murph
Active Member
So when I started my tank I purchased an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit. I thought nothing of screwing the caps on and leaving them on the kitchen counter in our 90 percent humidity and 90 degree FL temps. Kitchen is not airconitioned.
Then one day literally over night my trates went from almost undetectable to around ten. I added a fuge did umpteen water changes and still got the same reading from most test. I then purchased a Aquarium Systems test kit for trates. This one has the individually wrapped powder for reagent. I test with it and detect no trates at all, hmmmmm. I finally replaced my Aquarium Pharmaceuticals kit today with a fresh one and you guessed it undetectable trates.
All I can figure is the reagents went south sitting on the counter in the heat and humidity. From now on I guess I should keep em in the frigid huh. So all those water changes and fuge building while probably helpful was going toward chasing a number that didn't even exist. Maybe I should be posting this in the classics newbie mistake thread.
Edit; I guess I can stop starveing my fish now too :joy:
Then one day literally over night my trates went from almost undetectable to around ten. I added a fuge did umpteen water changes and still got the same reading from most test. I then purchased a Aquarium Systems test kit for trates. This one has the individually wrapped powder for reagent. I test with it and detect no trates at all, hmmmmm. I finally replaced my Aquarium Pharmaceuticals kit today with a fresh one and you guessed it undetectable trates.
All I can figure is the reagents went south sitting on the counter in the heat and humidity. From now on I guess I should keep em in the frigid huh. So all those water changes and fuge building while probably helpful was going toward chasing a number that didn't even exist. Maybe I should be posting this in the classics newbie mistake thread.
Edit; I guess I can stop starveing my fish now too :joy:
