I May Just Be Cheap, But Wouldn't This Save Us Money?

[woody189]

I have API test kits and they call for 5 mL of water each. I was wondering if I can just halve the water and halve the chemicals? For example, the Ammonia kit calls for 5mL of water, 8 drops of bottle 1, and 8 drops of bottle 2.
Why can't I just use 2.5 mL and 4 drops each? I can double the uses and save a whole 12 seconds of my life by having to count 1/2 the number of drops.
I realize the kits are inexpensive to begin with, but why not make them last? Would this not work for any reason?

 

[mr. limpid]

Try it out and let us know. But it seams my kits last longer then the expiration date, so I'll continue to fill it to the mark just a habit.

 

[woody189]

Will do when I get my new test kits. But I'm wondering if there can be anything wrong with it. I may get the same readings with a full and a half test, but that may not necessarily mean that it's accurate.
I'll probably continue to just do full tests, I was just curious.

 

[beaslbob]

sure that would work.
But I highly recommend you use the kits as designed.
my .02

 

[mr. limpid]

If you feel your test may be inaccurate, take some water to LFS and have them test it to compare. Or I actual had bought 3 different manufactures to compare. My result where that API were the same and cheaper. But I did this several years ago, manufactures have a tendency to change there products over time.

 

[woody189]

Ok. I'll keep doing normal tests. I was just curious is all. I don't really see why it wouldn't work, but the tests are so cheap that I probably shouldn't risk it.
Good to know Mr Lipid. Everyone seems to trust API, but it's always nice to see that they are still reliable