API Freshwater Mini pH Test Kit

• Wide range, 6.0–9.0 – covers soft-water species through to hard, alkaline African cichlid tanks in one kit.
• Liquid reagent, not strips – a drop-count colour test that API rates as more precise than paper test strips.
• About 250 tests per kit – cents per test across a typical fishkeeping year.
• Result in about a minute – fill, dose, shake, compare against the printed card.
• Reusable glass test tube – rinse after each use rather than replacing it.

Fill the supplied test tube with an aquarium water sample to the marked line, add the indicator solution from the bottle as directed on the label, cap and invert gently to mix, then compare the resulting colour against the printed chart in good light. Rinse the test tube immediately after reading so reagent residue doesn't stain the glass over time.

Included:

• pH indicator reagent bottle
• Glass test tube
• Printed colour comparison chart
• Instruction booklet

Not included:

• Anything to correct a wrong reading – pair it with a pH adjuster kit if you expect to need to move pH, not just measure it

Per API's published guidance, these are typical targets rather than fixed rules – a stable pH your fish are already established in usually beats chasing a textbook number:

Suitable for:

• Freshwater community, cichlid, goldfish and livebearer tanks across the full 6.0–9.0 range
• Weekly monitoring and tracking pH drift between water changes

Not suitable for:

• Correcting a reading – this kit tests only. Use a pH adjuster to actually move the number
• Marine reef pH, which typically sits above this kit's 9.0 ceiling and needs a dedicated marine pH test

• Keep out of reach of children.
• Avoid eye and skin contact with the reagent; rinse well with water if contact occurs.
• Store the bottle capped tightly and out of direct sunlight.

• API Deluxe pH Test Kit with Liquid Adjusters – if you also want pH Up and pH Down on hand to act on what you read.
• API Freshwater Master Multi Test Kit 5 in 1 – adds ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to your regular testing.
• API GH and KH Test Kit – hardness drives pH stability, so it's worth tracking alongside it.
• API Stress Coat – conditions the fresh water you mix in when correcting a reading.

This is a consumable test kit, so no manufacturer warranty period applies. That does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law: if the product is faulty, unsafe or not as described, you are entitled to a remedy. Ships as standard freight.

What pH should my freshwater tank be?

It depends on what you keep. API's guidance suggests around 7.0 for a general community tank, around 7.5 for goldfish, 6.5–6.8 for angelfish and neon tetras, and 8.2 or above for African cichlids. A pH your fish are already stable at is usually safer than forcing a textbook number.

Does this kit cover African cichlid tanks?

Yes. Its 6.0–9.0 range comfortably covers the 8.2-plus readings typical of a hard-water African cichlid setup, which a narrower-range pH kit would not.

Can I use this kit for a marine or reef tank?

It will read up to 9.0, which covers typical reef pH, but API markets this as a freshwater kit and reef keepers are usually better served by a marine-specific pH test paired with alkalinity and calcium testing.

How often should I test?

Weekly is a reasonable routine for a stable, established tank. Test daily during a water change, a new setup, or if fish are showing signs of stress.

Why does my reading change through the day?

Aquarium pH naturally rises through daylight hours as plants and algae consume CO2, then falls overnight. Testing at the same time each day makes readings genuinely comparable.