{"product_id":"api-phosphate-test-kit-1-25oz-fresh-saltwater","title":"API Phosphate Test Kit 1.25oz Fresh\/Saltwater","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCut off algae's food supply before it becomes a problem.\u003c\/strong\u003e The API Phosphate Test Kit measures phosphate (PO4) in fresh and saltwater aquariums from 0 to 10.0 ppm, using two liquid reagents and a colour chart. Phosphate builds up from feeding, waste and some tap water supplies, and it's one of the two nutrients — alongside nitrate — that fuels nuisance algae once it accumulates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeasures phosphate 0–10.0 ppm\u003c\/strong\u003e — in either freshwater or saltwater, with separate colour charts for each.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo-reagent liquid test\u003c\/strong\u003e — Solution #1 and Solution #2 are added to a 5 mL sample in the supplied test tube; full colour develops in about 3 minutes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAbout 150 tests per kit\u003c\/strong\u003e — at the current price that works out to 43c per test.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFreshwater and saltwater charts included\u003c\/strong\u003e — so a reef tank and a community tank read against the right reference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFill the supplied test tube to the 5 mL line with a water sample, add the reagents from Solution #1 and Solution #2 following the drop counts in the included instructions, cap and mix, then wait about 3 minutes for full colour to develop before comparing the sample against the freshwater or saltwater chart as appropriate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBrand\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAPI (Mars Fishcare)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMeasures\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhosphate (PO4)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRange\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0 to 10.0 ppm (mg\/L)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eResolution\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot published by API — read against the supplied colour chart\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSample size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 mL\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTime to result\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 3 minutes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater and saltwater, separate charts supplied\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTests per kit\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 150 — see note below\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCost per test\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e43c, at the current kit price\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFreight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAPI's own product page does not state a tests-per-kit figure. The approximately 150 figure above is consistent across independent retailers who reproduce the count printed on API's packaging; treat it as a close approximation rather than a guaranteed count.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's included \/ what you'll still need\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCapped glass test tube\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhosphate Test Solution, Bottle #1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhosphate Test Solution, Bottle #2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFreshwater and saltwater colour comparison charts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstruction booklet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA reference or calibration standard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAny treatment for bringing a high reading back down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen the reading is out of range\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rising phosphate reading traces back to feeding, waste or the tap water going into the tank. Routine water changes remove dissolved phosphate directly, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-phos-zorb-treats-210l\"\u003eAPI Phos-Zorb\u003c\/a\u003e is rated by API to adsorb phosphate and silicate out of the water column between changes if the reading keeps climbing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTracking down the cause of persistent nuisance algae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReef tanks monitoring nutrient export before it limits coral growth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFresh and saltwater fish-only and planted systems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMeasuring nitrate, ammonia or any parameter other than phosphate — pair it with API's other test kits for a full picture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstant diagnosis of a single algae outbreak — one reading is a snapshot, not a trend\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSafety and handling\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep both reagent bottles out of reach of children.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolution #1 contains sulfuric acid and causes severe burns. Never add water to this bottle, and avoid skin and eye contact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn eye contact, flush with water for 15 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes, and seek medical attention.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOn skin contact, wash thoroughly with soap and water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf swallowed, contact a physician or Poison Control immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-phos-zorb-treats-210l\"\u003eAPI Phos-Zorb\u003c\/a\u003e — the corrective product for a phosphate or silicate reading that won't come down with water changes alone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-ammonia-test-kit-fresh-saltwater\"\u003eAPI Ammonia Test Kit Fresh\/Saltwater\u003c\/a\u003e — a tank running high on phosphate is often overdue for a full water-quality check, not just one parameter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/api-copper-test-kit-liquid-1-25oz-fresh-saltwater\"\u003eAPI Copper Test Kit\u003c\/a\u003e — worth running together on any tank with a history of medication use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShips as standard freight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes this kit work in both freshwater and saltwater?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. API supplies separate colour charts for freshwater and saltwater readings, using the same two reagents and procedure for both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many tests are in one kit?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately 150, based on independent retailer listings that reproduce the count from API's packaging. API's own website does not publish a figure, so treat this as an approximation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy does my phosphate keep climbing even with water changes?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeeding and waste generate phosphate continuously, so water changes only remove what's already dissolved at the time. If phosphate keeps returning between changes, a phosphate-adsorbing media run continuously will do more than changes alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eIs Solution #1 dangerous to handle?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt contains sulfuric acid and causes severe burns on contact. Handle it away from children, avoid skin and eye contact, and never add water to the bottle itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat's a safe phosphate level for a reef tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAPI does not publish a target range on this kit's own instructions. Coral keepers commonly aim to keep phosphate low and stable rather than at a single number — if you're chasing a specific target for SPS or LPS, that's worth confirming with your coral supplier rather than this kit's packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"API","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54774196437283,"sku":null,"price":65.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/APH229_1.png?v=1772082158","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/api-phosphate-test-kit-1-25oz-fresh-saltwater","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}