Make sure you are checking your expiration dates!!

[Jedi1199]

So, I have never been the most diligent water tester in the world. As I am preparing to reintroduce corals into my tank, I am now working hard to get my parameters back in line. A few days ago, I noticed that most of my Salifert kits are expired by a couple of years. OOPs.. No biggie, just order a new set, done.

Here comes the fun part... I knew my nitrates would be high... Water changes have been few and far between with just fish in the tank. When I started testing the water last week using the old test kits, Most of my parameters were off, but not seriously out.

Today, I got the new kits and tested again... My Phosphates are OFF THE CHART!!!!

Looks like I am going to be doing daily water changes between now and when my new corals arrive next week!!

These kits DO have a shelf life and it DOES matter if you keep them up to date!!

Learn from my mistakes kids...

Happy Reefing

 

[fishface NJ]

Good luck with your new corals when they arrive! :)

 

[geologeek]

Not sure how effective water changes are going to be with dealing with your phosphate as these levels will rebound as phosphate is leached back to the water column from that bound in your rock/sand.

You may need to use an alternative method to reduce your phosphate such as lanthanum chloride or GFO.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

So, I have never been the most diligent water tester in the world. As I am preparing to reintroduce corals into my tank, I am now working hard to get my parameters back in line. A few days ago, I noticed that most of my Salifert kits are expired by a couple of years. OOPs.. No biggie, just order a new set, done.

Here comes the fun part... I knew my nitrates would be high... Water changes have been few and far between with just fish in the tank. When I started testing the water last week using the old test kits, Most of my parameters were off, but not seriously out.

Today, I got the new kits and tested again... My Phosphates are OFF THE CHART!!!!

Looks like I am going to be doing daily water changes between now and when my new corals arrive next week!!

These kits DO have a shelf life and it DOES matter if you keep them up to date!!

Learn from my mistakes kids...

Happy Reefing

Thanks for reminding me to now go check my test kits expiration dates, haha

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Today, I got the new kits and tested again... My Phosphates are OFF THE CHART!!!!

How high? Literally above the Salifert test limit?

 

[Jedi1199]

How high? Literally above the Salifert test limit?

Yes. The sample is darker than the darkest section of the card

 

[JTP424]

"We've got aunts"
"EXPIRED, EXPIRED, EXPIRED"

 

[Jedi1199]

This is not my photo, but my water tests at or above the dark blue which is 3.0

 

[Psychotic Madman]

I was told by my lfs that once opened,they are only good for 1 month. I dont need to say, i dont use that place anymore.