API test kits - shelf life and accuracy *PICS*

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jcardona1

jcardona1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 5, 2007
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i found something interesting today while testing my nitrates and wanting to see how my 24/7 water changer was working.

i have two API test kits. one is over 2 years old and the other is less than a year old. i would always use the older one since i assumed these things had long shelf lives. while checking my nitrates, i got about a 10ppm difference in the reading. it's not much, but the color difference gives it a bigger impact lol.

so, which should i trust? should i dump the old kit?

left is old test kit, right is the newer one...
 
Like pauly said to rocky in part 4 " hit the one in the middle"

use both and if reads out like that choose the color in the middle
 
You just calibrated the old one. Now you know it is as good as the new one...as long as you remember to subtract ten each time.

It's paid for so why trash it, right?
 
haha yeah its hard to capture in the pics, but this one is right at 20, has a slight hint of orange to it. 40-80 is just retarded. i dont know what they were thinking on that one :screwy:
 
^ good info, thanks for the link :)
 
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