I have several tanks and run tests on them regularly. I like my API products for my aquarium testing and filtration.

This is a two bottle test not a two plus powder that the Tetra kit is. It does take agitating and there can be some aggrevation as the cap on the test tube doesn't always prevent spattering, a finger over the cap on the tube plus wrap it loosely in some paper toweling to prevent showers helps. You do have to agitate one bottle for 30 seconds before adding the drops, there must be something to put into suspension that can settle out. Then you have to agitate the tube for a minute, again, must be to allow something to react that's suspended in that second bottle chemical. It also has a 10 min 'reaction time'.Test results are spot on comparing the Tetra (with two fluids and zinc powder) and simpler IMO to perform.

If you have an aquarium, you must have this, you have to monitor nitrates. I've been I the hobby many decades and API is a quality brand and I like the straight forward directions that are simplified on the back of the color chart and then more detail on the extended directions. You should also only use test kits that have an date code/ expiration date on the bottle.

I was hoping to recieve a fresh kit and did. Glad I did not give up on the api kits here. Last one nh3 nh4 kit was over a year old. Not sure if it really matters but I preffer fresh kits

It works just fine. You just better hope you are not color biind. I tested water from several different sources and they produced the results I was expecting.

API makes great water tests and these are so much more accurate (versus the strip kind) I use all their tests for our aquariums and was familar with their products when this was purchased, so no surprises here.

Had another kit that did not work at all. This one works great! Don't be confused by the picture though, this is only the Nitrate test - the only one I needed. If you're looking for ammonia and nitrite too, you might want to just buy a kit.

This product is advertised for use with aquariums, but I used it to test our well water for our home out in the country. Nitrates are always a concern since we have young children. I use it to check to see when our reverse osmosis machine needs to have the cartridge changed. They say every 6 months, but with these tests I have found I can stretch it out longer (those cartridges are expensive!) I found it easy to use, easy to read, and am happy that I will get many uses out of it.

I've always used the test tubes over the dip strips when it comes to testing my aquarium water, simply because they take MUCH longer to run out (which is a big deal when you're testing four aquariums). Also, a lot of authors of many of the aquarium books and magazine articles I've read consider them more accurate the other conventional forms of water testing (though I find that the test strips really aren't all THAT far off and the difference is neglegible). I origninally purchased the product as a kit with all the other stuff over two years ago before I FINALY ran out so it lasts a long time. I would definately recommend this product.