Test kit shelf life's??

[Trevdawg]

I hope I am posting this in the right spot. I tried to search this and didn't come up with anything.

So the last tank I started was about 2 and a half years ago. I still have an old test kit for the basics; ammonia, ph, nitrite, and nitrate.
After a while I stopped testing these because I was always doing water changes and it wasn't high. I moved on testing for corals; calcium,mag,alk...

So I am starting my tank and still have this API Saltwater test kit. Do you think it will even be somewhat accurate??

Let me know what you think.

I used a really really old one and the nitrite stank horribly!!! This was API too. There was an instance ocean kit I found to and it said best before 2010. If that gives you an idea.
This was in the box of random stuff the dude gave me with the tank.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

API test kits should be good for about three years. You can find the lot code which will tell when the kit was manufactured. It will be a 4 digit number. The first two numbers are the month and the last two are the year.

 

[ritter6788]

I use my first API test kits I bought nearly 5 years ago. :whip: Bought in May 2008. I used them the other day on a frag tank set up and they seemed to work fine.

 

[Trevdawg]

The API kit I have from 2 years seems good for now.

The one I used yesterday from many many years ago, not only stank but you can feel how the liquid was thick and hard to put drops.