Aquarium Notes

These water parameter tests are based on the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, and the API GH & KH Test Kit.

pH Test - range 6.0 to 7.6

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 3 drops of pH test solution
• Cap test tube and invert tube several times to mix solution

High pH Test - range 7.4 to 8.8

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 5 drops of High pH test solution
• Cap test tube and invert tube several times to mix solution

Ammonia Test - range 0 to 8 ppm (milligrams per liter, mg/L)

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 8 drops from Ammonia test solution #1
• Add 8 drops from Ammonia test solution #2
• Cap test tube and shake vigorously for 5 seconds
• Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop

Nitrite Test - range 0 to 5 ppm (milligrams per liter, mg/L)

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 5 drops from Nitrite test solution
• Cap test tube and shake vigorously for 5 seconds
• Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop

Nitrate Test - range 0 to 160 ppm (milligrams per liter, mg/L)

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 10 drops from Nitrate test solution #1
• Cap test tube and and invert tube several times to mix solution
• Shake the Nitrate test solution #2 for 30 seconds (important)
• Add 10 drops from Nitrate test solution #2
• Cap test tube and shake vigorously for 1 minute (important)
• Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop

Phosphate Test - range 0 to 10 ppm (milligrams per liter, mg/L)

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add 6 drops from Phosphate test solution #1
• Cap test tube and shake vigorously for 5 seconds
• Add 6 drops from Phosphate test solution #2
• Cap test tube and shake vigorously for 5 seconds
• Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop

GH Test

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add the GH test solution 1 drop at a time, counting each drop
• Cap the test tube and invert several times after each drop
• Test is complete when the water in the test tube turns from orange to green
• The GH value is determined by the number of drops of reagent to turn the color to green

KH Test

• Fill clean test tube with 5 ml of water to be tested
• Add the KH test solution 1 drop at a time, counting each drop
• Cap the test tube and invert several times after each drop
• Test is complete when the water in the test tube turns from blue to yellow
• The KH value is determined by the number of drops of reagent to turn the color to yellow

GH & KH Conversion Chart

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