Check your test expiration dates.

Sk8r · 09/20/2021, 06:01 PM

Well to mark these in heavy black marker when you get a test. You can go some really bad places if you start chasing results from an expired test kit.

And after 2020 and the pressures of 2021, don't let old kits be your problem.

boxfishpooalot · 11/24/2021, 03:49 PM

Yes salifert potassium test expired 2018 was 370ppm and a new one 420ppm. Dont trust expired kits.

Sk8r · 11/26/2021, 01:43 PM

chasing a bad test result in the belief it's the one Truth and everything else is lying to you can kill a tank. No kidding.

Timfish · 11/29/2021, 07:41 AM

I would also add store reagents properly as heat can age them and to test new test kits or reagents against old kits or reagents.

mhurley · 11/29/2021, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

chasing a bad test result in the belief it's the one Truth and everything else is lying to you can kill a tank. No kidding.

I almost did this in the last couple months. Was chasing alkalinity from a Salifert kit that was not expired, but was close. Long story short, test said it was 7dkh and dropped to 5 over a weeks time, as I was boosting soda ash input.
Got the Hanna digital one and whoops, alk was now 12.

09/20/2021, 06:01 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Check your test expiration dates. Well to mark these in heavy black marker when you get a test. You can go some really bad places if you start chasing results from an expired test kit. And after 2020 and the pressures of 2021, don't let old kits be your problem. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/24/2021, 03:49 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Yes salifert potassium test expired 2018 was 370ppm and a new one 420ppm. Dont trust expired kits. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

11/26/2021, 01:43 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	chasing a bad test result in the belief it's the one Truth and everything else is lying to you can kill a tank. No kidding. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/29/2021, 07:41 AM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I would also add store reagents properly as heat can age them and to test new test kits or reagents against old kits or reagents. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek