--- product_id: 48094123 title: "API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit" price: "£40.71" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48094123-api-800-test-freshwater-aquarium-water-master-test-kit store_origin: GB region: United Kingdom --- # Long-lasting reagent stability 5 vital water parameters monitored 7 reagent bottles for precise testing API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit **Price:** £40.71 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🐟 Master your aquarium’s health with precision and confidence! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - **How much does it cost?** £40.71 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48094123-api-800-test-freshwater-aquarium-water-master-test-kit) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Precision Liquid Testing:** Ditch unreliable strips—get lab-grade accuracy with 7 sealed reagent bottles for consistent, long-term water quality insights. - • **Durable & User-Friendly Kit:** Includes 4 sturdy glass test tubes and a clear color chart—engineered for easy, repeatable weekly testing without guesswork. - • **Trusted by Experts & Enthusiasts:** Top-ranked with 30,000+ 5-star reviews—join the community of serious fishkeepers who refuse to compromise on water quality. - • **Comprehensive 5-Parameter Monitoring:** Track pH, High Range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate levels to safeguard your aquatic ecosystem like a pro. - • **Proactive Aquarium Health Management:** Catch invisible water issues early to prevent fish loss and maintain a thriving freshwater environment. ## Overview The API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit is a professional-grade liquid testing system designed exclusively for freshwater tanks. It accurately measures five critical water parameters—pH, High Range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate—using seven sealed reagent bottles and four durable glass test tubes. This kit offers superior reliability over test strips, providing clear, repeatable results that help prevent fish loss and maintain optimal aquatic health. Ideal for weekly monitoring and troubleshooting, it’s the go-to choice for serious aquarium enthusiasts and professionals alike. ## Description From the manufacturer Why be proactive with water treatments? A natural pond has a constant supply of fresh water flowing into it, such as from a stream or spring. Water also flows out of a natural pond, taking fish waste and other toxins with it. This isn’t true for most garden ponds as they are closed systems. Garden ponds also tend to be much smaller than natural ponds, so they do not offer the amount of water per fish that you find in nature. For these reasons, water treatments are necessary to keep water conditions safe for both fish and plant life and for clearer water. Following specific steps each season allows you to create a backyard retreat you’ll enjoy all year long! For more information about what’s needed each season, check out more below. Spring Start Up - Get Your Pond Ready! Its pond startup time! Whether filling a new pond or re-establishing an existing pond, following some simple steps at startup will yield benefits you’ll enjoy all season long. The 3 key steps that must be taken are making your tap water safe, activating the natural pond cycle, and maintaining sparkling clean water to boost fish and plant health. Once the water temperature reaches above 10⁰C, you’ll also want to start feeding your fish again. It is important to take care of all of your plants in the spring with API AQUATIC PLANT MEDIA and API AQUATIC PLANT FOOD TABLETS as they will be the key to success in most ponds! Lastly, monitor the water conditions in your pond with the API POND MASTER TEST KIT, an easy and accurate way to test 4 key water parameters including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and phosphat Summer - Provide Regular Care And Enjoy Your Pond Summer is the time to sit back and enjoy all of your hard work! You’ll need to continue regular care for your pond that includes adding beneficial bacteria like API POND-ZYME and API POND ECOFIX. While everything looks great, you’ll want to closely monitor the water conditions so that you can protect the health of your pond including plants and fish. Algae grows in the presence of sunlight where there is excess nutrients in the pond water for the algae to feed on. API POND ALGAE CURE has been used for over 18 years to effectively control green water algae, string algae, and blanketweed without harming fish or plants. At this time it could be beneficial to do a partial water change, adding API POND STRESS COAT and API POND SALT and fertilizing your pond plants Autumn - Prepare For Winter Performing a few simple steps in the autumn will prepare your fish and plants for the long, cold winter ahead and lay the foundation for a healthy start in the spring. We recommend removing excess organic matter to reduce fish stress during the winter months. Use a net to remove as many leaves as possible. Routine addition of API POND ECOFIX or API POND-ZYME throughout the season promotes healthy water quality and reduces the amount of organic matter you need to remove at the end of the season. It is also important to perform a 25% water change, adding API POND STRESS COAT and API POND SALT to make the tap water safe and to replenish important electrolytes which aid fish during the stressful winter months. Winter – Keep Pond Water Circulating In cooler climates, when the water temperature drops, fish will naturally eat less than at warmer temperatures. Once the water temperature drops below 5⁰C, fish will stop eating and if they have been fed properly through the summer and autumn, they will have ample reserves to survive the rigours of winter. It is also important to ensure your pond has circulation to keep an open area on the ponds surface throughout the winter months to prevent the buildup of toxic gases which can accumulate from the decomposition of organic matter. Making A Better Underwater World At API, we understand the rewards and relaxation of fishkeeping because we have a passion for fish too. For over 50 years API has developed premium solutions with proven and effective results for your family and ours. API offers a range of testing kits, water conditioners, and nutritionally superior food, because we’re dedicated to making a better underwater world. Review: Very accurate so totally reliable. - I moved away from test strips and bought the API 800 Test Freshwater Master Kit. One of the best decisions I have made for my aquarium. Test strips may look convenient but once the container is opened and the strips are exposed to air the clock is ticking. Moisture and oxygen start degrading the reagents immediately. After about 30 days the accuracy drops off badly. At that point the readings are questionable and you may as well consider them unreliable. For something as important as water quality, that simply is not good enough. The API Freshwater Master Kit solves that problem completely. The reagents are stored in sealed bottles so they remain stable and accurate for a long time. Using it is straightforward. Fill the test tube with tank water to the line, add the correct number of drops from the bottle, cap the tube and shake. For nitrate there is a second bottle and a longer shake but it is still very simple. Wait the specified time, then compare the colour against the chart. That is it. What you get in return is far more reliable information. The colour changes are clearer and the scale is more precise than strips. You can properly track ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH rather than relying on vague strip colours that can be difficult to read. Each kit also lasts a very long time because you get a large number of tests from the bottles. It ends up being far better value than constantly replacing strips that degrade quickly. If you want accurate, repeatable readings and a clear picture of what is happening in your tank water, this kit is excellent. Simple to use, dependable and well worth the money. Highly recommended for any serious fish keeper. 🐟 Review: Axolotl Tank Tester - I keep axolotls, and as any axolotl keeper knows, they are very sensitive to water conditions (although many fishkeepers will know the same about some species of their fish). The point of the API Freshwater Master Liquid Test kit is to enable you to test each parameter safely and quickly to troubleshoot any problems in the aquarium. As a keeper it is also a very good idea to test weekly as part of tank upkeep, after a water change, to ensure an ongoing healthy aquarium. What does it do? Each liquid test kit tests for essential parameters such as ammonia, which is a killer, nitrite, which is less deadly but still lethal, and nitrate, which can cause problems if too high. It also enables you to test for elevated PHs. The kit is vital for testing for 'spikes' in these chemicals. It also enables you to assess the bacteria culture in your tank - if ammonia is converting to nitrate (i.e low or no ammonia, low or no nitrite and under 40ppm nitrate) you have a cycled, healthy tank. What do you get for the money? A computer calibrated test sheet, with colours that show the result of each test - place the completed test sample in its test tube over each colour. Whichever colour is hardest to see through the liquid is the closest match. It also contains a card which tells you which API products to use if you ever encounter problems (although personally I would enquire on hobby boards as they offer good advice). It also contains a booklet detailing how to do each test, with tables at the back to record your own results for a few weeks or so. It comes with four test tubes, which don't shatter when they break despite being made of glass - having four enables you to do ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH tests all in one lot). It also comes with reagents to test for AMMONIA, NITRITE, NITRATE, PH AND HIGH RANGE PH. You may need to use more of the nitrate and ammonia tests, as these use two different bottles each to complete each test, and quite a few more drops from each bottle than the other tests. You can buy these separately, but at £18 for a full set, and £6 separately, you may as well buy the full kit. Are the tests difficult? Not at all! PH and High Range Kits require only five drops of liquid with 5ml of tank water (clearly marked with a line so easy to fill) and to be left for barely a few seconds. The most complicated test is Nitrate, as it requires two bottles and over a minute and a half of shaking, but clear instructions are included, step-by-step, in English, French and Spanish. They are not difficult at all and over time can be done from memory. How long do they take? For the PH Tests, a few seconds. Each of the others requires five minutes to develop. The Nitrate takes as long as 6 and a half minutes because of the shaking process. Any tips? When testing, always leave bottles on a flat surface to avoid them rolling off. Also, with the Nitrate test, add Bottle No 1 to the test sample, shake to mix, then place on a flat surface. Remove the plastic lid and wipe it out before replacing - I find this prevents a lot of leaking when you do Bottle No 2's test. Do you recommend them? Definetely! I knew very little about tanks but the kit enables me to keep on top of their upkeep easily and is invaluable for ensuring my axolotls aren't sick because of parameters. They are easy to use and last ages - my last kit was bought in April (6 months ago) and I am only ordering a new one because I broke two test tubes and am running out of the Nitrate tests. They are much more reliable than the strip tests - the API kit is also the most recommended kit on Caudata.org, one of the best amphibian sites on the net, and also one of the cheapest. The only downsides are that the nitrate runs out quicker than the others, and that I have managed to break two test tubes by moderate falls, but buying a new kit remedies that, and as I said before, the glass does not shatter - the bottom simply falls off it it meets a hard impact. The colour charts can be difficult to read, particularly Nitrate, which has around three shades of orange or red that can be hard to distinguish - ask for a second opinion and always do them in good light to remedy this (if desperate ask on a forum, posting pictures), but generally Nitrate is the only one you may struggle with. Overall, one of the best purchases possible for your aquarium. ## Features - Causes serious eye damage. - Causes serious eye irritation. - Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. - Harmful if swallowed. - Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. - May be corrosive to metals. - May cause respiratory irritation. - Suspected of causing cancer. - Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. - Warning! Do not use together with other products. May release dangerous gases (chlorine). - Contains one (1) API Freshwater master kit 800, including 7 bottles of testing solutions, 1 colour card and 4 glass tubes with cap - Helps monitor water quality and prevent invisible water problems that can be harmful to fish and cause fish loss ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B000255NCI | | Batteries Included | No | | Batteries required | No | | Best Sellers Rank | 1,485 in Pet Supplies ( See Top 100 in Pet Supplies ) 4 in Aquarium Test Kits | | Compatible Devices | Designed for use in freshwater aquariums only | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (30,355) | | Date First Available | 25 Nov. 2009 | | Delivery information | We cannot deliver certain products outside mainland UK ( Details ). We will only be able to confirm if this product can be delivered to your chosen address when you enter your delivery address at checkout. | | Item Weight | 522 g | | Item model number | 34 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Pet Type | Fish | | Product Dimensions | 23.2 x 8.9 x 11.8 cm; 521.63 g | | Quantity | 1 | | Size | One Size | | Special features | Accurately monitors five most vital water parameters levels in freshwater aquariums: pH, High Range PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate | | Volume | 250 Millilitres | ## Images ![API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Kd-mEEjXL.jpg) ![API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71+NJAMw1uL.jpg) ![API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wXDcnVWVL.jpg) ![API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71WlieRyn8L.jpg) ![API 800 Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71WMhcD89sL.jpg) ## Questions & Answers **Q: How long does it last you and do I need to buy a syringe too?** A: A syringe is helpful for filling the test tubes. I would get one that is at lest 20 ml that way you can fill the syringe once and use it to fill all four test tubes. In the freshwater kit you get 37ml of each test solution except the nitrate one for which you only get 30 ml. The number of drops you use for each test varies, taking one drop as 0.05 ml gives the following approx number of tests: pH: 245 tests pH High Range: 148 tests Ammonia: 92 tests Nitrite: 148 tests Nitrate: 60 tests **Q: Is it single use?? if not how many times can you test??** A: It is a whole kit with small bottles for each test. You can do probably around 40-60 tests for each of the water parimitars with this kit. **Q: What is the expire date on this item please** A: Have just had this product delivered July 2020 with a best before date of December 2024, so good shelf life and only drops needed for each test, weekly use seems to be the recommended **Q: Can I get new test tubes?** A: Contact API or your fish pet shop - they should know; the kit has 4 tubes for the 4 tests. Or do as I did - instead of buying refill of solutions purchase another kit. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very accurate so totally reliable. *by D***N on 11 March 2026* I moved away from test strips and bought the API 800 Test Freshwater Master Kit. One of the best decisions I have made for my aquarium. Test strips may look convenient but once the container is opened and the strips are exposed to air the clock is ticking. Moisture and oxygen start degrading the reagents immediately. After about 30 days the accuracy drops off badly. At that point the readings are questionable and you may as well consider them unreliable. For something as important as water quality, that simply is not good enough. The API Freshwater Master Kit solves that problem completely. The reagents are stored in sealed bottles so they remain stable and accurate for a long time. Using it is straightforward. Fill the test tube with tank water to the line, add the correct number of drops from the bottle, cap the tube and shake. For nitrate there is a second bottle and a longer shake but it is still very simple. Wait the specified time, then compare the colour against the chart. That is it. What you get in return is far more reliable information. The colour changes are clearer and the scale is more precise than strips. You can properly track ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH rather than relying on vague strip colours that can be difficult to read. Each kit also lasts a very long time because you get a large number of tests from the bottles. It ends up being far better value than constantly replacing strips that degrade quickly. If you want accurate, repeatable readings and a clear picture of what is happening in your tank water, this kit is excellent. Simple to use, dependable and well worth the money. Highly recommended for any serious fish keeper. 🐟 ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Axolotl Tank Tester *by P***L on 21 October 2013* I keep axolotls, and as any axolotl keeper knows, they are very sensitive to water conditions (although many fishkeepers will know the same about some species of their fish). The point of the API Freshwater Master Liquid Test kit is to enable you to test each parameter safely and quickly to troubleshoot any problems in the aquarium. As a keeper it is also a very good idea to test weekly as part of tank upkeep, after a water change, to ensure an ongoing healthy aquarium. What does it do? Each liquid test kit tests for essential parameters such as ammonia, which is a killer, nitrite, which is less deadly but still lethal, and nitrate, which can cause problems if too high. It also enables you to test for elevated PHs. The kit is vital for testing for 'spikes' in these chemicals. It also enables you to assess the bacteria culture in your tank - if ammonia is converting to nitrate (i.e low or no ammonia, low or no nitrite and under 40ppm nitrate) you have a cycled, healthy tank. What do you get for the money? A computer calibrated test sheet, with colours that show the result of each test - place the completed test sample in its test tube over each colour. Whichever colour is hardest to see through the liquid is the closest match. It also contains a card which tells you which API products to use if you ever encounter problems (although personally I would enquire on hobby boards as they offer good advice). It also contains a booklet detailing how to do each test, with tables at the back to record your own results for a few weeks or so. It comes with four test tubes, which don't shatter when they break despite being made of glass - having four enables you to do ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH tests all in one lot). It also comes with reagents to test for AMMONIA, NITRITE, NITRATE, PH AND HIGH RANGE PH. You may need to use more of the nitrate and ammonia tests, as these use two different bottles each to complete each test, and quite a few more drops from each bottle than the other tests. You can buy these separately, but at £18 for a full set, and £6 separately, you may as well buy the full kit. Are the tests difficult? Not at all! PH and High Range Kits require only five drops of liquid with 5ml of tank water (clearly marked with a line so easy to fill) and to be left for barely a few seconds. The most complicated test is Nitrate, as it requires two bottles and over a minute and a half of shaking, but clear instructions are included, step-by-step, in English, French and Spanish. They are not difficult at all and over time can be done from memory. How long do they take? For the PH Tests, a few seconds. Each of the others requires five minutes to develop. The Nitrate takes as long as 6 and a half minutes because of the shaking process. Any tips? When testing, always leave bottles on a flat surface to avoid them rolling off. Also, with the Nitrate test, add Bottle No 1 to the test sample, shake to mix, then place on a flat surface. Remove the plastic lid and wipe it out before replacing - I find this prevents a lot of leaking when you do Bottle No 2's test. Do you recommend them? Definetely! I knew very little about tanks but the kit enables me to keep on top of their upkeep easily and is invaluable for ensuring my axolotls aren't sick because of parameters. They are easy to use and last ages - my last kit was bought in April (6 months ago) and I am only ordering a new one because I broke two test tubes and am running out of the Nitrate tests. They are much more reliable than the strip tests - the API kit is also the most recommended kit on Caudata.org, one of the best amphibian sites on the net, and also one of the cheapest. The only downsides are that the nitrate runs out quicker than the others, and that I have managed to break two test tubes by moderate falls, but buying a new kit remedies that, and as I said before, the glass does not shatter - the bottom simply falls off it it meets a hard impact. The colour charts can be difficult to read, particularly Nitrate, which has around three shades of orange or red that can be hard to distinguish - ask for a second opinion and always do them in good light to remedy this (if desperate ask on a forum, posting pictures), but generally Nitrate is the only one you may struggle with. Overall, one of the best purchases possible for your aquarium. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best kit for overall price and good accuracy. Few caveats but still highly recommend. *by M***R on 29 May 2017* The only freshwater master kit i will use. Test strips i never used due to there poor accuracy. There are some other brands like Seachem for example that do great water testing products but much more expensive to. If you want good accuracy for a reasonable price that will last a reasonably long time then overall value and quality is definitely given to the API Freshwater Master Kit. You can perform the following tests with this kit: - pH - low range - pH - high range - Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate Comes with easy to follow instructions and colour chart. The most annoying are the test tubes, i always end up breaking them and having to buy spares, i also hate they are push caps and not screw on as you have to keep your thumb on top of the cap when shaking as it tends to leak out otherwise, i also wish the case layout was better as well as it's a bit annoying and fiddly specially the position of the test tubes. I also purchased the API liquid Kh and Gh kit to make it a true master test kit. I think they should be included as standard as this is called a master test kit after all. Make sure you shake the plastic liquid bottles very well before using, i shake longer than the instructions state to ensure it's mixed well, specially the nitrate bottle as it's very thick formula and prone to giving inaccurate readings simply because the bottle was not shaked enough before using, so take note shake and shake again. I recommend this kit for any fish keeper whether you are newbie or advanced user, this kit is suitable for most peoples needs. I tend to only test frequently when cycling a tank and for approx 6 months after cycling complete whilst beneficial bacteria still colonizes in the filter, i don't test often from then on as i find observing the tank and fish can give you good indicators of problems, but nonetheless still a great kit to have to hand for as and when needed. Check readings in natural daylight if possible as can sometimes be hard to judge colour of tested water against colour chart. Best kit for overall price accuracy and price. Highly recommend. Tips: - Check expiry date is well in to the future on case when it arrives as they last ages. - I find placing the colour chart up against a window with natural daylight (but not direct sunlight) and then placing the tube by the side of the test i'm testing enables me personally to take a better reading. - Another way some people find easier is to place the colour chart down flat on a surface in a room with natural daylight, then remove cap from test tube and then place the testing tube on top of the colour chart and test they are testing for, then look straight down the test tube and compare colour. - Some people complain of the colour in the test tube changing over time and not sure which reading was correct, this will happen hence why it's important to follow instructions. If for example you are told to compare the test tube with colour chart after 5 minutes, then ensure you compare after 5 minutes and not for example 10 minutes, as overtime the colour will continue to change and people then get confused which is the correct reading. - Shake the Nitrate bottles as it's very thick formula and prone to giving people false readings, read the instructions very carefully, a number of people do the Nitrate test wrong and get inconsistent inaccurate readings. You must shake this bottle excessively. I always shake the bottles longer than the instructions state to ensure they've been shaken enough, if you don't shake them enough you can end up with inaccurate false readings. ## Frequently Bought Together - API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT 800-Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit, White, Single, Multi-colored - PAIZOO Fish Tank Digital Thermometer Accurate LED Display to ±0.9°F Tank Thermometer Aquarium Temperature Measurement Suitable for Fish, Axolotl, Turtle or Aquatic - Tetra Water Cleaner Gravel Siphon for Aquariums, Easily Clean Freshwater Aquariums --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48094123-api-800-test-freshwater-aquarium-water-master-test-kit](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/48094123-api-800-test-freshwater-aquarium-water-master-test-kit) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-27*