Anybody here have the API freshwater master test kit?

Question

Pleasce could you tell me the colours or if possible photograph the comparison cards for kh and gh tests, I have lost them and really need to know the gh of my water.

I have the test solution, i just need to know what the colour means!

Im going to try that now zoe, long time since i needed to test for kh but now you mention it i do vaguely remember there bieng no card when i bought the kit, maybe i haven't lost it after all.

i think thats for the gh, i found a picture of the kit on a website and there is 5 cards on the picture, i have 6 test solutions and 4 cards.

the main one i need is kh sorry forgot to say.

yes but it didn't change colour, just a browny orange, which is the colour of the test solution.

Answer 1

I might be wrong but I believe that for GH and KH, you don't need the colour cards, which is why you wouldn't have them. You are supposed to count the drops it takes to turn the solution from green to red (or whatever, I can't recall the exact colours) and then that is your hardness level.
My testing kit is API. To test GH or KH, I fill the vial to 5mL, and put one drop at a time of whichever solution. If it takes 3 drops to turn it from green to red, then the hardness is 3.


Edit - I think that's the case. I haven't found confirmation online but I did find some descriptions of the API GH/KH testing kits. They all say "Contains vials, solutions and instructions" whereas all the others (ammonia, pH, etc) say "Contains vials, solutions, colour chart and instructions"

Try adding drops to the vial of water and see if the colour changes. It'll be a real colour change like from red to green.


Edit: could one of the 5 cards be for saltwater pH? The colours are different. Did you try adding drops to the water for kH? Mine is definitely by counting drops.


Edit: You're right, I think, the API kH test seems to come with a colour chart. Mine didn't, but you could try a forum like fishforums.com - you may find more people there who use it. Or you could just put a kH test, not the whole master kit. I'll probably only cost like 5$ and it'll come with the colour chart.

Answer 2

I know you can buy some of the tests separately. I think they cost around $3-4 in the US, but I'm not sure what they would run you in Scotland.