[nunch]

E-mail from API explaining expiration dates.

"Thank you very much for contacting us regarding our products. All of your
comments and questions are valuable. We use your feedback to create the most
effective line of aquarium and pond products available.

Sorry for the delay we are backed up due to the start of a busy pond season.
In response to your question, each reagent bottle has a Lot # printed on
the bottle. The last four digits are the month and year of manufacture. Example:
Lot # 28A0107. This is a pH reagent manufactured in January of 2007. Pond Care
Wide Range pH, Ammonia, High Range pH, Nitrate, Phosphate, Copper, Calcium and
GH all last for three years. Nitrite and KH will last for four years. Freshwater
pH (low range) and Pond Care Salt Level will last for five years. I would not
use or trust these kits after they have expired."

If you have any other questions or wish to discuss this further, please email
back or give us a call at 1-800-847-0659.
Best Regards,
Nathan Fekula
Technical Service and Research
Mars Fishcare

50 EAST HAMILTON ST
PO BOX 218
CHALFONT, PA 18914-0218

E+nfekula@AQUARIUMPHARM.C OM

[nunch]

After reading this I checked and my water kit (the whole kit) expired last month.

[Uvajed]

Originally Posted by nunch

After reading this I checked and my water kit (the whole kit) expired last month.

I used to work in quality control for the automotive industry. I'll bet your test kit is good for a couple more months (perhaps a year). Due to litigation, the expiration dates are not really 'expired', there is a lag time, and this is their way to cover their butts. If you have questions, buy a new kit, and do comparison tests for the kits. I'll bet you 10 bucks, there's nothing wrong with a kit which has expired a month ago.

It's not like it's milk.

[nunch]

I agree, I've already compared it's still on but soon it won't be. we're talking 3 yrs.

[Uvajed]

Three years, well, I didn't want to say so, but there is a HUGE variation on testing supplies. Hence, my litigation comment. That is the deciding factor in expiration dates, better safe than millions of dollars in lawsuits.

[adam jenkins]

Great info.I just checked mine and only have 3 months 'till exp.