Bad API test kit?

[dr exum]

I’ve been using the liquid, until today mostly getting reading of zero nitrates in all tanks....

I finally got a reading when I ran out of liquid, maybe used 5 drops of nitrate bottle 1 vs 8....

I had test strips so thought I’d try those,

Got anywhere from 20-40 ppm on test strips on all tanks,,

Has anyone had bad liquid test kit experience? It’s not expired.... been running these 2 dang 75’s for 2 months now thinking they weren’t cycled.... ugh....

1st pic. Nitrate on right, looks mostly 0,

Today pic 3rd / 4th looks to be present...

 

[Rocksor]

How long did you shake nitrate bottle number 2? There's particles in it that clumps up if not used everyday, necessitating shaking vigorously for 2+ minutes.

 

[Jexnell]

More than likely you are not shaking up the Nitrite#2 bottle enough. This gives false reading. The reagent settles in the bottom and needs to VERY VIGOROUSLY shaken to get a good reading.

Paint shaker machines amount of agitation if you get my drift...

 

[TheWolfman]

X3 your most likely not following the directions. I know this because I had the same issue before. Snake it like a Polaroid picture

 

[dr exum]

How long did you shake nitrate bottle number 2? There's particles in it that clumps up if not used everyday, necessitating shaking vigorously for 2+ minutes.

That could be, a quick 5 second shake probably not good enough... probably says in the instructions to shake for 2min....

Ahh....

Thanks for tip!

 

[Rocksor]

That could be, a quick 5 second shake probably not good enough... probably says in the instructions to shake for 2min....

Ahh....

Thanks for tip!

Instructions say 30 seconds, but that's not enough if it's been sitting around for about 1 week. If you notice no liquid coming out as you squeeze, then it means there's a huge clump blocking the spout, and you need to shake very vigorously to break up the clump in the bottle and have it evenly distribute throughout the liquid.

 

[esoxlucius]

The API liquid test kits are brilliant, very popular with good reason. But to get accurate results you need to follow a few basic steps, some of which aren't even mentioned in the API instruction booklet.

Your glass vials need to be clean, no trace of previous test water in there. It is such a small amount we are testing that it dosen't take a lot of contamination to skew the results.

The test bottles need to be shaken before you squeeze out the correct measure, in the case of nitrate bottle number 2, as others as mentioned, you need to kick it's arse to hell and back. In between tests the liquid is just sat there and it quickly crystallises. You really need to break those crystals up if you want a proper result on your nitrate.

And lastly, make sure your bottles aren't out of date. Usually the best before date is printed on the side of the test bottle, this is not good because over time the lettering fades until you don't know or can't remember when it expires. As soon as I get a new test bottle I write the expiry date on the bottom in permanent marker pen.

 

[TheWolfman]

While I agree with what was posted above mostly I can say I’ve used a test kit that was 10 years old and still had accurate results

 

[esoxlucius]

While I agree with what was posted above mostly I can say I’ve used a test kit that was 10 years old and still had accurate results

I'm curious. Accurate results on what? A test liquid that you know to be of a certain number? in which case then yes I can relate to what you are saying. But if you are just testing your tank water, which can fluctuate, then how do you know that a 10yr old test kit us giving you a correct reading?

 

[TheWolfman]

I'm curious. Accurate results on what? A test liquid that you know to be of a certain number? in which case then yes I can relate to what you are saying. But if you are just testing your tank water, which can fluctuate, then how do you know that a 10yr old test kit us giving you a correct reading?

my weekly nitrate testing. I left the hobby for a few years and I used what was left in my test kit. When I ran out, I picked up a new kit and had the same readings that I would normally get during weekly maintenance. I wouldn’t be in a rush to get a new test kit if it was expired.