Nutrafin V Api Master Test Kit

[charlton]

looking to buy a test kit for my new tropical tank, i see alot of people on here use the api master but my lfs doesn't stock this, only the nutafin ! Whats the difference ? And why does the nutrafin seem to be alot more expensive ? Is it worth waiting and buying the api kit online ?

cheers

charlton

 

[rdd1952]

As long as it is liquid, it should be fine I just prefer the API kit. Not really certain why the Nutrifin is higher. Dependiing on where you live, you should be able to order an API kit online and have it in a few days.

 

[andywg]

I have all API test kits, and I find them awful. I am in the process of gradually replacing them all with Tropic Marin or Salifert.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

api and nutrafin liquid test kits are good!

you can get the master liquid test kits on ebay for about

api=£15
nutrafin=£13

 

[LolaLouie]

BUY API!!!

I bought a nutrafin kit and it just stopped working after 8 weeks of daily tests and the bottles are still half full. I've been going mad doing water changes only to find all my levels are in fact fine.

I have just replaced it with an API which has confirmed all my parameters are fine!

 

[Squid]

I have all API test kits, and I find them awful. I am in the process of gradually replacing them all with Tropic Marin or Salifert.

Andy,

I have never had much of a problem with the API tests, but I don't have any experience with other test kits and have never dipped my toe into the salty side of things. What issues have you had with them? The only thing i find is that the colours of the results can be open to interpretation a little in different lights, but I have no idea if this is any different to other kits.

Cheers
Squid

 

[andywg]

Andy,

I have never had much of a problem with the API tests, but I don't have any experience with other test kits and have never dipped my toe into the salty side of things. What issues have you had with them? The only thing i find is that the colours of the results can be open to interpretation a little in different lights, but I have no idea if this is any different to other kits.

Cheers
Squid

Problems I had:

The colour chart is awful
Reading 160ppm on RO+ salt
Reading 160ppm and 0ppm on two samples taken from the same tank and tested at the same time
Always reading 160ppm on tap water and tank water
Nitrite and ammonia readings on RO + Salt

The above happened across two test kits (one I bought on its own, the second I got with the SW master kit). Tropic Marin tests are far better.

 

[Squid]

Andy,

I have never had much of a problem with the API tests, but I don't have any experience with other test kits and have never dipped my toe into the salty side of things. What issues have you had with them? The only thing i find is that the colours of the results can be open to interpretation a little in different lights, but I have no idea if this is any different to other kits.

Cheers
Squid

Problems I had:

The colour chart is awful
Reading 160ppm on RO+ salt
Reading 160ppm and 0ppm on two samples taken from the same tank and tested at the same time
Always reading 160ppm on tap water and tank water
Nitrite and ammonia readings on RO + Salt

The above happened across two test kits (one I bought on its own, the second I got with the SW master kit). Tropic Marin tests are far better.

Thanks.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i've always found the API one's to be good (enough) for freshwater but a bit lacking on the salty side, if you get the FW API Master test kit it really does contain all your basics, the SW API Master Test Kit is a fairly random selection, not what I would have chosen for the essentials anyway. We use Salifert for SW, they are fairly complicated to use but it makes me feel a bit more confident at least, I think getting accurate results for SW without a lab is a bit too complicated for 'just add 8 drops of solution to the water and check the colour' type tests.