Can water test kits go bad? - Aquarium Advice

SilviaGTO · 03-18-2004, 10:03 PM

I have a freshwater test kit (drops not strips), and ive had it for maybe a year, little longer.

When I do my nitrites, pH and so forth, it all comes out fine and gives what im assuming are somewhat accurate results.

When I do the ammonia test however, everytime its been turning a dark brown. its not even a yellow color to the scale.

I dont think my ammonia is that far off the scale because all my fish are happy and healthy and not stressed right now.

So.. can these tests go bad after a while?

Menagerie · 03-18-2004, 10:39 PM

There was a thread in which someone mentioned how to interpret the dates on the tests. I forget how it was done, but all chemicals have a shelf life. The other thing that may have happened to the ammonia test is some sort of contaminate got in there.

**An t-iasg** · 03-19-2004, 01:15 AM

I agree -- the chemicals do have a shelf life. If they are a year old, I would buy a new kit. I just replaced my kits after having them for a little over a year too. The kits with the dropper bottles are good. I use the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals brand. I did have the test strips once -- they always seemed to register the same result all the time.

ChileRelleno · 03-19-2004, 04:41 AM

Is this test a nessler or salicylate reagent based test? The nessler test can give false or weird readings when testing water that has been treated with ammonia products i.e Amquel or Ammo-lok. Have you used any of these or other chemicals in your tank lately? I bought a nessler based kit and got brown test results after using Amquel.
The salicylate based kits will not have these problems

.
If your test kit uses one bottle of solution to test it is nessler, two bottles of solution is salicylate.

SilviaGTO · 03-19-2004, 06:29 AM

Well I do have amquel and I used it.

How do I see what kind of chemical based test I have?

I have the aquarium pharmaceuticals master freshwater kit.

dralarms · 03-19-2004, 06:52 AM

Quote:

If your test kit uses one bottle of solution to test it is nessler, two bottles of solution is salicylate.

Well that's info I didn't have.

Thanks, Now I know that my AP test kit is nessler type. Lucky for me I don't use ammo-lock or Ammquel.

ChileRelleno · 03-19-2004, 01:00 PM

My pleasure to share in any way I can, and learn so much from y'all too.

noteworthy · 03-19-2004, 03:14 PM

I had this topic going around a while back.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=19652

It shows the 'Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' dates for their drop tests.

Menagerie · 03-19-2004, 06:36 PM

Quote:

I had this topic going around a while back.

I was looking for that!!

ChileRelleno · 03-20-2004, 03:02 PM

Thats some good info I didn't know that I had wondered about. With timeframes like those unless your [acronym:71aaf5fce4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:71aaf5fce4] or their wholesaler has had it in stock for a year or two then your good to go. A test kit last me little less than a year on average.
Learn something new every visit to this site

.

03-18-2004, 10:03 PM	#1
SilviaGTO Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 26	Can water test kits go bad? I have a freshwater test kit (drops not strips), and ive had it for maybe a year, little longer. When I do my nitrites, pH and so forth, it all comes out fine and gives what im assuming are somewhat accurate results. When I do the ammonia test however, everytime its been turning a dark brown. its not even a yellow color to the scale. I dont think my ammonia is that far off the scale because all my fish are happy and healthy and not stressed right now. So.. can these tests go bad after a while? __________________ 'It's mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack; not rationality. ' -Kill Bill

03-18-2004, 10:39 PM	#2
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 10,931 Images: 77	There was a thread in which someone mentioned how to interpret the dates on the tests. I forget how it was done, but all chemicals have a shelf life. The other thing that may have happened to the ammonia test is some sort of contaminate got in there. __________________

03-19-2004, 04:41 AM	#4
ChileRelleno Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alabama,USA Posts: 636 Images: 10	ammonia test kit Is this test a nessler or salicylate reagent based test? The nessler test can give false or weird readings when testing water that has been treated with ammonia products i.e Amquel or Ammo-lok. Have you used any of these or other chemicals in your tank lately? I bought a nessler based kit and got brown test results after using Amquel. The salicylate based kits will not have these problems . If your test kit uses one bottle of solution to test it is nessler, two bottles of solution is salicylate. __________________ If your going to take one of Gods creatures into your care, Then you need to "CARE" for it! Skydivers know why the birds sing. A Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what to have for lunch. A Republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote. www.oscarfish.com my main on-line playground.

03-19-2004, 06:29 AM	#5
SilviaGTO Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 26	Well I do have amquel and I used it. How do I see what kind of chemical based test I have? I have the aquarium pharmaceuticals master freshwater kit. __________________ 'It's mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack; not rationality. ' -Kill Bill

03-19-2004, 01:00 PM	#7
ChileRelleno Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alabama,USA Posts: 636 Images: 10	My pleasure to share in any way I can, and learn so much from y'all too. __________________ If your going to take one of Gods creatures into your care, Then you need to "CARE" for it! Skydivers know why the birds sing. A Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what to have for lunch. A Republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote. www.oscarfish.com my main on-line playground.

03-19-2004, 01:15 AM	#3
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 6,984 Images: 40	I agree -- the chemicals do have a shelf life. If they are a year old, I would buy a new kit. I just replaced my kits after having them for a little over a year too. The kits with the dropper bottles are good. I use the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals brand. I did have the test strips once -- they always seemed to register the same result all the time.

03-19-2004, 03:14 PM	#8
noteworthy Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 359 Images: 14	I had this topic going around a while back. http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=19652 It shows the 'Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' dates for their drop tests.

03-20-2004, 03:02 PM	#10
ChileRelleno Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alabama,USA Posts: 636 Images: 10	Exp dates Thats some good info I didn't know that I had wondered about. With timeframes like those unless your [acronym:71aaf5fce4="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:71aaf5fce4] or their wholesaler has had it in stock for a year or two then your good to go. A test kit last me little less than a year on average. Learn something new every visit to this site . __________________ If your going to take one of Gods creatures into your care, Then you need to "CARE" for it! Skydivers know why the birds sing. A Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what to have for lunch. A Republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote. www.oscarfish.com my main on-line playground.

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