How often do you replace your test kits?

[aarbutina]

I'm am sure this has been discuss before, but I wasn't able to find a thread quickly. What I am wondering is how often everyone is swapping out their test kits to use fresh reagents.

From time to time when I am having some issue in my tank I start to question whether the results that I am obtaining when I am doing my testing are accurate. The first thing I always wonder is how old are my reagents, and then I look and realize that I have been using this same kit of over 2 years. While most test kits come with an expiry, like most raw chemicals I would imagine that this date is the "unopened". Has anyone ever had this same thought? Do you swap out your reagents on a regular schedule?

And go.....

 

[Reeferdood]

I test often enough that I never have any kits hit the date before they are used up.

 

[DieHardPhotog-Reefer]

^^^Same here... we're so new that we're testing out the wazoo!! With the exception of the Red Sea Marine Kit that we started with, all of our Hanna Checkers have run out of reagents and they've been replaced especially alkalinity and phosphates. Most of the Red Sea agents are running low as well.

 

[aarbutina]

I test often enough that I never have any kits hit the date before they are used up.

Very good point. I guess my testing schedule of some things isn't a rigid as it is of others. Normally I try to do Alk every day, but it can slip to every other day. But things like CA and Mg I normally only do once a week.

In this case in particular I am wondering about my Mg kit. It is two years old and my readings all show that my Mg levels are normal, but I can't seem to raise my Alkalinity above 7.3-7.5 and when i add beyond a couple mL of liquid soda ash at a time there is a visible precipitation event. I don't see any evidence of precipitation on my pumps or heaters but I am wondering if my Mg levels are lower than they are reading, and hence the precipitation.

 

[Reeferdood]

Very good point. I guess my testing schedule of some things isn't a rigid as it is of others. Normally I try to do Alk every day, but it can slip to every other day. But things like CA and Mg I normally only do once a week.

In this case in particular I am wondering about my Mg kit. It is two years old and my readings all show that my Mg levels are normal, but I can't seem to raise my Alkalinity above 7.3-7.5 and when i add beyond a couple mL of liquid soda ash at a time there is a visible precipitation event. I don't see any evidence of precipitation on my pumps or heaters but I am wondering if my Mg levels are lower than they are reading, and hence the precipitation.

When in doubt I always try a different kit and see if they are close. If you are dosing 2 part, are you adding calcium too?

 

[mckinney0171]

I replace them only when I run out.

 

[aarbutina]

When in doubt I always try a different kit and see if they are close. If you are dosing 2 part, are you adding calcium too?

Yup I am adding calcium too.

 

[MTBake]

I replace them when they run out. Which is usually well before the expiration date. I also keep at least 2 different brands for each test. That way I can compare results if I get a funny reading with one kit.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Whats a test kit?? After 30+ years of reefing, I rarely if ever use one
I let the fish and corals tell me when I need to make adjustments which is rarely to never

 

[madweazl]

Don't think I've had one expire. I test the following every Saturday morning (or the day prior to a water change if I'm off schedule for some reason):

Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphates
Nitrates

If I change a dose I'll generally check that parameter a couple times over the week to see if I've got it right.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Don't think I've had one expire. I test the following every Saturday morning (or the day prior to a water change if I'm off schedule for some reason):

Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphates
Nitrates

If I change a dose I'll generally check that parameter a couple times over the week to see if I've got it right.

 

[madweazl]

Every Sunday morning unless I'm out of town for work.

 

[ritter6788]

I bought a saltwater API kit when I got into the hobby in ‘08. I still used it almost 10 years later and it still worked fine. Alk was the only thing I went through a lot of test kits for.

 

[Oliver d]

Only when expired or when empty,test everything once a week.

 

[gcrawford]

All my test kits have been in the closet for 4 years...... I even bought the fancy digital ones (different color units for each test - forgot the brand it's been so long).