jim r Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Do Test kits such as PH/GH/KH have use by dates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamstar99 Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 yes. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/t ... s_life.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Thanks for that Hamstar99 :gpo2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Interesting. I recall someone (Caryl?) saying one club had a meeting where everyone brought along pH test kits of all different age and brands, they did a comparison and found that event he expired ones still were accurate. I finally used up my API pH test kit last week (about 3 years old) and I did a test side by side with the new one and they were both identical. I guess companies need to put a date on that kind of thing after which they no longer guarantee the accuracy, but I don't think I'd throw away a kit simply because it was a week or two past it's use-by date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Yes it was me. My pH test stuff is years old and still gives the same reading as a pH meter (when I have the use of one) and newer tests :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted August 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 It is my GH test which concerns me as I could not get it to give me a reading no matter how many drops were used even on rainwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 We won a fancy test kit many years ago at a conference. I know all the other tests in that one are no longer accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 It is my GH test which concerns me as I could not get it to give me a reading no matter how many drops were used even on rainwater. You shouldn't be getting a GH reading on rainwater, unless you have limestone in your water tank!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amtiskaw Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 I've had API GH and KH kits go off. Last time I bought some I noticed they now have a use by date stamped on them. It used to be some obscure code printed on the bottle that let you figure out the manufacture date so you could look up the shelf life of the kits and figure out if yours had expired :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted August 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 The red test liquid is supposed to turn green but did not on any of my tanks or tap water or rainwater it just became a deeper and deeper red. I do regular water changes and I am fairly sure that tap water does not come out at over 2,000ppm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amtiskaw Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 If you're using API, check the date is less than 3 years old Each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed on the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of manufacture. For example: Lot # 28A0102. = Jan 2002 http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/test- ... users.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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