API test kit

[bcfd144]

OK, been looking into this and wanted to also ask here.
Not sure if this is the rt area to ask, but no one has answered me under general discussion, so..

I have both freshwater and saltwater tanks..
Usually I just take my saltwater to my LFS and we test the water there.
(they test it rt, its a small shop, good friend of mine owns it..)

Anyway, still wanting to buy a test kit for my saltwater tanks. But I have fish and reef tanks, so Id have to buy two different kits.. 60 bucks..
I know there are master kits out there,, 85+ bucks

But my question is,
Since I use the API freshwater test kit, can I also test High range ph, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates on my saltwater tank with this kit.

Ive read up on this and have received different answers.
Some say yes, they do it and it works. Using my freshwater test kit to test certain things on the saltwater tank.

But some say no..

So, any ideas on here if it works or not...??

thanks​

 

[Mudslinger14]

I've used my saltwater test kit on my freshwater....Don't see why you can't use it vice versa.

 

[FLESHY]

Im going to say generally speaking no...however...my API test kits say that they are fresh/saltwater...they even give me two different color code things for freshwater and saltwater.

 

[exoticreef]

You can do it if you have both color charts or a master chart showing both color codes. The reagents are the same. The results read differently between salt and fresh due to the salinity levels.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I'm pretty sure the ammonia and nitrate test kit comes with both fresh and saltwater cards while the nitrite test kit is for both. Not sure about the pH but for reef tanks, test kits is usually not good enough, go pH meter!