How long do test kits last?
I have a Nitrate test kit I've had for about a year an half.
Did a test on my 29gal yesterday and got a reading of 12.5, its usually around 1 - 5 (with my other test kit, which unfortunately I used up last week). I did have alot of hair algae which seems to have started to disappear quite significantly, (mainly due to my 30 snails and emerald crab). Would that contribute to a spike like that?
I don't see any dead critters, and feed very sparingly.
Now why I ask how long the test kits lasts, is because I did a 20% water change after doing the test. Re-tested and its was still 12.5, so I waited a few hours, did another test and still 12.5 The water used for changes is distilled water, a/n/n 0, even tested 0 when I tested it with this old test kit...
I have a Nitrate test kit I've had for about a year an half.
Did a test on my 29gal yesterday and got a reading of 12.5, its usually around 1 - 5 (with my other test kit, which unfortunately I used up last week). I did have alot of hair algae which seems to have started to disappear quite significantly, (mainly due to my 30 snails and emerald crab). Would that contribute to a spike like that?
I don't see any dead critters, and feed very sparingly.
Now why I ask how long the test kits lasts, is because I did a 20% water change after doing the test. Re-tested and its was still 12.5, so I waited a few hours, did another test and still 12.5 The water used for changes is distilled water, a/n/n 0, even tested 0 when I tested it with this old test kit...
