Test Kits - Expiration

[Quake2player]

I think I know the answer to this... but I have old test kits (PH, nitrate, nitrite, etc.) and they've all expired a few years. Yeah, I've been lucky enough to keep stable tanks and not have to test em for years at this point.

And I have a little bit of the pack-rat mentality in my genes... so should I just toss out the PH strips and test kits?

Is this the Test kit everyone seems to recommend here (currently on sale):
Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit

I'll take any other suggestions. Thanks in advance!

 

[WhiteDevil]

Strips are junk, toss em either way.

Yes the kits are expired and will give false readings, been there done that.

The "master" test kit is more of a starter test kit especially for the planted tank.

 

[cmor1701d]

Liquid test kits have an expiratin of one - three years from manufacture. API has a code on the bottle that tells you when it was made:

"Each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed on the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of manufacture. Example: Lot # 28A0102. This is a pH reagent manufactured in January of 2002. Pond Care Wide Range pH, ammonia, High Range pH, 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 trust these
kits after they have expired...

Liquid Nitrate Test Kits from any manufacturer can have a common problem
with their last test solution. For some companies, it is bottle number
3, but for us it is bottle number 2. One of the ingredients wants to
solidify out of liquid solution. If the test bottle sits for any period
of time, this can happen. If this does happen and the test is performed
without Bottle # 2 mixed properly, then you can get a falsely low
reading. I have never heard of falsely high readings with Nitrate Kits.
I would try tapping your Bottle # 2 a few times on a table or counter
top. This should loosen-up anything that has solidified. Then I would
shake this bottle for about 2-3 minutes, to really mix it up. Try the
test again and hopefully this will fix your problem. With regular weekly
usage, this bottle should only need to be shaken for 30-60 seconds.

Always check results at the recommended duration of time. Letting the
tubes sit longer can result in falsely high levels...

You do touch the test tube to the color card."

 

[HUKIT]

For what it's worth I have a API test kit that expired in 2001. Two weeks ago for giggles I tested all levels of ph,ammonia,nitrite,KH,GH and nitrate with the expired kit and my newly purchased kit and the results were exactly the same. I tested it twice to be sure but as was stated above API does claim they expire.