Api GH test seems off

[DebD]

Following the gh test instructions, the color stays yellow. This is 1 Co-op test strip I had left and it may be old. I used another 3 trying to figure this out. I'm setting up a snail tank atm. When I got weird readings I tested my prolific cherry neos tank and these are the readings.  It makes no sense. 

I was about to test Equilibrium in a cycled plant only 10g and/or a 5g that I have to bump up my ph and hardness, for future dosage reference. The 10g previously had a betta that passed with a tumor and a mystery snail that's now mating/producing clutches in another tank. 

Feeling clueless. 

Edited January 3, 2023 by DebD

[DebD]

. I feed a lot of calcium and include cuttlebone, crushed coral etc . Thanks 😁 

[DebD]

On 1/3/2023 at 2:15 PM, Pepere said:

If you have Equilibrium I would dose a sample of water and restest…

 So, if you had a 5 gallon bucket of tap ....

It is a way to confirm if your test kit is still good.

Sigh... it's supposed to be good thru 2024. 😕 

[DebD]

Yes 😕

[CT_]

How many drops is that photo?  You're supposed to keep adding until it turns green.  Perhaps your water is harder than you think?

[CT_]

On 1/3/2023 at 1:16 PM, Pepere said:

Actually I just looked up directions.  It is KH that is initially yellow, and turns blue in exposure to carbonates.

I was going by memory before as I am not at my house with tanks and test kit…

GH solution is green and turns orange in presence of general hardness.

 

if your GH solution is yellow something is clearly wrong

[DebD]

On 1/3/2023 at 4:14 PM, CT_ said:

How many drops is that photo?  You're supposed to keep adding until it turns green.  Perhaps your water is harder than you think?

That's the tap which has about a 6.4-6.8 PH.   Used 5 then 10 drops

 

Total TDS tap:

Treated w/ Equilibrium as per above - Photo 1

Tap w/Prime - photo 2

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by DebD

[DebD]

Its on the yellow side 

[DebD]

On 1/3/2023 at 5:08 PM, Pepere said:

Is the solution coming out of the bottle green?

It's more a dark yellow. I went on Amazon to look at it and there are a lot of comments about the same issue as if some lots were bad 

Edited January 4, 2023 by DebD

[nabokovfan87]

On 1/3/2023 at 11:02 AM, DebD said:

Age of the strip aside, It looks like there's contamination as well as time issues with the test itself.  Whenever you see multiple colors you generally have to retest to verify something.
 

Email API, have them send a replacement, no big deal.  Get yourself some new test strips, also useful.

Hopefully you're able to sort it out.  I would test.....
A. Water from the tap
B. Water aerated after 24 hours from the tap
C. Your tank.

Hopefully B and C match.

My gut tells me your water company crashed PH on your tank.
 

[DebD]

I knew the straps were old. My tap is always low acidic, plus driftwood and plants. In March with snow run off they bump stuff up. 

Gh/kh was always low but I supplement with things I listed previously. 

 

Yes I need a test that works to finish my experimenting 😁on 2 existing fish-less tanks by bumping the gh/kh up a smidgen for my snails and shrimp.  

I guess I'm just irritated this api test is bad

[nabokovfan87]

On 1/3/2023 at 9:04 PM, DebD said:

I knew the straps were old. My tap is always low acidic, plus driftwood and plants. In March with snow run off they bump stuff up. 

Gh/kh was always low but I supplement with things I listed previously. 

 

Yes I need a test that works to finish my experimenting 😁on 2 existing fish-less tanks by bumping the gh/kh up a smidgen for my snails and shrimp.  

I guess I'm just irritated this api test is bad

Have you thought about using Seiryu stone as a buffer?

[Rube_Goldfish]

Every so often if I get some weird or unexpected test results I bring a sample to my LFS to double check. It's sort of a hedge both on gone-bad reagents/strips and my own user error.