API Test Kit

I've used the API Master Test Kit for the last couple of years and would swear by it. I purchased two on eBay about 18 months ago. I opened the second of the two just before Christmas. My tap water pH has been unusually low recently. 7.2 as opposed to it's regular 7.8. Probably due to the heavy rainfall over the past couple of months.

I keep Africans so it's pretty important that it's at least 7.6. I picked up a bottle of buffer solution to bring the tap water up to 7.6. Last week, I added it to the water before a water change and then tested with the API kit. I didn't seem to be having any effect on the pH. I added about three times the recommened amount with seemingly no effect. I went ahead and did the water change.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a pH meter on eBay for €20. Not a bad price - it arrived on Thursday. I calibrated it per the instructions and tested my tanks. The African tanks were 7.8 for my main tank and two quarantine tanks and 8.3 for my fry tank!! I tested with the API kit and was getting low 7's for all four tanks!!!

I was up North today and picked up a fresh API Master test kit. When I got home I tested the water on all four tanks and the new kit corresponded with the digital meter!

Looks like my previous API kit has passed it's expiry date, even though they don't have an expiry date.

I was most concerned with my fry tank. Looks as though I jumped the pH by at least 1.0 via a water change. Amazingly, I didn't loose any fish, nor did I notice them being out of sorts.

Lesson learned for me; best to purchase a new test kit every 6 months to ensure its accuracy. I've heard people saying that they become less accurate over time but it's odd that API don't state this.

I always understood that they did expire, but you're right I have not noticed an expiry date on them.

I discovered a tank with a pH of 5.0 today that I expected to be about 6.5, I don't understand how it dropped there is no bogwood or peat etc. It pays to check your water regularly even if everything \"seems\" fine.

I'll send a mail to API and see if they can shed any light on the accuracy of the pH test. It only seems to be the high range pH test that was inaccurate. All the others seemed fine. However, I dumped the whole kit as I no longer trust it.

I'm pretty pleased that my pH meter is accurate. Not a bad purchase for €20.

Ken

Do you calibrate your pH meter often? I don't know how often it is needed, but I have found that mine goes off a little after a period of six months or more. I think it also depends on how hard you water is. It is worth checking every so often anyway.

I had this problem with API kits before (which I love and think are about the best kits around). They do have a date on them.

If you look on each bottle you will see a LOG number printed. The last four digits on this are the month and year that bottle was made.
eg. LOG: 3400406 would be made in April 2006.

The test kit will completely expire in 5 years (i.e. be useless) but I would replace them every year to be safe.

Hi Daragh,

The instructions with mine recommend that it be calibrated at least once a month. However, it can be used for all liquids. I reckon I shouldn't have to calibrate too often if only using it for water.

I'll aim for every 3 months. Maybe six months is pushing it.