Api Testkit

[darrel69]

I did something a couple of weeks ago to set off a mini cycle, or at least i thought i did..... Ive been getting a 0.25 reading for ammonia everyday for the past 2 weeks now, i did another test this morning and its still 0.25. Im beggining to think its my test kit giving me wrong results maybe ???

Or is it possible to get a 0.25 reading everyday for 2 weeks ?

Its an API liquid test kit that i bought off ebay nearly 4 mths ago. Ive been thinking of getting a new one anyway as the glass test tubes have started leeking when i shake them.

Do you think its old enougth to give inacurrate results ? Its only 4 mths old but then again it was purchased off'a ebay... who knows how long its been on the shelf for ???

 

[Matt_northants]

If the water was dechlorinated and at the right temperature then it sounds like your test kit has gone off.

 

[eb2]

If the water was dechlorinated and at the right temperature then it sounds like your test kit has gone off.

look at the date at the very bottom of the label, for todays date it would read 0108, a 4 year old date would be like 0104, and the test expire somewhere between 3-6 years depending upon the test (someone here has the exact date info on her website but I can't remember who) I just tossed mine out and re[placed them with Marineland brand dry tests in individually sealed foil pouches, same as the LFS specialty store uses

 

[rdd1952]

Have you tested your tap water? That is the quick way to see if it is the test kit or if you actualy have a problem. If your tap water shows .25 then I'd say it's your kit but you would maybe still want to take a sample to the LFS just to confirm it. And no, it shouldn't be possible to get that reading for 2 straight weeks. As for the expiration, API says their kits don't expire but can lose their effectiveness (isn't that expiring??). The date on the bottle is the manufacture date and ammonia tests are supposed to be good for 4 years from that date.

Edited for spelling.