Test Kits

[tropicaltone]

Hi Everyone,

I have had a Liquid Freshwater Master test kit for the last 3 and a half years. After looking all over the bottles and box, I noticed there is no use before date. Will my test kit still make reliable readings?

 

[rdd1952]

The ammonia, nitrite and pH tests will probably be fine but the nitrate one is probably no good. API says they don't expire but bottle 2 of the nitrate kit will clump up (the reason you have to shake it 30 seconds every time you use it) and if they have been sitting for a long time without use, you may not be able to sake it enough to break up the clumps.

 

[celaeno]

API says they don't expire

actually, each of the api test kits have an expiration date. you can visit the 'manufacturer info' of my site for information of the exp dates for different kinds of api test kits.

 

[rdd1952]

The only thing I can find on the bottle is a Lot# which according to this thread is actually the manufacture date. The one I have in front of me now says Lot# 18A0206 and according to the reply the person in the other thread got back from API, that would mean this particular bottle was manufactured in February of 2006. I do see where they say most last for 3 years and the nitrite and pH for 4. Most of us will have used them well before that.

 

[celaeno]

sorry, i meant that each test kit has a manufacturing date that can be found in the lot no.