API test kits

[watertech3995]

I hear these are garbage and I hear they're great. Also heard the master saltwater kit is the freshwater kit with a different label. Anyone know what's up with them?

 

[mmorrison55]

I think they are good in a pinch if you need to check your ammmonia when setting up a new tank, but I quickly switched to Hanna checkers that gave me a number reading vs having to decipher a color.

 

[watertech3995]

I think they are good in a pinch if you need to check your ammmonia when setting up a new tank, but I quickly switched to Hanna checkers that gave me a number reading vs having to decipher a color.

 

[watertech3995]

Those do seem nice. If I could afford them I still probably wouldn't buy them just on principle. I'm kind of over the scams in reefing. Not to say those are even a scam, but it's crazy how they have figured out how to get hobbyist to keep opening their wallets. There was a dude from a coral company on YouTube today with bottled diatoms for sale. Almost had me thinking I needed some.

 

[Red_Beard]

I have used them, the sw master kit does have some differences, but also some of the same down to the same part number as the fw kit. The ammonia test would never read lower than .25, ever, so as long as you go in knowing that, they are definitely functional, but not what i would recommend. Hanna is super nice, but cost prohibative especially up front when you are testing every day or 2. I would recommend salifert personally. They are reasonably priced and have always been plenty accurate for anything i was doing. If you decide down the road that there is a test or a few you would rather see a number for, because at that point you will have had experience enough to know what is important to you to get a 'precise' number for and what is close enough, then get them at that point.

 

[Fish Fan]

Nothing wrong with API to cycle a tank

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Its fine for basic parameters and getting through a cycle, but when it comes to dosing and changing parameters, I would not base any changes off of API.

 

[Freenow54]

I have the opinion that a lot of false readings are because of people not knowing how to read the plunger in the API syringe. Salifert is much more user friendly. The catch with them and its a male thing . If you don't read the instructions you try to eliminate the air when drawing your test. This is impossible because of the flat plunger. In the instructions it is clearly stated that it is already compensated for. Meanwhile it is not found withing API instructions . Therefore in the past I always got rid of the air exactly because of the plunger design allowing you to do so Could that be an explanation ?

 

[Evil1]

Salifert test kits are what I have always used. Very reliable cheap and readily available. You can buy them separately and not as a whole kit.

 

[Fish Fan]

I hear these are garbage and I hear they're great. Also heard the master saltwater kit is the freshwater kit with a different label. Anyone know what's up with them?

Here's my take, for what it's worth.

It would not surprise me if the API Saltwater Master kit is the same as their Freshwater Master kit.

I would not recommend purchasing the API Saltwater Master kit because it includes tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. In saltwater, nitrite is non-toxic, and there's no need to test for it, so you don't need this test kit. Likewise, pH is something that many reefers never measure or worry about. Many tanks run at a chronic low pH and do just fine. I don't suggest chasing 'perfect' pH unless you're growing corals professionally or competitively.

I would purchase am ammonia test kit and an nitrate test kit while you're cycling. If you've not yet purchased test kits, just get the Salifert brand. They are well trusted and no more expensive than the API kits.

Going forward, if/when you need to test things like phosphate, alk and calc, I'd suggest just going with Salifert from the start.

Good luck!