API master test kit vs nutrafin master kit...results different

um...okay. so, this threw me for a loop today.

I use the apI master kit at home. my levels haven't changed much since I bought the tank 4 weeks ago. today's levels are:

ammonia 0.25
nitrites 0
nitrates 5-10
ph 7.6

where they haven't changed much, I thought, hmm, I'll try to find a fish store that uses a different kit, for comparison sake.

they did a water test for me using nutrafin master kit. results were very different.

ammonia 0.6
nitrites 0.3
nitrates 5
ph 7

...i'm not really sure what to think?

she told me that based on those values that my tank is "absolutely unsafe" for fish, which is understandable, but it's quite a difference from what apI is telling me.

anyone have any experience with the nutrafin master kit?

 

I only have experience with API, but something is not right if nothing is really matching.

 

Same here, only API, but that's unsettling! I'm inclined to think the Nutrafin readings are correct because they make more sense for where your cycle is. Unless the nutrafin kit is a test strip, then I'd call it hogwash.

 

What nutrafin test kit is more accurate than API master test kit. There are lots of test kits much better than API's but not many are going to fork out 90 dollars for a test kit. Your parameters aren't far off and are regular for a fish in cycle tank at this point.

 

The Nutrafin kit is accurate, but what bugs me about it is that is has unnecessary components unless you have uber-sensitive stock or inverts. It looks like a chemistry set. If Nutrafin trimmed the fat, they'd bury API. But they won't.

 

Are there any fish in your tank?

 

no, it was a liquid one that used test tubes and little bottles of liquid just like the apI one did.

 

yes jomolager, there are three zebra danios. they've been there for two weeks. tank ran with flake food method for two weeks, then I added the danios, so 4 weeks total with very little change in parameters.

the apI kit where I live was over 40 bucks. I don't know if I should return it and ask for my money back...I mean, if their kit is showing something totally different...i'd think they'd want to back up their own product. it's a pet store chain. I bought the kit at one location, and I had it tested at a different location, but in the same city.

she made it sound like it was this big god awful horrendous difference between the two test kit readings. but if it isn't that big of a deal, I'll keep the api! the nutrafin kit is the same price.

 

adam55, the store was using the 100 dollar nutrafin master kit. but they sell the minI master kit on the shelf, which tests for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and ph, but not all the other tests that the big kit offered.

I suppose it's possible that the pet store employee misread it...I didn't see the vials myself...but...probably not. the colours on the chart were pretty straight forward.

 

Oh wow. I didn't even know they had that as an option, but I've been using API for years. Might have to switch.

 

yes, it's called the nutrafin minI master kit. the bigger kit was waaay more expensive. this one is pretty much the exact same thing as the api, but only has two test tubes.

 

yes jomolager, there are three zebra danios. they've been there for two weeks. tank ran with flake food method for two weeks, then I added the danios, so 4 weeks total with very little change in parameters.

the apI kit where I live was over 40 bucks. I don't know if I should return it and ask for my money back...I mean, if their kit is showing something totally different...i'd think they'd want to back up their own product. it's a pet store chain. I bought the kit at one location, and I had it tested at a different location, but in the same city.

she made it sound like it was this big god awful horrendous difference between the two test kit readings. but if it isn't that big of a deal, I'll keep the api! the nutrafin kit is the same price.

If the fish are acting OK, perhaps nutrafin test is not the accurate one. If it were 100% accurate your fish would be in a very bad shape by now.

As to accuracy of the API test Mamajin, my Meds guru was always critical of it. She was recommending a different test, but definitely not Nutrafin.

 

If the fish are acting OK, perhaps nutrafin test is not the accurate one. If it were 100% accurate your fish would be in a very bad shape by now.
.

Not with zebra danios. They are used to test polluted water. They can usually survive a cycle quite well. Tough little fish.

 

Jomolager - If you ever recall what kit MJ recommended, I'd love to know what it was if you don't mind.
neonblue1980 - I'll withdraw my hogwash comment (ugh..who says that anyway?) judging from what other people are saying here. As I said, the Nutrafin readings DO make more sense given the length of time your fish have been in the tank. I feel like I'm seeing more and more people struggling to get accurate readings with the API kit, which makes me really nervous, since I have a QT in a mini-cycle as we speak.

I think better safe than sorry and stay on top of water changes with Prime though, as mentioned, zebra danios are hardy fish, but I know it's no fun to know they're being exposed to toxic water.

 

Jomolager - If you ever recall what kit MJ recommended, I'd love to know what it was if you don't mind.

neonblue1980 - I'll withdraw my hogwash comment (ugh..who says that anyway?) judging from what other people are saying here. As I said, the Nutrafin readings DO make more sense given the length of time your fish have been in the tank. I feel like I'm seeing more and more people struggling to get accurate readings with the API kit, which makes me really nervous, since I have a QT in a mini-cycle as we speak.

I think better safe than sorry and stay on top of water changes with Prime though, as mentioned, zebra danios are hardy fish, but I know it's no fun to know they're being exposed to toxic water.

 

Nutrafin used to do several items for water test.
The " MinI Master test Kit " - a veritable chemistry set, or the " master Test Kit ", a more usable and cost effective set.
I used these in the UK for several years before changing to API Master Test due to supply problems at the time, and I never had any issues with the Nutrifin products.

 

Not with zebra danios. They are used to test polluted water. They can usually survive a cycle quite well. Tough little fish.

From what I understand zebra danios are often used for cycling because they are considered tough, but Mike, in his Zebra Danio description says they should not be used for cycling because it is very "traumatic and stressful to the fish."

Therefore, neonblue1980 will notice that they are traumatized or stressed, if, indeed API gave her false results and. Nutrafin is accurate.

 

Salifert

 

Salifert

The best. Hard to find but easy to order online.

 

That is what Mamajin insisted on.

Nutrafin in addition to a few de riguerur glowing posts has pretty bad reviews on Amazon.

 

That is what Mamajin insisted on.

Nutrafin in addition to a few de riguerur glowing posts has pretty bad reviews on Amazon.

Must be a different Amazon than I am looking at. There are a few bad posts, but a majority of the complaints on the big kit are loose caps to the test tubes and difficulty seeing differences between colors.

Salifert is great but it is considerably more expensive for the three tests, which need to be bought individually. Frankly, I don't see the need for that much accuracy in the tests. You need to know when there is Ammonia present and when it starts creeping into higher ranges but not to the tenth. Your nitrite test is not needed after the tank is cycled, unless you have to restart a cycle, but you only need to know if it present and if it is over 1ppm. Knowing that it is .80ppm vs 1ppm isn't that huge a deal. Nitrates have a huge range before it becomes a concern.
Once the tank is mature, testing is a maintenance procedure that is looking for a sign of a problem. Do you really need to spend all the money for a test that will 99% of the time read 0ppm ammonia for both kits?

That became a rant, lol sorry

 

I was just looking at the test kits that are collecting dust since they are so hard to read the results for some of the tests. Don't you wish they all started with a laminated card to see the results with? Next I need the ability to distinguish between the shades involved. For individual results some really do better than others i.e. Red Sea, Hanna Checker, etc. It is really a matter of ability to read the results with accuracy. So many different test kits do better than others, but that is for individual test kits. Master test kits always have an issue due to the visibility of the user ( not even to mention the other factors like user error ) on the results. Many discrepancies with test results are due to factors like water temp, last feeding time, last water change and percentage,etc. that many of us can't do systematically. So for a master test kit I prefer API due to accuracy and the cost. On an individual level of test ( which can be more expensive ) I use different companies. Many factors are involved in the test results so was both test using the same water that was withdrawn at the same time? I don't know, my point is to use the " same " sample of water to compare test results or it is a discussion of apples and oranges .....

 

Sarcasm Included. I agree with your position on liquid tests, and this is the main reason why I am still using API.

As to the Amazon ratings, it seems we are interpreting them differently.

There are 20 ratings.
3 x one star
4 x three stars, that are bad enough to keep me from buying Nutrafin
That to me means 7 or one third of the reviews are negative.

There are 6 x four stars, in which a star has been taken off, as you mention, because caps are not tightly closed on tubes (I would never buy a chemical with unreliable caps on tubes) or if the colors are not distinguishable from each other.

I presume, perhaps wrongly, that majority of the glowing reviews are written by the company employees or other associates, so when the four star entries contain complaints I could not live with I don't buy the product.

I apologize for my circumlocution.

 

hi! so, as for the test readings, the pet shop employee seriously made it sound like it was the end of the world because I had fish in the tank with such dire nutrafin test results. I totally know what you mean about does it matter HOW much ammonia is in the tank during the cycling process, in the grand scheme of things? what matters is that there needs to be zero, and you need to have the ability to detect future problems, regardless of which test kit is used. so, I think I'll just keep my api. I mean, there's always a chance she was hoping i'd give her the business by buying her 40 dollar nutrafin kit, right? she's pretty bent on trying to sell me everything else in the store, lol.

sadly, the one thing that they DON'T have but I desperately want is tetra safestart! I should tell her to get her butt in gear on that one.

also, these three danios are very, very, VERY active. granted, I don't really know any fish warning signs, aside from if it were hiding behind things, and not eating. okay, that's a bit sarcastic of me, haha, but you know what I mean. i'm a new fish mommy, so I haven't yet figured out what fish stress/illness looks like in the early stages...but I will say that these three little buggers look like they are living on easy street. they do not sit still. chase each other around, up and down, around all the toys, they come up and fiddle around with my fingers when i'm feeding them, not even the LEAST bit shy, swim laps in and out of my airstone bubbles, etc. their bodies appear to be well shaped...well...based on my google search for healthy danios. their stripes are nice, their fins are healthy, bright, strong. they spend a tremendous amount of time swimming up and down one side of the tank against the glass...like raging fools...my only assumption is that they don't like it here and are hoping to swim straight through the glass and escape. haha, kidding. they are the quirkiest little fish I've ever seen. feeding them is a riot...I drop a pellet in...one of them will grab it...then randomly spit it back out...but before he has time to grab it again..his friend will come swooping in like a madman and grab it right out from under him, haha. who the heck knew that watching three little fish could be so darn entertaining.

my point is, regardless of what the levels show, they do not appear to be even the least bit stressed...so I don't know if that's because the water is doing okay...or because they are hardy little fellas.

I keep thinking about how nice it will be to add more fish to the tank but then I think...oh god...what if one of the newcomers hurts these guys?! lol. clearly i'm forming a bit of an attachment to them.

poeticinjustices...in regards to staying on top of water changes with prime...how often would you recommend I do this while I wait for cycling to finish? i'm hoping the safestart gets here within the next two weeks.

 

Jomolager no apologies for you opinion, as you have every right to yours. I find that most times you can throw away most of the low scores and most of the high scores when looking at ratings. I like to read as many as I can, as many times you will find out that some of the 5's have had the product for 5 minutes, while some of the 1's are minor issues that someone is overreacting about. I think that the four is about right if you take out the overboard and non product related ratings(one received a returned product in bad shape) and the ones that thought the case was cool. Four happens to be the same rating as API master kit, which I think is appropriate for these types level of products. I expect that Salifert would get a much better rating, as it is a much better product with a cost reflective of it.

neonblue1980 As long as the ammonia stays below 1ppm with your API, Nitrites stay below 1ppm, and Nitrates below 20ppm, you don't need to do a water change. Once the tank is established, 10-25% weekly water changes should keep your Nitrates down. Once cycled your nitrates should be your guide, aI'm for 20ppm to be the time for water changes.

 

Sarcasm Included,

I am not apologizing for my opinions, I was apologizing for the use of too many words to express opinions, that could have been expressed more clearly and precisely by using fewer words. I blame ESPN!

In my personal experience, whenever I bought anything that had predominantly, by my count, bad reviews on Amazon, I regretted it.

 

Here's an old article from Advanced Aquarist attempting to test Test Kits.

 

thanks so much for the info. I had some people on another board tell me that I had to do a fifty percent water change EVERY DAY while fish in cycling, regardless of values, to keep them alive and I thought....wow...wasn't expecting that. haha. I mean, if they were appearing to suffer, yes, of course. but as long as things are looking relatively stable in there...my levels haven't really budged though for the whole cycle yet. so...technically then...I wouldn't have had to do a water change yet because I haven't hit anything above zero for ammonia or nitrites? ...or would I do a water change every now and then while cycling regardless of values just for overall health...? god, I get so lost in all of this. lol! i'm hoping the safestart makes things a lot more clear once it arrives. which...might still be a couple of weeks away, unfortunately.

 

It is likely that your tank will cycle on it's own by the time that you get the TSS. The bio-load in the tank is light enough that it may show only small amounts of ammonia and nitrites over the cycle. It is important though that you add no more than 3 more zebra danios sized fish when the cycle is complete, then wait through the mini-cycle.

Please fill out your profile, it allows me to look up information on the tank quickly without having to wait on you to answer them,or in this case have me look through your past posts to see the size and contents.

 

Here's an old article from Advanced Aquarist attempting to test Test Kits.

Rather discouraging. Why I am not surprised? If you have several sets of measuring spoons in your kitchen, and you decide to compare them, you will see that I/2 or 1/4 teaspoons in one set will not be the same as 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoons in another set. Tablespoons will not be the same either.

 

Rather discouraging. Why I am not surprised? If you have several sets of measuring spoons in your kitchen, and you decide to compare them, you will see that I/2 or 1/4 teaspoons in one set will not be the same as 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoons in another set. Tablespoons will not be the same either.

Correct. I guess the real purpose of the test is to find a safe medium. Accuracy is relative to the goal.

 

I am very sorry, I meant to say that the test results are very interesting and that the advanced aquarist shared interesting info. I thank you for posting.

What I am not surprised about is that we don't have a set criteria for all things fish, despite the fact that our hobby brings billions into global economy .

Among other things the Meds for fish are not regulated, most of has have not graduated from Med School, and we get to treat our pets with drugs manufacturers give us very little information about. Until I found FishLore I did not know that Bettafix was killing my Bettas. And so on.

 

I am very sorry, I meant to say that the test results are very interesting and that the advanced aquarist shared interesting info. I thank you for posting.

What I am not surprised about is that we don't have a set criteria for all things fish, despite the fact that our hobby brings billions into global economy .

Among other things the Meds for fish are not regulated, most of has have not graduated from Med School, and we get to treat our pets with drugs manufacturers give us very little information about. Until I found FishLore I did not know that Bettafix was killing my Bettas. And so on.

LOL. No need to apologize I was agreeing with you. What you mean to say is that there is no one setting the standards and no one is providing enough information. You may not realize this yet but we as aquarium hobbyists are at the very frontier of its science. I wouldn't be surprised if researchers are mining internet fish forums before going forward with any kind of study. Did you know that coral propagation or fragging was advanced by hobbyists? Now they're using the techniques to repopulate damaged reef systems in the sea.

 

Jomo - user error is more to blame than the results. If you followed the directions and did the LFS ... maybe. Did your LFS follow the directions .... we don't know. A true result needs everyone testing the same sample and following the results as to the directions of the test kit involved. Strange that some don't want to read the directions that state " shake the reagents " before the test. That will always give a different result as reported here on FL. We are trying to help but short cuts by any involved confuse the conversation a bit. So maybe test your water and show a sample to your LFS of the same water. Maybe ask if you can see them test it? If you can't see what they do just go by your first results ...... or your just punting.

 

Jomo - user error is more to blame than the results. If you followed the directions and did the LFS ... maybe. Did your LFS follow the directions .... we don't know. A true result needs everyone testing the same sample and following the results as to the directions of the test kit involved. Strange that some don't want to read the directions that state " shake the reagents " before the test. That will always give a different result as reported here on FL. We are trying to help but short cuts by any involved confuse the conversation a bit. So maybe test your water and show a sample to your LFS of the same water. Maybe ask if you can see them test it? If you can't see what they do just go by your first results ...... or your just punting.

Jomo?

 

Jomolager , sorry I was posting to you but it kept showing as an error result so I tried a shortcut. Next time I will go with the error. Thanks

 

I used the nutrafin minI master from the start of cycling, pretty simple to use once u get used to the directions, follow it carefully.

Just remember to hold the tube against the chart, make sure you're looking at the freshwater column, with a light source behind you.

I went ahead and let the lfs test my water once and the readings were way different than what I've been getting at home, they said I had perfect water but I wrote down the readings and I thought the numbers were way too off for my liking. I went home and re-tested and it was the same numbers I always have.

Don't drive yourself crazy with results from other test kits, stick to one you trust and use that to make your decisions. Good luck!

Sent from my cell phone.