How to properly read API test results?

[excitedforfish]

Ok, so I bought an API master saltwater test kit and I swear it is the hardest thing to read. It says to match the colors of the tube over the white bar, but the thing is, if you place the tube DIRECTLY ON the white bar, it creates a darkened shadow effect. Whereas if you place it about half an inch over the white area, it creates a lightened effect. Right now, I am getting a pH anywhere in between 7.8 - 8.2 and I just would like to know where it REALLY is. I also have the same problem for nitrites, nitrates and ammonia as well, ugh!

Do you guys have any tips? How do you read your API test results?

 

[Chris27]

Keep it away from the background a bit, removing the shadowing effect.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I hold the tube about 1/2 to 1 inch away from the white bar. that gives a pretty good indication as to what your readings are. As for the rest, the only one I usually have a problem reading is the nitrates, the 5 and 10 PPM are too close to tell a distinguish a difference.

 

[excitedforfish]

Ok thanks! Like half an inch should be fine, right? also, I swear those colors are so closely related I can never tell which one it is!!!

 

[Praben]

The ph I swear is never any of the colors on the chart! Somewhere between two of them. I usually go a Check with 3 different lighting conditions for all of them. Bathroom light, kitchen light and dining room light. They all make it look different, but then I take the average so to speak. I'm going to look into another companies kits when these run out.

 

[excitedforfish]

The ph I swear is never any of the colors on the chart! Somewhere between two of them. I usually go a Check with 3 different lighting conditions for all of them. Bathroom light, kitchen light and dining room light. They all make it look different, but then I take the average so to speak. I'm going to look into another companies kits when these run out.

LOL, I do the same too. I am glad I am not the only crazy one, I thought I was color blind!!

I heard seachem's kits are good...?

 

[Jstdv8]

you think that's bad, you should try a red sea test kit. Absolutley horrible

 

[rayn]

you think that's bad, you should try a red sea test kit. Absolutley horrible

Good to know, I was thinking about them. Looks like seachem, salifert, or elos for the next bunch of kits.

 

[Dustin1300]

Good to know, I was thinking about them. Looks like seachem, salifert, or elos for the next bunch of kits.

You'll find that these kits are much more accurate in the end. I test for calcium, magnesium, and alk with Salifert and they seem to be much more accurate. (Also they are much more accurate and take about 5Xs as much time to test for but worth it to ensure levels are spot on)

 

[beefcake78]

I cant read mine next to my tank (due to the tank lighting), it never looks right, I go into another room

 

[newtank]

I also ask the opinion of others that really don't even know what I'm doing...hey what color would you say this is????
I agree, wish they would give away spectrophotometers at my frag swaps!

 

[costellow]

whew, thought it was just me...

 

[mm949]

for pH, red is low, purple is good

 

[lisafoster]

Try elos they are easy and very accurate