API testers.....How do they stack up?
- Thread starter WXB
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gweston
New member
I use API for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. They work well for that job. I also test calcium and KH/alkalinity with API test kits. Seems accurate so far.
Not sure if I entirely trust the phosphate test, but I still use it. The PH test stinks, but is ok if you want a quick general reading. My controller/ph probe took over that task and someone will have to pry that thing form my cold dead fingers to make me part with it
My magnesium test kit is Saifert. Works great. Was suggested to me for it's accuracy an price point. Plus, my LFS carries it.
Not sure if I entirely trust the phosphate test, but I still use it. The PH test stinks, but is ok if you want a quick general reading. My controller/ph probe took over that task and someone will have to pry that thing form my cold dead fingers to make me part with it
My magnesium test kit is Saifert. Works great. Was suggested to me for it's accuracy an price point. Plus, my LFS carries it.
OwenInAZ
New member
For alk, go API. You'll get to the range of +-1 dKh. Not sure what the value is in going finer than that. For phosphate, I'm not sure any of the colorimetric tests do an adequate job, but I have heard good things about the Salifert tests. FWIW, I've never once tested for phosphates. IMO no reason to unless you're having a problem with algae, and even then the PO4 is likely bound up in the algal biomass anyway which will give you a nondetect reading.
dan-in-gr
New member
Hi,I use the Hanna Alk Tester and it is easy to use and accurate compared to any test it. My Salifert test kit for phosphates always show zero, but will be adding the Hanna Phosphate Checker soon. The only API kit I have is for Nitrate, and for low end of scale, the 5ppm and 10ppm looks the same, I am going to go to the new Red Sea Pro for that test. Rest of my test kits are Salifert for Cal and Mag, and I use Hanna ph meter.
Ive tried the alk, nitrate and calc test kits from API and have found them to be so far off its not even funny.
API is pretty much the only test kit I will never purchase and go out of my way to make sure others dont use them. Salifert and Seachem make much better kits for the same price range.
API is pretty much the only test kit I will never purchase and go out of my way to make sure others dont use them. Salifert and Seachem make much better kits for the same price range.
That's interesting. When this topic comes up the vast majority of people consider API extremely accurate for alkalinity and calcium and many people use it to second guess the more expensive kits. The only problem with them, if you consider it a problem, is that the resolution is a bit low.
As far as nitrate/phosphate I have no idea. I have never gotten anything to show up on my tank with those kits or the salifert kits.
In my tank I don't consider ph a useful thing to measure so I don't.
I have used API phosphate it is junk. It always tests zero, I took a sample to my lfs they tested it and it was 1.3. They use this http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+15437&pcatid=15437&s=hl
I used the calc test kit for a while and could never fiugure out what nothing was growing.
Turns out my API test kit was 120 ppm off of both salifert and seachem(API read 420 was actually 300) so I checked the alk kit, it was a full 1 mg/l off(api read 4, was actually 3). Nitrate API read 15ish was actually 30+
I tried them because of the price and ease of use. I can understand a bad batch of kits once in a while, but 3 different kits being that far off is unacceptable!
My local club did a test comparison using 5 different people and 4 different brands of kits using each kit 3 times on the same sample and they confirmed that the API kits are total crap.
Never again.
zachfishman
Active member
+1 I've found my API nitrate and phosphate kits to be useless.
jcolletteiii
New member
I've tried the API phosphate test - it is ridiculously hard to read the result. I use API for NO2 & NO3 - they do the job well and are pretty easy to read. I have also found the API calcium test to be surprisingly accurate - and I compared it with an Elos Ca kit. DO NOT USE API TO MEASURE ALK!!! Mine was off more than 2 dKh! Get an Elos or Salifert kit for Alk. Have never tried the API Mg, so not sure about that one.
For the big 3 - ALK, Ca, and Mg, I suggest the best kits you can get - these are parameters you don't want to mess up. That said, the API Ca kit seems to be fairly accurate IME.
For the big 3 - ALK, Ca, and Mg, I suggest the best kits you can get - these are parameters you don't want to mess up. That said, the API Ca kit seems to be fairly accurate IME.
davantalus
New member
For pH, I use both pH-strips and the API test. The API reading is commonly .5 higher than the test strips. I wish I had a third opinion!
definitely agree with u as far as api test kits, but they are not even close to the same price range... salifert are like 3 times apoligize test kits are, but well worth it for.a.more.serious hobbyist, particularly in sps tanks... I want to know exact numbers...
vthondaboi
Premium Member
I believe every brand will make a bad batch of test kits no matter how expensive they are. Heck lok at the pharmaceutical companies messing up left and right and here we're talking about fish.
I continue to use API but I have it checked against one or two other kits from friends or stores.
I continue to use API but I have it checked against one or two other kits from friends or stores.
jeff@zina.com
New member
I'll go as far as saying that API works for me. I don't get the exact same readings as with a Salifert test for example, but the tests are consistent and that's mostly what I'm looking for. I couldn't tell you which is most accurate to the exact number, but I find that chasing exact numbers always gets me in trouble.
If my pH test kit always showed a pH of 5.2, you'd say my pH was low. But if my tank does well at that reading, it really doesn't matter if it's 3.0 less than it should say, as long as I know that dropping to 4.8 is bad for my tank.
For the record, I've never had an API test that I suspected was that far off, it's only an example. But when I have my LFS test they always give me a higher Nitrate reading than I get, they show about .25 ppm higher. I used to freak out at that, now I don't really care since I have the nitrates running at close to 0 on my test and the LFS shows about .25, both are good for me.
Jeff
If my pH test kit always showed a pH of 5.2, you'd say my pH was low. But if my tank does well at that reading, it really doesn't matter if it's 3.0 less than it should say, as long as I know that dropping to 4.8 is bad for my tank.
For the record, I've never had an API test that I suspected was that far off, it's only an example. But when I have my LFS test they always give me a higher Nitrate reading than I get, they show about .25 ppm higher. I used to freak out at that, now I don't really care since I have the nitrates running at close to 0 on my test and the LFS shows about .25, both are good for me.
Jeff
jeff@zina.com
New member
I'm not sure the phosphate is useless as much as I may be useless, I just have trouble reading the danged thing.
As I posted, my nitrates are off from the LFS test, but not enough for me to have problems. It also just may be I'm not good at judging colors, but the Salifert test is the same method.
Jeff
