3ml Syringe Is Great For Api Test Kit

I came across a 3mL syringe in my house so I started using it to reduce the amount of drops I need for completing water tests. A nice secondary benefit has been that it is much easier to fill the test tubes. Without the syringe, I just dipped the test tubes in the tank and poured out any extra water or dipped it in again if I had too little. Not hard, but it always took a few adjustments to get 5mL. With the syringe, I easily suck up exactly the right amount.

I use 2.5mL for ammonia and nitrate and cut the number of drops used in half.

I use 3mL for nitrite and use 3 drops instead of 5.

Do yourself a favor and get a 3mL syringe

Best deal I found in a few seconds is a 5 pack for $5 on Amazon. Maybe your local pharmacy will give you one for free.

Sponix BioRx Oral Syringe - 3 mL - Best for dispensing liquids and oils - Individually Wrapped - 5 pcs

 

Good tip, they also come in handy for measuring out the dechlorinator when doing water changes.
If you have a friendly local pharmacist, ask nicely & explain what it’s for they’ll often give you a syringe for free.

 

They are super useful. I use them for all measurements from apI testing to de-chlorination, to flourish. I bought a batch off amazon with blunt tips.

 

I use them too, however I do not change the amount of drops and water amount suggested per directions. I figure there’s a reason to use what they say because of the chemistry involved. But I guess that’s another subject that circulates once a month or so on here. Lol...but yes, syringes are helpful for that, ferts, meds etc.

 

I agree. needleless syringes are great for lots of uses when it comes to taking care of our tanks.

Like you I use 2 1/2 mls of water for testing my ammonia and nitrates since it takes so much more of the solution to do the tests. I use the full 5 mls for nitrite and PH though since it takes so little solution to run those tests. Once a tank has had a nitrite spike it normally never comes back so doing the nitrite test is no longer necessary unless we think something might be wrong. I feel sure my nitrite and PH testing solution will be well past their sell by date long before I use even a 3rd of them.

I actually wish I had thought about cutting the amount of solution in half as soon as I got my kit. I've already had to buy another nitrate testing kit and will soon have to buy another one for ammonia. Now that I cut the amount used with each test I can do twice the number of tests.

I did check to make sure I would get the same reading by using less each time by running the tests on 5 mls and also 2.5 mls and I got the exact same readings.

 

I agree. needleless syringes are great for lots of uses when it comes to taking care of our tanks.

Like you I use 2 1/2 mls of water for testing my ammonia and nitrates since it takes so much more of the solution to do the tests. I use the full 5 mls for nitrite and PH though since it takes so little solution to run those tests. Once a tank has had a nitrite spike it normally never comes back so doing the nitrite test is no longer necessary unless we think something might be wrong. I feel sure my nitrite and PH testing solution will be well past their sell by date long before I use even a 3rd of them.

I actually wish I had thought about cutting the amount of solution in half as soon as I got my kit. I've already had to buy another nitrate testing kit and will soon have to buy another one for ammonia. Now that I cut the amount used with each test I can do twice the number of tests.

I did check to make sure I would get the same reading by using less each time by running the tests on 5 mls and also 2.5 mls and I got the exact same readings.

Ah I guess doing the tests twice with each of the amounts makes sense to see if it changes.I've never been truly convinced that it could be accurate by changing it, this somewhat opens my mind to it. Thanks. Now the question is WHY don’t they direct to use less in the first place? Hmm

 

Ah I guess doing the tests twice with each of the amounts makes sense to see if it changes.I've never been truly convinced that it could be accurate by changing it, this somewhat opens my mind to it. Thanks. Now the question is WHY don’t they direct to use less in the first place? Hmm

The more you use the more often you have to buy more

 

The more you use the more often you have to buy more

So they want our money!!!! Haha. I only test when I suspect something is off anyway, which thankfully isn’t often. Good to know though.

 

For the tests, remember that we're talking about concentrations or ratios (i.e. how many parts of ammonia per million parts of solution). That's why they specify a specific number of drops for a specific amount of water.