API Freshwater master test kit

[Mota]

Hi, I was going through some of my old stuff and found a freshwater master test kit. I checked out the expiration dates and they are still good. So I was wondering if I could use the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests for my reef. My reef is in the middle of it's cycle, and I would rather use these tests instead of going and buying a saltwater test kit. I don't see why these tests wouldn't work for saltwater, but I wanted to ask all of you for your opinions and any experience with this. Thanks.

[Lifer]

That's a good question. I'm gonna tag along to this thread. I have a freshwater test kit sitting around too that could be out into use!

[Mota]

Anyone have any ideas about these tests?

[harlekin]

The individually packaged API Ammonia and Nitrate kits say Fresh/Salt. I think it's safe to assume that they are the same as the tests in the freshwater master kit. One caveat, however, is that I think they may have a different color scale for fresh and salt. I'll have to check when I get home from work and open the new kits I bought last night.

[drfu]

I owned both the freshwater & saltwater master kits before switching to Salifert & Hanna, they will be fine @ then beginning to see when ur ammonia spike starts and your nitrite spike starts. When they are both undetectable you should have nothing but nitrates to check, this is where it sucks! First the amonia color chart is different so google api under images and you will find a saltwater one. The nitrite is the same for both. You will also have to find the nitrate one as well.

 

As you know you should not be running any nitrates before stocking your tank, you should be at least down to 5ppm after your first large water change and should not climb again a week after by too much. Once your solid on having no detectable ammonia, nitrites & almost no nitrates you can add your cuc.

 

One thing about API that you already know from fw, they are very hard to tell on their nitrate chart any levels between 5-20 as the colors are so close together so i recommend for the last stage get a Salifert nitrate test kit. Again for the beginning use up your API, it will be good enough to let you know when you are on the last stage of your new cycle.

 

Now after that, if you plan on starting a reef tank, you can do the master reef kit if ur budget is blown, it measures Alk, Ca, Phosphate, all which you need to weekly monitor as well as you will need to buy a separate Mg kit. API does not make one so go Salifert imo. One other test you might want to look at before stocking is Ph, yours is low range & you need a API high range if you have water issues in your area, use the API as its cheap and gives you a baseline on your system & ph can change so much depending on the time of day, etc you dont need to focus on it.

 

Now if you have the budget go Hanna checkers for Alk, phos, Ca & Salifert for nitrates as these are the only real ones that need to be monitored weekly with corals. Remember, never dose with anything unless you can test for it first, nothing! Also if you plan on dosing with any supplement of any kind don't use API, its not accurate enough and you will do more harm than good!

 

Have fun, enjoy the process and be patient, use the time waiting by research on forums, google, etc