Api Liquid Drop Test Kit

[markandhisfish]

tested my water just after water change got reading of 0 ammonia and nitrite of just over 0.25 which was strange as i had literally done a water change about an hour before. so i tested water straight from tap for nitrite and again got a tad over 0.25. i then took 2 more samples from the tank 1 by the filter outlet and 1 the opposite end of the tank. both read zero.

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[Essjay33 148]

Regarding API test kit shelf life, I emailed them to ask that. Here's what they said-


"........in response to your question, each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed on the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of manufacture. Example: Lot # 28A0108. This is a pH reagent manufactured in January of 2008. Wide Range pH, High Range pH, Ammonia, Nitrate, Phosphate, Copper, Calcium and GH all last for three years. Nitrite and KH will last for four years. Freshwater pH (low range) and Pond Care Salt Level will last for five years. I would not use or trust these kits after they have expired."

 

[Truck]

im having the same problems mark with dodgy tests, theyre not accurate anyway, but i run 3 tests just to be sure

 

[markandhisfish]

brilliant thanks for going to so much trouble to get a good reply for me. mine says 0607 so according to apis email should be in date still. strange then that it should give those readings in tests all done 1 after the other

 

[rdd1952]

It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that your water supply has a small amount of nitrite in it.

One thing I will add to the what essjay posted (that same info is also on the forum from a couple years ago in response to a similar email) is that the nitrate kits can tend to get inaccurate because of lack of use. The reason you have to shake reagent bottle 2 for 30 seconds befor adding drops is that the solution can tend to "lump up". If you don't get all though lumps broken up, then the test can be inaccurate. SO if you happen to test for nitrate and get some strange reading, try retesting, maybe shaking a little longer, to see what you get.

 

[MrWhite]

Same here my api are not accurate what so ever im gonna change

 

[markandhisfish]

It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that your water supply has a small amount of nitrite in it.

One thing I will add to the what essjay posted (that same info is also on the forum from a couple years ago in response to a similar email) is that the nitrate kits can tend to get inaccurate because of lack of use. The reason you have to shake reagent bottle 2 for 30 seconds befor adding drops is that the solution can tend to "lump up". If you don't get all though lumps broken up, then the test can be inaccurate. SO if you happen to test for nitrate and get some strange reading, try retesting, maybe shaking a little longer, to see what you get.

thanks for the reply rdd1952 but i was testing for nitrIte not nitrAte

ooops just read your reply again and in the 1st instance you were also talking nitrIte . my bad

 

[Truck]

no hobby test kit is accurate really, just take 3 readings and take an average and avoid anomilies

 

[markandhisfish]

no hobby test kit is accurate really, just take 3 readings and take an average and avoid anomilies

yeah think thats what i will do from now on truck

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, these are rather inexpensive tests as they were so not what you would get in a lab. Any reading other than 0 for ammonia and nitrite is troubling, especially if it's in your water supply. You may want to just take a sample to the LFS and have them test it for you, Explain your concerns and have them give you the actual reading. At least you will have domething to compair your results to.

 

[markandhisfish]

going to do 3 tests on both tank and tap now will post results

 

[StatMan]

So what is the best kit to get?

I have recently switched from the interpet tablets to the API liquid and feel a little more confident with the results.

If you have to do 3 tests to get a good result should you buy a test kit that costs twice as much and is more accurate first time, cheaper overall and less time spent testing?

How often does everyone test? I am going for once a week on the established tanks, twice if major changes / additions. And daily whilst cycling.

StatMan

 

[rdd1952]

I've never used anything but API and never had an issue with them.

 

[markandhisfish]

tapwater test 1 result 0.25 test 2 result 0 test 3 result 0

tank water test 1 result 0 test 2 result 0 test 3 result 0

seems to read nitrite every few tests

 

[Truck]

tapwater test 1 result 0.25 test 2 result 0 test 3 result 0

tank water test 1 result 0 test 2 result 0 test 3 result 0

seems to read nitrite every few tests

do you shake the bottles prior to adding the reagent?