API test kits

xACE-13x · Mar 26, 2013

Hi. This is my first post on this forum although i have been lurking around for a while

- i was reading a post on here a few days ago about someones nitrates not going below 20 with the API test kit and someones response was that it says in the directions you are supposed to divide the results by 4.4. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Is this correct?

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Davesgt · Mar 26, 2013

Its not in their directions so id say false. I've used the api test kits and their fairly accurate when used correctly. I checked them with my hannah test and all were spot on.

Reefing Madness · Mar 26, 2013

Its in some older directions, but haven't seen it in the new ones. But for the most part, yes, API tests alittle high for the most part.

Gregory · Mar 28, 2013

My test kit is less than a year old and I was the person in the other thread that was asking this question. When I was told that I needed to divide the number by 4.4 I went back and read all of the instructions and this is what I found in the testing tips. It does not say that you should divide by 4.4. But it does say that all other test kits will test 4.4 times lower than this test kit. So I believe the information is correct. If you want the API test kit to have a comparison result as all other test kits then you have to divide by 4.4. I also tested this theory, I took two other powder nitrate test kits and the liquid API test kit and tested the same water with all three kits. Both of the powder test kits showed 4-5 PPM and the liquid API test kit showed 20 PPM. So if you divide the API result by 4.4 it has the same result as the other two Nitrate test kits.

xACE-13x · Mar 28, 2013

Awesome. Ive been wondering about that because i cant seem to get nitrates down below 20 with the API kit. Thanks!

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WillKatt · Mar 28, 2013

Ok so if I understand that correctly API is stating that their phosphate test kit is basically 4.4 times more accurate than "other" test kits and that other test kits are not giving you the true or "total" nitrate levels? This seems odd to me. While im no chemist and I certainly have no issues with API test kits, Ive used them many times. I find it hard to believe that one of the cheapest test kits on the market is more accurate than the "others". Maybe the test strips which I would never use.

Am I misunderstanding their statement?