API Quick Testing Strips 5 in 1 - 4 pack
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Number of tests
4 tests
API Quick Testing Strips 5 in 1 - 4 pack
Five readings, one dip, four strips to try it. API 5-in-1 Test Strips read pH, KH, GH, nitrite and nitrate from a single dip in under a minute. This 4-strip pack is the trial size – enough for a first look at a new tank, or to try the format before buying the 25-count tube.
Key features
- Five parameters in one dip – pH, carbonate hardness (KH), general hardness (GH), nitrite and nitrate.
- Results in under a minute – GH and KH read immediately, pH, nitrite and nitrate after 30 seconds.
- No drops or vials – dip, swirl, read against the chart on the tube.
- Fresh and saltwater – pH, nitrite and nitrate are calibrated for both; GH and KH are freshwater figures (see below).
- 4 strips per pack, about $5.16 per test – the 25-count tube works out considerably cheaper per test for anyone testing regularly.
How to use it
- Dip the strip into the aquarium and swirl twice.
- Remove horizontally, pads facing up, without shaking off the water.
- Read GH and KH immediately.
- Wait 30 seconds, then read pH, nitrite and nitrate.
- Compare each pad to the colour chart on the tube, in good light.
Specifications
| Brand | API (Mars Fishcare) |
|---|---|
| Measures | pH, KH, GH, nitrite, nitrate |
| pH range | 6.0 – 9.0 (fresh and saltwater) |
| KH range | 0 – 240 ppm (freshwater) |
| GH range | 0 – 180 ppm (freshwater) |
| Nitrite range | 0 – 10 ppm |
| Nitrate range | 0 – 200 ppm |
| Time to result | Immediate (GH, KH); 30 seconds (pH, nitrite, nitrate) |
| Tests per pack | 4 |
| Freight | Standard |
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for: a quick first check on a new or unfamiliar tank, or trying the 5-in-1 format before committing to a bigger pack.
Not suitable for: a routine weekly testing schedule – four strips run out fast. See API 5-in-1 Test Strips, 25 pack for ongoing use, or API Freshwater Master Multi Test Kit for lab-grade liquid results on the same five parameters.
Warranty and delivery
This is a consumable test kit, so no manufacturer warranty period applies. That does not affect your rights under Australian Consumer Law: if the product is faulty, unsafe or not as described, you are entitled to a remedy. Ships as standard freight.
Common questions
Is this the same test as the 25-pack?
Yes – identical strips and parameters, just four to a pack instead of 25.
Do the GH and KH readings work in saltwater?
No. API calibrates the GH and KH pads on this strip for freshwater. In saltwater, rely on pH, nitrite and nitrate from this strip and use a dedicated salinity and alkalinity test for hardness.
Is nitrite zero always the target?
Yes – in an established, cycled aquarium nitrite should read zero. Any reading above that points to an incomplete nitrogen cycle or overstocking.
