monty703 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I would like to know how everyone else uses these kits. Do you shake up the bottles before you test or just use it straight out of the bottle? I have done it both ways and got 2 different readings, so now I am confused as to what is the right way to test. If I use the bottle without shaking I get a PH of 7.6 in one of my tanks, but if I shake the bottle and wait a few minutes then test again my PH reads 6.2 confusing or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Follow the instructions, u have to shake it. shrimprus and Crazyfishlady 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty703 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 OK but the test kit doesn't say shake well before use....it says put 3 drops into the test tube and invert the tube a few times to mix the solution! Not the bottle? My question is, do you shake up the bottle first, or just use it without shaking the contents before putting the drops into the test tube. No instructions on my API kit says shake bottle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Do u have the API master kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aennedry Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 GH and KH you don't have to shake anything. pH, high pH, and ammonia you don't shake the bottle, but you invert the test tube. Nitrite you don't shake the bottle but you shake the test tube and on Nitrate you invert the test tube, shake the crap out of bottle two, then shake the test tube. This is for the API liquid tests. Follow the instructions in the kit. That is what they are there for. =^._.^= JamesHe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty703 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 no just the individual boxes. My Hubby says its a given that you should shake all chemicals to mix them first before use, so I guess that's the right way. Just wondered why it never said shake bottle on the box. Dumb question I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Just each bottle for 2 minutes and you should be fine, also I don't know about the kh gh, but all but the ph and high ph you wait 5 minute till the reading I correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I think its a good question. I always shake mine a bit, but I only go crazy on the Nitrate one. aquariumlover10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 If yall want I can make thread with instructions for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty703 Posted January 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Yep that would be fine. I have the master kit, but the chemicals are old now, so don't trust them. I bought the PH kit and Ammonia individual ones from API (the only ones our LFS sells) I also got the same product but the strips...still get a different reading on PH with those too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I would buy a master, strips are almost never right, tonight i will right a thread with instructions on the master. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldsalt1949 Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 shake the bottle first mixes what settled on the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zodiac Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 the master kit is good if your cycling a tank or seeing if you got a spike,but it is worthless to know exactly where your at. you can get a digital ph meter and a solution to calibrate it for under 20 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquariumlover10 Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Sorry, i was busy last night, and uts my b-day today so tomorrow morning I will have the thing out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35ppt Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 the master kit is good if your cycling a tank or seeing if you got a spike,but it is worthless to know exactly where your at. you can get a digital ph meter and a solution to calibrate it for under 20 bucks. I have heard (on other forums) that these (low priced units) are not accurate. So if there is one that is, that would be beneficial. aquariumlover10 and mayphly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayphly Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Here is the thread on how to calibrate your API test kit for those of you who are interested. I never bothered with it. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83545 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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