All You Need To Know About The Api pH Test Kit Color Chart

Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose

Have you ever seen an Api ph test kit color chart? If not, it is a very important thing to understand.  

PH is the measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is.  It can be used to measure many things from soil to water.  PH levels indicate the health of your system and are an extremely useful tool in diagnosing problems in your aquaponics system.

Both fish and plants require certain PH levels to survive.  Most of the time, if you notice a problem in your tank, you should check the PH level first.  If you work to keep a balanced PH in your system, a lot of other issues can be avoided.

In our opinion, it’s one of the most important things to pay attention to in aquaponics.  You can test the PH levels of your water by using an API PH test kit.  It is a very simple thing to use.

Typically, people test their water PH on a weekly basis.  This helps prevent any major issues from forming ahead of time.   Anyone can use an API PH test kit.

All you need to do is take a water sample from your tank and drop a special liquid solution into it.  The water will change color to indicate the PH level.  You then use the API PH test kit color chart to match it to the exact PH level number.

This article will teach you how to use an Api ph test kit color chart and explain the importance of balanced PH levels in your aquaponics system.  Keep reading now!

Api pH Test Kit Instructions

As mentioned earlier, using an API PH test kit is very easy.  API is simply a brand name of PH test kits.  There are hundreds of different types of kits available for purchase.

Do not worry too much about which brand you use.  They are all pretty accurate. Some tests are a simple piece of paper that you dip into the water.  The paper then changes color to indicate the PH level.

The API test kit uses a small plastic container to hold a water sample from your tank.  After the sample is collected you use another solution to drop into that water.  Use 3 drops of solution to put inside your sample.

Once the water changes color, you can compare it to the Api ph test kit color chart.

The color chart is on a piece of paper inside the kit box.  It is best to compare the watercolor to the chart in a well-lit area.  

Another important thing is to be sure that the plastic container which holds your water sample is completely clean and dry before each use.  This will ensure that no outside contaminants will affect the reading of your sample.  

Pay attention to which specific API Ph test kit you get.  Some are low range and others are high range.  A low-range test kit only reads PH levels within 6.0- 7.6.  This is because if you have a PH reading outside of this range, there is a serious problem and your fish will probably die soon.

The low-range test kits are meant to help the user assess minor PH fluctuations within a healthy environment.  

High-range test kits can be used to measure specific levels outside of that range.

Read more about: How Much Vinegar To Lower pH Of Water In Aquaponics-Should You Use It?

More About The Api pH Test Kit

Certain fish and plants require extreme PH levels.  However, this is not the norm.  Most plants and fish like a PH level around 7.0.  

This is why it may not be necessary to purchase a special high-range PH test kit.  If you are raising saltwater fish, goldfish, or African cichlids, you want to purchase a high-range kit.  

These kits will give you an accurate PH level reading that spans the whole spectrum.  The PH chart ranges from 1- 14 with 1 being the most acidic and 14 being alkaline.  

According to the API PH test kit instruction manual, “A pH of 7.0 is ideal when keeping a community aquarium containing a variety of tropical fish. Goldfish and livebearers prefer a pH of 7.5.”

Make sure to do thorough research about the PH requirements of a fish before raising them.  It is best to keep fish that have similar requirements together in one tank.  Many different things can affect the PH levels in your tank.

This is why you should take measurements on a weekly basis.  Plants in your system and extra uneaten food can quickly alter the PH.  

So, how do you read the API PH test kit color chart?  It is very easy.  The colors on the chart range from yellow to light blue.  

It should not be difficult to match the color of the water to a color on the chart.  Remember, if you are an aquaponics hobbyist you do not need a 100% accurate PH reading.  

You can use the API Ph test kit to give you a general gauge of what is going on in your tank.  Some of the colors on the chart can look similar.  If you aren’t sure about where your sample falls, you can run another test.

Other Water pH Tester Kits

Use the API ph test kit color chart to make your best guess!  As already discussed, there are a lot of different options for pH test kits.

Just make sure that you purchase a water PH test kit and not a soil one.  It should be clearly labeled on the box.  

Read more about: How To Lower pH In Aquaponics System?

We like to say that if you keep your PH balanced, everything else is likely to function well.  The pH level affects a fish’s ability to absorb and process key nutrients.  Also, if the PH of the water is off, it will affect the health of your plants because that is its main water source.

So overall it is very important to know how to read an API pH test kit color chart.  Hopefully, now you are confident with this skill and are ready to raise healthy fish!

Feel free to comment and ask questions below. 

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