A Few Words About Old Test Kits

[EllieSuz]

I have three fish in quarantine right now, so I'm watching ammonia levels very closely. I have an Ammonia Alert which changes color when ammonia is present and it was reading just fine. Last night I decided to check it with my API test kit and the ammonia level registered as lethal! Of course I panicked and did an immediate water change. I tested again and the reading was the same. So, I borrowed a Salifert test kit from my neighbor and the reading was zero. The point is, there certainly seems to be a "shelf life" to these things. We need to keep track of the expiration dates and replace as necessary. If you get a reading that seems way off, consider that age may have skewed the results.

 

[pascal32]

Great reminder. As part of cycling the 120 I Realized my ammonia was dated 05, no sense risking it, picked up a new kit!

 

[Dave VG]

Ya guess we really don't use them to much after the cycle is done in our new tanks or as you did for a quarantine tank. Can be a long span in between uses Good point

 

[mr86mister]

We need to keep track of the expiration dates and replace as necessary.

I hear you on that!!! Sometimes they can make things much worse.

 

[gothicgirl]

how do you know when test kits expire?? i have api

 

[pascal32]

There is a date printed on them with month and year. I throw them out if the date is over a year old.