[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-274295-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-274295-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","api-5-in-1-aquarium-test-strips-aquarium-water-testing-instructions-v1503496532","API 5 in 1 AquArIum TesT sTrIPs - Aquarium water testing instructions - V1503496532","","API 5 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips provide a quick method to test five key aquarium water quality measures: General Hardness (GH), Carbonate Hardness (KH), pH, Nitrite (NO2-) and Nitrate (NO3-). Test the five parameters weekly because fish waste, decaying food, water changes and evaporation can shift levels over time. Clear step-by-step dipping, timing, reading and comparison instructions are included, along with tips for accurate wet handling, storage and interpretation for common freshwater aquariums.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/api-5-in-1-aquarium-test-strips-aquarium-water-testing-instructions-v1503496532/274295/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/api-5-in-1-aquarium-test-strips-aquarium-water-testing-instructions-v1503496532/274295.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Franzy","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",21,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How often should the five aquarium water parameters be tested?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Test GH, KH, pH, Nitrite (NO2-) and Nitrate (NO3-) weekly to account for changes caused by waste, decaying food, water changes and evaporation.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What is General Hardness (GH) measuring in freshwater?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"GH measures dissolved calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (mg2+) ion concentrations. It indicates whether the water is hard or soft based on ppm and ºdGH ranges.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How do you lower GH using the instructions?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Lower GH by using an API Water Softener Pillow in the filter to remove calcium and magnesium via ion exchange, or by doing partial water changes with distilled/deionized water.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},274295,1789476466,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":22,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":30},2336478945519,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","en  \nAPI 5 in 1 AquArIum TesT sTrIPs InsTrucTIons for use  \nIt is important for aquarists to provide a healthy aquarium environment by approximating the water conditions of the natural habitats of their fish. This requires routine water testing to make sure that conditions are correct for the fish being kept. API 5 in 1 AquArIum TesT sTrIPs are the quick and easy way to test 5 of the most important measures of aquarium water quality: General Hardness (GH), Carbonate Hardness (KH), pH, Nitrite (NO 2-) and Nitrate (NO 3-) . These 5 parameters should be tested weekly, since natural materials in the aquarium, such as fish waste and decaying food, as well as water changes and evaporation can cause these levels to shift over time.  \nTesting Instructions  \n1. Dip strip directly into aquarium.  \n2. sWIrL 2 TImes.  \n3. remove horizontally with pads face up.  \n4. DO NOT sHAKe OFF eXCess WATer.  \n5. Compare to the color chart on the tube.  \n6. starting with the pad closest to your hand, immediately read General Hardness (GH) and Carbonate Hardness (KH) .  \n7. Wait 30 seconds, then read pH, Nitrite (NO 2-) and Nitrate (NO 3-) .  \nTesting Tips  \n• Keep wet fingers out of the tube. • Close tube tightly after removing strip.  \n• Store in a cool, dry place. • For best results, read in a well-lit area.  \nGenerAl HArdness (GH) TesT  \nWhat is General Hardness (GH)?  \nGH is the measure of Calcium (Ca2+ ) and magnesium (mg2+ ) ion concentrations dissolved in freshwater. These minerals are present in municipal, well and bottled spring water. The GH in tap water depends on the source of the water and the treatment process that it has undergone. Hard water [≥200 ppm (mg/L)] is high in calcium and magnesium. soft water [50 - 100 ppm (mg/L)] is low in these minerals.  \nTesting Tips  \n• This test reads from 0 - 180 parts per million (ppm) in freshwater. (ppm is equivalent tomg/L.) To convert ppm to German Degrees (ºdGH), divide the reading by 17.9.  \n• It is important to monitor the GH in both the aquarium and in the tap water. Some tap water supplies have a low GH while others have a high GH.  \n• Even if the GH is correct initially, it can increase sharply over time. As water evaporates from the aquarium it leaves the hardness minerals behind. Topping off with tap water simply adds more minerals to the aquarium. This can result in stressful conditions for the fish.  \n• This test cannot be used in saltwater because the Calcium (Ca2+ ) and magnesium (mg2+ ) ion concentrations in saltwater are above the range of this test.  \nWhat the Test results mean  \nThe table below is a guide to the desired General Hardness (GH) for certain common tropical fish and live plants:  \n\n| ppm (mg/l) | ºdGH | Type of fish |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 30 | 1.7º | Discus, arowanas, elephant nose, neons, cardinals, live plants |\n| 60 | 3.4º | most tropical fish, including angelfish, tetras, botia, community aquariums, live plants |\n| 120 | 6.7º | most tropical fish, including swordtails, guppies, mollies, cichlids, goldfish. |\n| 180 | 10º | African Cichlids, goldfish |\n\nreducing GH  \n• GH can be lowered by using an API WATer sOFTeNer PILLOW in the filter. This will remove the calcium and magnesium ions through ion exchange.  \n• Partial water changes using distilled or deionized water can also reduce the GH. Use the API TAP WATer FILTer to remove all minerals from tap water, creating deionized water. The TAP WATer FILTer turns any tap water into perfect aquarium water.  \nIncreasing GH  \nAfrican Cichlids require water with a high GH. API eLeCTrO-rIGHT or African Cichlid salts can be used to increase the GH.  \nnote  \nFor more precise readings, use the API KH & GH TesT KIT, which is a liquid reagent test. This is a titration kit that measures both KH (Alkalinity or Carbonate Hardness) and GH in increments of 17.9 ppm (1º dGH or dKH) . The range of the titration kit is also higher than these test strips, being able to accurately measure GH greater than 180 ppm.  \ncArbonATe HArdness (KH) ","cbCaibMeZoqFtb02","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibMeZoqFtb02","pdf",377804,"English","# Testing Instructions\n## Testing Tips\n# General Hardness (GH) Test\n## What the Test Results Mean\n## Reducing GH\n## Increasing GH\n## Note\n# Carbonate Hardness (KH) Test\n## What is Carbonate Hardness (KH)?\n## Testing Tips\n## What the Test Results Mean\n## Reducing KH","[{\"question\":\"How often should the five aquarium water parameters be tested?\",\"answer\":\"Test GH, KH, pH, Nitrite (NO2-) and Nitrate (NO3-) weekly to account for changes caused by waste, decaying food, water changes and evaporation.\"},{\"question\":\"What is General Hardness (GH) measuring in freshwater?\",\"answer\":\"GH measures dissolved calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (mg2+) ion concentrations. It indicates whether the water is hard or soft based on ppm and ºdGH ranges.\"},{\"question\":\"How do you lower GH using the instructions?\",\"answer\":\"Lower GH by using an API Water Softener Pillow in the filter to remove calcium and magnesium via ion exchange, or by doing partial water changes with distilled/deionized water.\"}]","API 5 in 1 AquArIum TesT sTrIPs - Aquarium water testing instructions - V1503496532 | PDF"]