Collection: API Test Kits

Bundles or individual tests

The master kits group the commonly needed parameters into a single box across Freshwater, Saltwater and Reef versions. Individual kits exist because reagents deplete unevenly — a freshwater keeper burns through nitrate long before calcium, while a reef tank does the opposite. Starting with a master kit and topping up singles as they empty is how most testing routines settle.

Two testing formats

• Liquid kits combine reagents, a sample vial and a color reference card.
• Strips are dipped and compared to the label, requiring no measuring.
• Both a multi-parameter strip and an ammonia-specific strip are available.
• Check reagent dating — expired reagents are a frequent cause of strange results.

What to test and when

During cycling, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are the readings that matter, and all three are covered by the freshwater and saltwater master kits. Once things stabilize, testing follows whatever you dose or manage: nitrate and phosphate on reef systems, GH and KH in planted or hard-water setups. Observe the stated wait time for each test precisely — reading the color too early or too late causes more bad results than anything else.