abc reagents don't expire?

[TokenReefer]

Does anyone know what this means? From https://abcreagents.com/pages/contact

Does that mean they don't expire or they just didn't put a date on it?

Neptune says theirs expire in 2 months. The abc bottles I got (a while ago) are not sealed, just capped. Neptune seals theirs...

Apologies if this is not chemistry related; maybe equipment related? Idk

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is chemistry, and yes, reagents get old. They don't say the reagents last forever, jsut that they do not tell you how old they are.

FWIW, I'm not a fan of this company.

 

[Blitheran]

On Coral Vue:

Technical Specifications​

• Bottle Size: 250ml per reagent
• Shelf Life: 24 months unopened
• Storage: Room temperature, avoid direct sunlight
• Compatibility: Most automated aquarium testing systems

Return Policy: Due to the nature of chemical reagents, ABC Reagents are non-returnable once shipped.

 

[TokenReefer]

I got these before they partnered with coral vue I believe; so pretty old now I suppose. The trident was offline for a while. Since its been back up I've used Neptune's reagents but when it just ran out I tried the bottle of reagent A from ABC and I'm getting high alk numbers. It would be helpful to put a date on it; whether its accurate or not I have no way to gauge the age; even before it's bought. 24 months unopened...are the new bottles sealed?

 

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

I got these before they partnered with coral vue I believe; so pretty old now I suppose. The trident was offline for a while. Since its been back up I've used Neptune's reagents but when it just ran out I tried the bottle of reagent A from ABC and I'm getting high alk numbers. It would be helpful to put a date on it; whether its accurate or not I have no way to gauge the age; even before it's bought. 24 months unopened...are the new bottles sealed?

I mean it would have to be recalibrated if you're using different reagents.

 

[TokenReefer]

I mean it would have to be recalibrated if you're using different reagents.

Great point!

 

[mmorrison55]

I bought the mix at home gallon size and it started out great. But last month or so, the b and c reagents are constantly failing to test. I think they have gone bad.

I say that, because when I received the test b and c fail messages before, the only way I could get past it was to add new ca and mg reagent bottles from Neptune. As soon as I swapped them out, the test started running again.

I did have them in clear glass 1 gallon bottles for storage in my closet. Is it possible,using clear glass for storage quickened their expiration?

The alk has been fine. Ive used 1 gallon of the abc reagent and it’s been testing steady. So not sure why may is still good, but b/c have expired.

Long story to say, I don’t think I will buy abc again unless sits no more than a 6 mo supply.

 

[mmorrison55]

On a side note, im seriously considering to selling my trident and picking up an aquawiz or aquarino kh to test alk hourly without reagents, and just forget about testing ca and mg except occasionally with my Hanna.

 

[BeanAnimal]

It is chemistry, and yes, reagents get old. They don't say the reagents last forever, jsut that they do not tell you how old they are.

FWIW, I'm not a fan of this company.

I don't know that you have ever said why.

I contacted the owner a several years ago with what would have amounted to a possible business opportunity. He was not at all a pleasant person or somebody I ever care to talk to again.

 

[braaap]

It is chemistry, and yes, reagents get old. They don't say the reagents last forever, jsut that they do not tell you how old they are.

FWIW, I'm not a fan of this company.

Of course you aren’t a fan.

Been using ABC reagents for 4+ years now. Flawless results with their premixed stuff and the bulk kits. Results don’t drift. Within margin of error of my Hanna and salifert. Great stuff for half the price.

 

[braaap]

I don't know that you have ever said why.

I contacted the owner a several years ago with what would have amounted to a possible business opportunity. He was not at all a pleasant person or somebody I ever care to talk to again.

I agree with that. Had the same experience. He isn’t pleasant. He is actually a jerk. That said his product is cheaper than Neptunes and has been perfectly consistent.

 

[mmorrison55]

Of course you aren’t a fan.

Been using ABC reagents for 4+ years now. Flawless results with their premixed stuff and the bulk kits. Results don’t drift. Within margin of error of my Hanna and salifert. Great stuff for half the price.

How long did your bulk reagents last, and how did you store them? As I said, I bought 4, 1 gallon, clear glass bottles, thinking the glass would be better than a typical milk jug container, but my b and c reagents are constantly failing. Ive just used 1 gallon of the alk reagent (1/2 the bulk supply) and alk seems to still be fine. So not sure why the ca and mg has seemed to have expired. Hoping the chem forum could,shed some insight.

 

[areefer01]

Neptune says theirs expire in 2 months. The abc bottles I got (a while ago) are not sealed, just capped. Neptune seals theirs...

Actually Neptune Trident ACM (Alk, Ca, Mg) reagents have a shelf life of 6 months. It is stamped on the box. Of course this will depend on the source of purchase and how long they sat on them. Neptune NP is a different situation. They also only come in 2 month packaging.

Also worth mentioning is that recently the Trident ACM 6 month kit packaging has changed (shipping/law changes?) and you get them all in one box now. You will notice that they have all the same lot numbers now which is nice.

I am aware that some disregard lot numbers but my reply is simple. Talk to any tile installer.

 

[braaap]

How long did your bulk reagents last, and how did you store them? As I said, I bought 4, 1 gallon, clear glass bottles, thinking the glass would be better than a typical milk jug container, but my b and c reagents are constantly failing. Ive just used 1 gallon of the alk reagent (1/2 the bulk supply) and alk seems to still be fine. So not sure why the ca and mg has seemed to have expired. Hoping the chem forum could,shed some insight.

I’ve not had them go bad. Because if sealed and kept in a dark area that isn’t a thing. I use the BRS mixing jugs to make the reagent. I only do 1 gallon of A at a time. I just made another gallon 2 weeks ago and my results stayed the same. No wild deviations. No calibration necessary. Just steady results test after test.

Best way to get rid of the no tests thing is to fill your reagents before they run out. Swapping to Neptune won’t magically fix that issue. But the few times I’ve had that issue I’ve “run out” of reagent and the system was mad until I said I replaced them and do a factory default reset and primed everything 3 or 4 times.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't know that you have ever said why.

I contacted the owner a several years ago with what would have amounted to a possible business opportunity. He was not at all a pleasant person or somebody I ever care to talk to again.

He was on in a thread discussing the idea a few years ago. The thread did not go well. Curiously, I asked about expiration claims there and did not get a satisfactory response.

But the reason I do not support them is that in that thread, he seems to create a shill account that claimed to have a positive experience with the company as a separate person. Someone misleading readers to boost sales is not acceptable to reef2reef or to me.


[dead link removed]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Of course you aren’t a fan.

Sorry, I’m not understanding that comment. :)

 

[Aqua Ultraviolet]

Does anyone know what this means? From https://abcreagents.com/pages/contact

Does that mean they don't expire or they just didn't put a date on it?

Neptune says theirs expire in 2 months. The abc bottles I got (a while ago) are not sealed, just capped. Neptune seals theirs...

Apologies if this is not chemistry related; maybe equipment related? Idk

Good info here, thanks everyone. Sounds like the takeaway is: ABC doesn't publish an expiration date, but CoralVue lists a 24-month shelf life unopened once opened/capped (not sealed), that clock likely moves faster, especially if exposed to light (mmorrison55's clear glass storage may have sped up the B/C degradation). My high alk reading was probably a mix of aged reagent + needing a recalibration after switching from Neptune's reagents mid-stream. Going forward I'll date my bottles on arrival and buy only what I'll use in ~6 months.

 

[mmorrison55]

I’ve not had them go bad. Because if sealed and kept in a dark area that isn’t a thing. I use the BRS mixing jugs to make the reagent. I only do 1 gallon of A at a time. I just made another gallon 2 weeks ago and my results stayed the same. No wild deviations. No calibration necessary. Just steady results test after test.

Best way to get rid of the no tests thing is to fill your reagents before they run out. Swapping to Neptune won’t magically fix that issue. But the few times I’ve had that issue I’ve “run out” of reagent and the system was mad until I said I replaced them and do a factory default reset and primed everything 3 or 4 times.

I agree, it’s best to not let them go empty. Tbh, the only ones to ever go empty are the “A” since they are tested the most. It whenever I replace a, I fill b and c.

Last time I kept getting b and c errors, I happened to have new Neptune branded reagents and just swapped them out. As soon as I did, errors ceased.

After the neptunes were used up this time, I poured from my abc reagent bottles and started getting errors again. Hence the reason I suspect the reagents have gone bad.

 

[BeanAnimal]

He was on in a thread discussing the idea a few years ago. The thread did not go well. Curiously, I asked about expiration claims there and did not get a satisfactory response.

But the reason I do not support them is that in that thread, he seems to create a shill account that claimed to have a positive experience with the company as a separate person. Someone misleading readers to boost sales is not acceptable to reef2reef or to me.

You can see my comment in the link below. Reading the rest of the thread gives more details, but a number of posts have been removed for TOS violations.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...agnesium-reagents.694871/page-4#post-10147118

The whole thread is locked, but that is fine. It just further reinforces what I gathered from my personal experience with the owner.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh, sorry, I forgot about that. There were some serious issues involved, so it was removed entirely.