Mr. Saltwater Tank TV Friday Am Quick Tip: Even This Saltwater Tank Gear Expires
Bananas, uncooked meat and whiny girlfriends…all items that expire after a certain amount of time. Believe it or not, one item that you use (or should use) frequently around your saltwater tank can expire too. Here’s what to watch for and why it is important.
Links in this video: www.mrsaltwatertank.com/testkits
Browse the Store! Questions?
Good tip Mark, what gets me is local pet stores will sell expired kits and think nothing of it.
Pet stores will happily sell you expired test kits, and even use them themselves to test your water you bring in. I even found several expired packages of PODs at one, and they seem to think nothing of it. If you find this, run do not walk out of there because there will be nothing worth your time in that store. Not to mention plenty of bad advise.
Great tip Mark…what’s the name of those small little fish you have between the 42-46 second range? The look no bigger than a paperclip.
Thanks
Devin
@Devin – those look like Neon Gobies (Elacatinus), but not 100% sure.
Mark – is it possible for a test kit to expire or go bad before it’s time? And if so, what sort of environmental factor can cause this to happened? Heat, Cold, contamination, Exposure to light?
Good tip Mark, “Bananas, uncooked meat and whiny girlfriends…all items that expire after a certain amount of time.” ……Awesome.
So true! My nitrate test got left in the attic for a few
Months and I’m not sure why ( I guess it expired) but every time after that I tested for nitrates and it showed 0 ppm. I bought a new test and 75 gallon reef showed 15! Big surprise! Now I’m looking for this a lot more.
How come you don’t put all your videos on YouTube anymore?
Mark, did you or one of the test kit suppliers watch my YouTube rant concerning this topic!!!! Hmmmmm
Yes what was that small fish. Was it a feeder fish?
Right at 40 seconds you’ll see 2 small fish right in the middle. Not the Neon Gobies…they are smaller.
They look like blue Dart fish or blue gudgeons something like that
Test kits expire?
It’s a chemical compound created by men, it is tested and tested.
I think it might dry out or get contaminated, but expire : nah I don’t see that happening.
For foods and other materials, yes I can see this happening.
I’ll inform at one of the vendors 🙂
Thanks for starting my brain up again and checking my inventory.
a big one IMO is iodine the reagent goes bad fast if stored in any type of light and MUST be kept in a cool dark place when ever possible. I had a kit that was stored near a window and the reagent went bad after a month giving me a crazy reading until I figured out what was the problem.
Glad to see a list based on results not products that a store or web sire sells.