solution for keeping my fish happy!

Superb product. API is one of my resources for many of my aquarium essentials. Never had any problem with any of there items. Great value for money, with many products giving you size options for what you need. All products from medicated to water parameters and plant care. These products are made with an ease of understanding for what that purpose is and will help you on your fish keeping journey.

Pricey but worth it in the long run.

API Master Test Kits are an essential bit of kit for all aquarium keepers. This product should be at the top of your priority list when setting up a new aquarium, and will remain an essential piece of kit throughout your hobby. I purchased the Freshwater version as I keep tropical fish, but they also offer a Saltwater version for Marine setups. The kit tests for PH, High PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate, and will greatly assist you in ensuring your water parameters are at the correct levels for keeping fish. Not only is this essential for setting up a new aquarium (helping you to determine how far through the initial cycle you are), but it's also essential for ensuring your water parameters are stable in an already cycled and mature aquarium setup. Test solutions for each parameter are provided, along with 4 test tubes, instructions, and a colour match chart. All of these are neatly stored in a plastic container, as shown in the product image. In a nutshell, you add 5ml of aquarium water to a test tube, add the required number of drops of solution per test, and then shake each test tube. Leave the test tubes to stand for 5 minutes, and then compare the colour of each against a colour match chart. The procedure does vary slightly from test to test, so please follow the instructions carefully. The product states that you will get over 800 tests out of the kit - 800 being a combination of all 5 tests. However, what you're likely to find is that you run out of certain tests before others. The Nitrate test, for example, takes 10 drops of solution from 2 bottles (20 drops in total), whereas the PH test takes just 3 drops from one bottle. It doesn't take Einstein to work out that you will use up the Nitrate solution before the PH solution. Fortunately though, you can purchase individual test solution bottles separately, but at a premium over purchasing all of the test solutions together in the Master Test Kit. The only downsides to this product are: - 4 test tubes are provided - It would have been nice to have 5, as there are 5 different tests included within the kit. - The colours can be a little hard to read, especially for those of us who are colour blind. Overall an excellent product, and highly recommended. Even with the above minor flaws, this product still deserves a 5 star rating. Forget the cheap test strips, and buy a liquid Master Test Kit!

De lo mejor para empezar perfecto

Value for money.

Very helpful for reef hobbyist

Excellent Quality. Accurate test result. I recommend this product. Delivery recieved early

Product arrived well before the Estimated time frame, Happy with the product. Good, Fast, Reliable Service.