Test Kit Expirary

Phillybean · 05/13/2008, 06:24 PM

Do test kits have an expirary date?

I picked up a 30 gallon tall today, free in the local classifieds. The lady was giving away what was left of her sons tanks as he moved out of the country. In the mix was a full Hagen Salt Water test kit, which looks like it was barely used. It is at least three years old...is it still good?

Phillybean · 05/13/2008, 07:54 PM

bump - anyone?

kfisc · 05/13/2008, 08:16 PM

Not familiar with a Hagen "salt water" kit, but many test kits have marked expiration dates somewhere on the package. Three years is pushing it for just about any that I know of.

chrismunn · 05/13/2008, 08:18 PM

my salifert test kits have an expiration date.

leeweber85 · 05/13/2008, 09:30 PM

Try it out and see if you get a somewhat close reading. In my experience, when they expire, they don't even come close to reading properly.... so you should be able to tell. I think most kits usually only last 1-2 years.

dwd5813 · 05/13/2008, 09:58 PM

i would always be second guessing the results. at the very least i would verify the test results with somebody else's tests, perhaps the lfs if you can't get to any others. safest bet is to get new tests though.

05/13/2008, 06:24 PM	#1
Phillybean Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kelowna B.C. Posts: 610	Test Kit Expirary Do test kits have an expirary date? I picked up a 30 gallon tall today, free in the local classifieds. The lady was giving away what was left of her sons tanks as he moved out of the country. In the mix was a full Hagen Salt Water test kit, which looks like it was barely used. It is at least three years old...is it still good? __________________ It's not how much is costs that matters, it's how much you told your wife it costs!

05/13/2008, 07:54 PM	#2
Phillybean Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kelowna B.C. Posts: 610	bump - anyone? __________________ It's not how much is costs that matters, it's how much you told your wife it costs!

05/13/2008, 08:18 PM	#4
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	my salifert test kits have an expiration date. __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

05/13/2008, 09:30 PM	#5
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	Try it out and see if you get a somewhat close reading. In my experience, when they expire, they don't even come close to reading properly.... so you should be able to tell. I think most kits usually only last 1-2 years. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

05/13/2008, 09:58 PM	#6
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	i would always be second guessing the results. at the very least i would verify the test results with somebody else's tests, perhaps the lfs if you can't get to any others. safest bet is to get new tests though. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

05/13/2008, 08:16 PM	#3
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	Not familiar with a Hagen "salt water" kit, but many test kits have marked expiration dates somewhere on the package. Three years is pushing it for just about any that I know of.