API AQUASPIN User manual

Simple, Precise
Digital Water Testing

2

CONTENTS
SETUP .................................................................................................................... 4
SOFTWARE UPDATES........................................................................................... 5
PC CONNECTION............................................................................................... 5
FILLING DISKS ...................................................................................................... 6
GENERAL OPERATING ....................................................................................... 7
Disk Handling.................................................................................................... 7
Disk Storage...................................................................................................... 7
Meter................................................................................................................. 7
Meter Touchscreen Display............................................................................ 8
Testing: Connected to a PC via USB ............................................................. 8
Testing: Not Connected to a Computer ...................................................... 8
Out of Range Test Results ............................................................................. 10
Test History Setting ......................................................................................... 10
Syringe ............................................................................................................ 11
Reagent Disk .................................................................................................. 12
Universal Disk Cover ...................................................................................... 12
Meter Check Disk .......................................................................................... 12
Usb Cable....................................................................................................... 12
Battery............................................................................................................. 12
Settings............................................................................................................ 13
TROUBLESHOOTING
Meter Troubleshooting Guide ...................................................................... 14
Meter Check Disk Troubleshooting Guide.................................................. 15
AQUASPIN Web Application Troubleshooting Guide ............................... 16
Helpful Hints.................................................................................................... 17
RANGES.............................................................................................................. 17
CONVERSIONS.................................................................................................. 18
SPECIFICATIONS ............................................................................................... 19
ACCESSORIES AND REPLACEMENTS ............................................................. 20
MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................. 21
Cleaning......................................................................................................... 21
Repairs ............................................................................................................ 21
Meter Disposal ............................................................................................... 21
Disk Disposal ................................................................................................... 22
GENERAL INFORMATION................................................................................. 22
Packaging and Returns ................................................................................ 22
General Precautions ..................................................................................... 22
Safety Precautions......................................................................................... 22
Limits of Liability.............................................................................................. 22
CE Mark .......................................................................................................... 22
Warranty ......................................................................................................... 23
Ordering ......................................................................................................... 23

4
SETUP
BEFORE FIRST USE
¬Ensure the PC and meter have the latest software.
1. Go to: https://softwarecenter.lamotte.com
2. Select WaterLink Connect 2 software and then click “Free
Download”.
3. Follow the prompts to download the software onto the PC.
NOTE: API AQUASPIN meter and WaterLink Connect 2 software work with
PCs only.
¬Create your API AQUASPIN retailer login username and password
by visiting https://www.apifishcare.com/store-register and clicking
“Create account.”
1. You will need to enter the serial number of your meter to create
your account. The serial number can be found on the bottom
of your AQUASPIN meter or on your warranty card. Enter the
serial number with hyphen(s) included.
CHARGE THE BATTERY
1. Use the USB cable and the adapter to plug the meter into an AC outlet or
use the USB cable (included) with a car charger (not included) to charge
the battery. (Anker PowerDrive 2, DC 12/24V, 5V = 4.8A, Part Number A2310
recommended.)
2. The battery icon on the screen will show the battery status. Charge the battery
until the battery indicator is full.

5
SOFTWARE UPDATES
Occasionally, the AQUASPIN meter will require updates and your PC will prompt
you to do these updates by allowing you to “Update Now” or “Remind Me Later”.
If Remind Me Later is chosen, the update prompt will be displayed again in 23
hours. To update the software, open WaterLink Connect 2 on your computer, go
to Settings > Service Settings > Get Updates.
Make sure your AQUASPIN meter is connected and then run the updates. Updates
can take up to 30 minutes and you will want to dedicate that time to doing
the update and nothing else on your computer to allow the update to not be
disrupted.
PC CONNECTION
When the API AQUASPIN meter is connected to a PC via USB cable, the onboard
touchscreen becomes disabled and operation of the meter is performed using the
API AQUASPIN website application. This application can be accessed at: http://
apifishcare.com/aquaspin/ via the API AQUASPIN website application, results from
the meter will show on the computer screen, and can be saved to a customer’s
account and emailed with API product recommendations.
Customers must create an account from the link they receive in their API product
recommendations email for their account creation to be finalized.

6
FILLING DISKS
When the syringe is placed in the water sample and
the plunger is pulled all the way up, the syringe will hold
more than enough water to adequately fill the disk.
1. Fill the included syringe with the water sample.
Then, locate the fill hole on the disk and slowly,
with even pressure, begin to fill the disk with the
syringe held vertically. The sample water will fill
the chambers between the baffles in a counter-
clockwise order. Each chamber will fill from
the bottom to the top. Sample water should
be added until the sample water in the fourth
chamber fills to the top of the chamber slightly
past the embossed fill line (it is ok to fill slightly past
the fill line).
Correct Fill
(Fill line)
2. DO NOT overfill the disk. If the disk is overfilled,
sample water will flow out of the overflow hole in
the center of the disk. If this happens, be sure to
dry the disk completely before running the test.
Overfilled
(Dry disk before placing in meter)
3. DO NOT underfill the disk. If the disk is under filled,
the reagent chambers will not fill entirely and
results will be inaccurate.
Underfilled
4. Do not introduce air bubbles into the disk. The
reagent chambers will not fill entirely and results
will be inaccurate. As soon as a bubble starts to
form, pull back on the plunger to draw the bubble
out of the disk. Begin the filling process again.
Air
Bubble
5. Wet disks should be dried thoroughly with the
included lint-free wipe. The disk should be handled
on the edges only. The disk should be filled and
used within 10 minutes. They cannot be filled
ahead of time. Refer to Step 4 under the TESTING
section for next steps.

7
GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES
DISK HANDLING
The disk should be handled only by the edges. Avoid
touching the top or bottom of the disk. The light passes
through the non-frosted areas of the disk so these areas
must be kept free of smudges and fingerprints. Wet disks
should never be placed in the meter. Wet disks should be
dried with a lint-free cloth before placing them into the
chamber.
The disk is positioned in the chamber by aligning the
D-shaped hole in the center of the disk over the D-shaped
hub in the photometer chamber. The disk should be
placed gently on the hub. There is no need to firmly press
the disk down onto the hub. Universal disk cover should
then be placed over the disk before running the test.
DISK STORAGE
Disks are sensitive to moisture and UV light. Avoid
opening more packs than are needed. Disks have
a limited shelf life and should not be exposed to the
humidity in the air more than necessary.
Do not transport the meter with a disk in the chamber.
Store disks at 70°-80 °F (21°-27 °C).
METER
When a filled disk is placed in the chamber with universal disk cover and the lid
is closed, the meter spins at high speed to distribute the sample to the test wells.
Next the meter slows to maximize the pumping action of the stainless steel mixing
beads as the reagents mix with the sample water. Each reaction is then read at
the proper time and wavelength for that reagent system.
The button located in the lower center of the top of the meter
turns the instrument on and off.
The blue on/off button indicator light indicates the status of the instrument.
Steady blue light – the blue LED will remain steady to indicate that the meter is on
and ready to run a test.
Blinking blue light (three blinks/second) – a test is in progress and the disk is
spinning. Do not open the lid when the disk is spinning.
Care should be taken when closing the lid. Do not slam the lid. Wiring between the
lid and the body of the photometer passes through the hinge. The meter will not
run with the lid open.

8
METER TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY
When the button is pressed to turn the meter on, the Test Screen will be displayed.
12:14 PM
23-May-18
Aquarium
Disk Series
Fresh
Q104
Tap to
Start Test
Start
Test
Disk
Type
Power/
Battery
Status
Date &
Time
Test
History
Settings
Water
Type
The display screen is touch-activated. To make a selection, tap the icon or word
on the screen with a fingertip, fingernail, pencil eraser, or stylus.
¬Gently wipe smudges from the screen with the Cloth Wipe.
¬Do not touch the screen with a sharp object.
¬Do not place objects on the screen that will scratch or damage it.
¬Avoid touching the screen with wet fingers.
TESTING: CONNECTED TO A PC VIA USB
When the API AQUASPIN is connected to your PC via USB cable, the meter
touchscreen will become disabled and operation of the meter is performed using
the API AQUASPIN website.

9
1. Connect your AQUASPIN meter to your PC via the USB cable.
2. Next, initiate the AQUASPIN program by signing into your account at: https://
www.apifishcare.com/login
3. Refer to the FILLING section (page 5) for this step.
4. Place the filled disk into the AQUASPIN meter and cover the disk with the
Universal Disk Cover. Close the meter lid.
5. Once signed into your retailer account, ask the customer if they have an
AQUASPIN Advise account.
a. If the customer already has an account, enter their email address
under the CONSUMER ACCOUNT LOOKUP section and select the tank
name they are testing.
b. If the customer does not have an account, enter their email address
and tank type under the REGISTER NEW CONSUMER ACCOUNT
section.
6. Next, select the disk type (the disk type can be found on the foil packet). Then,
hit RUN TEST button on the computer screen. The meter will automatically
begin the test.
7. After a few minutes, the results will populate on the computer screen
accompanied by API product recommendations.
8. An option to email the results and recommendations to the customer is then
made available and the results are saved to the customer’s AQUASPIN Advise
account.
9. Dispose of the used disk to prepare for future tests.
NOTE: Remove salt residue daily. Salt will damage the meter and cause inaccurate results.
See the CLEANING section in the manual.
TESTING: NOT CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER*
12:14 AM
23-May-18
Aquarium
Disk Series
Fresh
Q104
Tap to
Start Test

10
1. Press the power button and hold in the button until the meter turns on.
2. Select an Aquarium type. Tap to confirm.
3. Select a Disk Series type. Tap to confirm. (Disk Series type can be found on the
disk foil packaging). NOTE: Disk Series are limited by Water type selection.
4. Remove a disk from the packaging.
5. Use the syringe to fill the disk with the water sample.
6. Insert the disk. Cover the disk with the Universal Disk Cover. Close the lid.
7. Tap the “Tap to Start Test” text on the screen. If you wish to cancel the test, tap
the “X” on the screen. If the test is cancelled discard the disk.
8. The results will be displayed.
9. Choose an option.
a. Tap “water drop” to return to the Test Screen.
b. Tap the highlighted “Floppy Disk” to save test results to the test log if
Auto Save is not enabled.
8. Press and hold the power button for 2 seconds to turn the meter off.
NOTE: Remove salt residue daily. Salt will damage the meter and cause inaccurate results.
See the CLEANING section in the manual.
NOTE: For water samples over 100 °F (38 °C) subtract 0.3 from pH result or, for the most
accurate result, wait until water sample is below 90 °F (32 °C) to test.
*This method of testing will not allow the customer to receive history of their aquarium
testing or product recommendations. TESTING: CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER VIA USB is the
preferred method of testing.
OUT OF RANGE TEST RESULTS
Results that are out of the range of the reagent system will be red on the meter
screen (see Ranges page 17). This indicates that the results are higher or lower than
the ranges the meter software has been programmed to read, and should be
considered an approximate value.
TEST HISTORY SETTING
Transfer
Results
via
Bluetooth
Test Time 05:30:06 23-May-2018
Test Results
ALK/KH
G HARD
pH
PHOS
AMMO
NITRITE
NITRATE
Return
to Test
Screen
100
29.2
7.8
1.00
10.2
3.5
4.5
Save
Results
Print
Results
via
Bluetooth