Expiration date?

[da1jewfish]

Hi all! I know that test kits have some expiration (1-2yrs?)... but what about water conditioners, ie: amquel, novaqua, etc... I have used those two products for years... but I just opened a bottle that i havn't used in a while and ****, smelled like something died in there? I did use it though and everything looks good.

[J double R]

i wouldnt use anything past the expiration date.. theyre there for a reason.

[da1jewfish]

i wouldnt use anything past the expiration date.. theyre there for a reason.

If I saw an expiration date I wouldn't have posted. I havn't seen any. Are there? I never knew of them or any of those types of products to have them.

[J double R]

no expiration date... one would assume (and rightfully so) that it would not expire. but if it definitely smells bad, then something may have contaminated it or similar, and may be detrimental to your fish depending on what kind of bacteria may or may not be growing, as well as affecting the potency of the chemicals within. smell can be a pretty good indicator of something awry.

[loaches r cool]

but if it definitely smells bad, then something may have contaminated it or similar, and may be detrimental to your fish depending on what kind of bacteria may or may not be growing, as well as affecting the potency of the chemicals within. smell can be a pretty good indicator of something awry.

Have you ever used the ever popular Prime? That stuff makes me gag :thud: . Florish Excel dont smell that wonderful either. I have heard that test kits expire but never seen an experation date on them, not sure where the concensus is on that one.

[P00rColl3geBoi]

First time I heard that chemicals expired O.o What happens when they expire? The smell from Prime is just sulfer

[loaches r cool]

Yes, it smells bad like sulfur but that doesnt mean it is sulfur. I dont beleive I have ever seen a chemical anylsis of Prime but this is a quote from Sechem FAQ (http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Prime_faq.html) section would lead you to beleive it isnt actually sulfur: " Prime™has a very distinct odor that is similar to sulfur which is completely normal."

As far as test kit expiration take a look here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81268&highlight=test+kits+expire

[J double R]

yeah, prime does smell pretty raunchy, reminds me of an extremely long-overdue goldfish filter.

but when i say bad smells, i mean different than normal. am i the only person who takes a whiff of stuff like that when i open it, provided it doesnt say ammonia or toxic fumes on it?

[P00rColl3geBoi]

Yeah, I'm sorry for my misinformation loaches...I've only smelled it once...which was the first time I used it, and I decided to give it a good shake. When I opened the cap...the smell filled the small space that I stood. I don't really have a habit of smelling things lol...on a gross note...oen of my friends smells everything...everytime after we workout, he takes off his socks and shoes, then smells them by pressing them up to his face.

[loaches r cool]

Alright this thread is starting to get weird :eek:

LOL :D

[P00rColl3geBoi]

lol sorry, just what JRR said reminded me of my friend. So...what happens exactly to the chemicals once the expiration date is reached? I only run two tanks, one is a 46g bowfront and the other is a 20g quarantine tank...and I use Prime so that stuff goes down realy slow (I do about 50% water change every week). Do the chemicals just stop working or waht

[loaches r cool]

Every single chemical is going to be different. As mentioned earlier many probably dont expire. It depends more exactly what your referring too.

[Shocker6966]

Every single chemical is going to be different. As mentioned earlier many probably dont expire. It depends more exactly what your referring too.
Some will oxidize, others will decay, some will denature and some will have lost potency through ingredients evaporating out of solution. As he said, depends on the chemical itself.