API GH and KH Test Kit

I wanted a titration based test for hardness (for better accuracy than the test strip kits) and this was one of the few I found. I checked a local pet store and they didn't have hardness tests at all. The instructions are very clear, explaining the types of hardness and how to conduct the test. I found it very easy to use, except that my water is so hard it was off the scale in the instructions! I think the scale goes up to 12 or 13 drops and I was around 22 before I got the color change. But you can fairly easily extrapolate the scale to higher values.

At first I was a little hesitant to purchase this product because of the reviews, but this is very simple to use. Don't really know whats so difficult about this. Yes the Multi-Language instructions can be a little overwhelming, but just like one of the other reviews said, tear off the language you read and discard the rest. Other then that all you have to do is:

*Fill test tube to the white line

*squeeze ONE drop (only one drop at a time)

*cap and invert several times(Invert several times AFTER EACH drop)

Do this until you get a change of color in the water

for KH-Blue must change to Yellow

for GH-Orange must change to Green

After color change you must refer to the conversion chart on the back of the English part of the instructions

_______________________________________________________

Example: for me I got a color change for both GH & KH after 5 drops

so for me both GH & KH are at 89.5 ppm (parts per million)

Based on the GH table below I have Soft water.

General Hardness Table

0 to 4 dH 0 to 70 ppm Very Soft

4 to 8 dH 70 to 140 ppm Soft

8 to 12 dH 140 to 210 ppm Medium Hard

12 to 18 dH 210 to 320 ppm Fairly Hard

18 to 30 dH 320 to 530 ppm Hard

Buy API GH and KH Test Kit Now

OK, firstly, there is no "laminated color card" regardless of what the product page says. This is one of those tests where you add drops one-by-one until there is a color change in the test tube. The number of drops indicates the water hardness. Really easy unless you aren't skilled at counting. For my tank water, I had to count all the way to 5.

So, my tap water is incredibly hard, but my crusty shower head already evidences that. My aquarium, however, is just fine. Cool.

I bought this test kit to supplement the test strips that I'd been using. Sometimes you simply lose faith and need a bit of affirmation. This test kit did affirm that the test strips are just fine.

Read Best Reviews of API GH and KH Test Kit Here

I concur with all other reviews up until the date of this one. One reviewer seemed to give it 3 stars because of the awkwardness of the really long paper instructions. I can agree with this and my resolution was to cut off all languages I don't need! This reduces it by about half. Nothing else to say...it works and is well worth the investment.

Want API GH and KH Test Kit Discount?

You have to be very careful from where you buy. The GH test kit does have expiration dates on them, especially the gh does go bad after a year or so,the carbonate hardness tends to last a little bit longer. When you buy do make sure to look at the expiration dates they are in front of the bottle the last 4 numbers indicating month and year example(0216). There are some other makers that use a solution that does last longer so it depends on what quality you want long term. Hope this helps..........