API Master Test Kit

[Liquid_Pyro]

I bought a Master Test Kit the other day for dirt cheap, however it was missing instructions. It is the kit from the link below:

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp18120/si1317863/cl0/aquariumpharmaceuticalsfreshwatermastertestkit

I am assuming you just fill one of the little test tubes up to the line and add the specified number of drops posted on the bottle then compare the water color to the test sheet?

Do you have to wait a certain length of time with any of them or shake them to get the correct reading?

I only have 3 test tubes, does that matter?

These may have been silly questions, but I just want to do it right the first time, I have been using strips up until this point so I thought I would try the drops.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Each individual test will have instructions printed on the back of the color chart card. Most of them require some shaking of the test tube, and some require shaking the bottle before use (the Nitrate test is a good example: the chemicals tend to separate themselves so shaking is required).

Most of them require you wait 5 minutes to get an accurate result, except for pH which is really quick.

Three test tubes shouldn't matter too much...just give them a good rinsing between uses.

Also, when you fill the test tubes, to get the most accurate result you want the bottom curve of the meniscus (water curve) to touch the line.

[Liquid_Pyro]

Excllent thanks,

when you say wait 5 min, does it matter if I wait 10min?

[jpappy789]

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Downloads.html

[WeedCali]

Excllent thanks,

when you say wait 5 min, does it matter if I wait 10min?
I prefer to wait up to 15 minutes since they do change.

[Mgamer20o0]

Excllent thanks,

when you say wait 5 min, does it matter if I wait 10min?
for accurate results do exactly what they say on the card.

[jpappy789]

^Yep. Waiting longer tends to lead to a color change (usually darker) and inaccurate readings.

[kevinb120]

Ammonia and Nitrate seem to continue to get darker after 5 minutes, nitrite seems to go to its full color after 3 and stays exactly the same, even over night(I used to keep all 4 lined up back when monitoring the last days of the cycles-I love no-nitrite blue..). PH is almost instant results. But of course, just follow the directions. Nitrate has a bit of a routine to do it properly, the rest are simple.

[Liquid_Pyro]

Thanks Alot everyone, going to start testing my tanks today and see how the results compare to the strips I was using before

[jpappy789]

Ammonia and Nitrate seem to continue to get darker after 5 minutes, nitrite seems to go to its full color after 3 and stays exactly the same, even over night(I used to keep all 4 lined up back when monitoring the last days of the cycles-I love no-nitrite blue..). PH is almost instant results. But of course, just follow the directions. Nitrate has a bit of a routine to do it properly, the rest are simple.

I've noticed my nitrite move towards the purple end even after 10-15 minutes of leaving them out :huh:

[kevinb120]

I've noticed my nitrite move towards the purple end even after 10-15 minutes of leaving them out :huh:

When the cycle is finally complete it will stay bright blue for days(that baby blue that is even brighter then the test drops start with). I've forgotten to clean them after a test on more then a few occasions.