7 Best Koi Pond Water Test Kits 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Testing water parameters in ponds is a task that is often overlooked. After all, ponds are relatively self-managing ecosystems that only require interventions from time to time. However, checking and tracking water parameters is not only necessary to ensuring the water stays safe for your koi fish, but also your plants and other animal life in the pond.

Here are reviews covering the best pond water test kits to help you find the most accurate kit that isn’t too complicated to use.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		API Pond Master Test Kit	Over 500 tests per kit Tests for four parameters Affordable	Check Price
Best Value		Aqua Care Pro Freshwater 6-in-1 Test Strips	Best value Two pack sizes Extra wide for easy reading	Check Price
Premium Choice		Lifegard Aquatics All Purpose 6-Way Test Strip Kit	Tests for six parameters Easy to use Provide fairly accurate results	Check Price
		Varify 17 in 1 Premium Drinking Water Test Kit	Tests for 17 parameters 100 strip tests per package Includes two tests for bad bacteria	Check Price
		API Pond 5-in-1 Test Strips	Easy to use Color charts are easy to understand One of the most accurate strip tests	Check Price

The 7 Best Koi Pond Water Test Kits

1. API Pond Master Test Kit – Best Overall

The best overall koi pond water test kit is the API Pond Master Test Kit, which can provide over 500 tests for your pond. This liquid test kit can be used to test for nitrite, ammonia, pH, and phosphate levels. Phosphate tests are typically not included in freshwater aquarium test kits, making this kit perfect for caring specifically for a pond. If the tests are performed according to the instructions, then this is the most accurate test kit option for your pond. Since this is a liquid test kit, you’re able to perform each test individually, so if you’re having a phosphate problem you can just use the phosphate test.

Many people think this kit provides 500 of each test included, but it includes 500 or more of all the tests combined. The number of tests per parameter will vary based on your usage. This kit doesn’t test for water hardness, alkalinity, or nitrate levels.

2. Aqua Care Pro Freshwater 6-in-1 Test Strips – Best Value

The best koi pond water test kit for the money is the Aqua Care Pro Freshwater 6-in-1 Test Strips, which are available in packs of 64 and 116 test strips. Each strip checks water hardness, alkalinity, chlorine, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. These strips are extra wide, making them easier to read than traditional strip tests. They are calibrated for freshwater environments, including ponds. These aren’t the most accurate testing option, but they will be able to give you a general idea of your water parameters. They don’t test for phosphates or ammonia levels. Some people report the color change pads sometimes fall off easily.

3. Lifegard Aquatics All Purpose 6-Way Test Strip Kit – Premium Choice

The Lifegard Aquatics All Purpose 6-Way Test Strip Kit is a good option if you have a little extra to spend on your testing supplies. There are 25 tests per package, and each strip tests for alkalinity, water hardness, pH, nitrite, and nitrate, and a separate strip test for ammonia levels. This means that you can check ammonia levels separately with the 25 additional strips. These are easy to use and provide fairly accurate results quickly. Each bottle of strips includes a desiccant pack to keep the strips fresh and free of moisture. These strips don’t test for phosphates, and they provide less accurate results than a liquid test.

4. Varify 17 in 1 Premium Drinking Water Test Kit

The Varify 17 in 1 Premium Drinking Water Test Kit is formulated for testing drinking water, but it covers basically everything you might need to test in your pond except ammonia and phosphate. These strips test 17 parameters, including alkalinity, water hardness, zinc, free and total chlorine, copper, nitrite, and nitrates. There are two additional tests included that allow you to check for the presence of harmful bacteria. There are 100 test strips per bottle, and Varify offers customer support via live chat and email 24/7. They also donate a portion of their proceeds to Water for Good, a non-profit that helps provide clean drinking water to people in impoverished areas of the Central African Republic.

5. API Pond 5-in-1 Test Strips

The API Pond 5-in-1 Test Strips bring you high quality API products, but they are easier to use than the liquid test kit. Each bottle contains 25 tests strips and checks for nitrite, nitrate, pH, water hardness, and alkalinity. They don’t check for ammonia or phosphate levels. The strips are packaged in a stay dry tube, which keeps them fresh and dry for longer. The color charts are easy to read, and the included information packet tells you what to do if you encounter unsafe levels on any of the tests. Although less accurate than the liquid test kit, these strips are one of the most accurate strip tests on the market.

6. Tetra EasyStrips 6-in-1 Aquarium Test Strips

The Tetra EasyStrips 6-in-1 Aquarium Test Strips are available in two packages sizes and test for nitrate, nitrite, chlorine, pH, water hardness, and alkalinity. They do not test for phosphate or ammonia levels. They are one of the more affordable test strip kits, making them budget-friendly. Some users have reported problems with the nitrate pad being discolored when the strip is pulled from the package, which can alter the results significantly. Even when they aren’t discolored, the nitrate test seems to be inaccurate, but the other parameters seem to be accurate.

7. JNW Direct Pond Test Strips

The JNW Direct Pond Test Strips are strip tests that check for nitrite, nitrate, water hardness, alkalinity, carbonate hardness, pH, and free chlorine. They don’t check for ammonia or phosphate levels. There are 50 tests per package, and the purchase provides access to a free mobile app that allows you to track your pond’s parameters. It also includes an e-book that explains what the parameters mean and how to keep them at safe levels, although some people have found the information in the e-book to be lacking and have still needed to look up information separately.

Related Read: How Much Does a Koi Pond Cost to Build and Maintain?

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Pond Water Test Kit

Why Do Parameters Matter in My Pond?

Routinely checking water parameters helps you keep track of the overall health of your pond. This is especially important with animals that create a high bioload, like koi and goldfish. Checking the parameters can help you determine if your biological bacteria, or pond cycle, is intact. It can also help you know if there is too much waste, too little filtration, too many fish, or contaminants that have made it into the water.

What Parameters Should I Be Checking?

Ammonia

Ammonia is released from fish as waste, and the decay of organic matter can also create ammonia. Ammonia in your pond can harm or kill your fish. Knowing where your ammonia levels stand can help you understand if your pond’s filtration is accurate and if the cycle is still intact. Ammonia levels in a healthy, cycled pond should be 0 ppm.

Nitrite

Nitrite is the second step of the nitrogen cycle and comes from the breakdown of ammonia. Nitrite levels are another indicator of your pond’s cycle and beneficial bacteria health. Nitrite levels in a healthy, cycled pond should be 0 ppm.

Nitrate

This is the final product produced by the nitrogen cycle. Nitrate is less dangerous to your fish than ammonia and nitrite, but it can become dangerous in high levels. Nitrate is absorbed from the water by plants, so it’s a good idea to keep your pond well planted. In a pond with livestock, you will almost always see nitrate levels. The goal is to keep them below 60 ppm, although many people report having no issues with nitrate levels up to 80 ppm.

pH

Your pond’s pH is telling you acidic or alkaline the water is. For koi fish, pH should be kept above 7.0 and below 8.6, with 7.5–8.0 being the ideal goal. However, don’t chase pH if it’s at a safe level and your fish seem happy and healthy. Attempting to alter the pH significantly can lead to disaster.

Phosphates

Phosphates are a waste product from fish food and livestock. It is not generally harmful, but the higher your phosphate level, the more likely you are to struggle with algae growth and poor water clarity. Plants can feed on phosphates, but high phosphates can cause an overgrowth of “pest” plants, like duckweed. Phosphate levels should be kept as low as possible, with levels of 0.5 ppm or lower being capable of causing algae blooms. Ideally, phosphate levels should be around 0–0.05 ppm.

Chlorine

Chlorine is used to keep tap water safe, but it can be deadly to fish and beneficial bacteria. The ideal chlorine level for a pond is 0 ppm.

Water Hardness (GH)

The GH of your water reflects the level of dissolved minerals in your water, namely, magnesium and calcium. An ideal GH for koi ponds is approximately 8–12˚. The higher the GH, the harder the water is, and the lower the GH, the softer the water is.

Alkalinity (KH)

The KH of your water reflects the level of carbonate and bicarbonate in your water. These things create a buffer in the water, which means the higher the KH levels, the more stable the pH levels are. Low KH can allow for rapid swings in pH that can be deadly to your fish. The ideal KH for a koi fish pond is 5–8˚.

Conclusion

These reviews reflect the top products available to you today to monitor your pond’s parameters. The overall best pick, though, is the API Pond Master Test Kit, which offers you a ton of highly accurate tests for an affordable price. However, on a tight budget, the Aqua Care Pro Freshwater 6-in-1 Test Strips, which can provide you with a good general idea of your water parameters in your pond. The premium pick is the Lifegard Aquatics All Purpose 6-Way Test Strip Kit, which allows you to assess most of the parameters you need for your pond.

• Related Read: How To Keep Pond Water Clean Without a Filter: 10 Simple Methods!

Featured Image Credit: focal point, Shutterstock