Do test kits expire?

[tessalion]

I recently bought a used tank that came with A LOT of stuff including test kits. I have no idea how old they are. Theyre aquarium pharmaceuticals (sp?) master test kits. I was just wondering if they expired because im doing a fish-in cycle and have had my fish in the tank for at least 48 hrs and when i tested this morning the ammonia and nitrites were still zero. is that normal or could my test kit not be working?

 

[bala_aquarium]

some kits expire,i know some test strips definetly do though.

 

[tessalion]

i know test strips do, but this one's the drops kind

 

[JWright]

Yes, drops also expire.

However, it does take a little while for the ammonia levels to build up when doing a non-fishless cycle. That's one of the reasons it takes so long. Another benefit of fishless

~JW

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

I have an idea to tell if they are expired! Take some water out of your tank, test the water. Then drive over to your lfs, and let them test the water. If the results are different, get a new test kit. If they are the same, it works fine.

 

[tessalion]

I have an idea to tell if they are expired! Take some water out of your tank, test the water. Then drive over to your lfs, and let them test the water. If the results are different, get a new test kit. If they are the same, it works fine.

unfortunately my LFS is a couple of miles away and its raining so i dont feel up to walking that far ATM. But i might take you up on that idea tomorrow. Right now im not too concerned because all of my fish still look really healthy.