Test kit not working?

[rcalzadilla]

Have two AquariumPharmaceutical test kits (one box is green and the other blue/yellow) and in both the KH works but the GH doesn't.
One kit is over a year old and the other about 10 months.

The GH solution doesn't turn orange at all. At one drop both kits turn kind of a light yellow. Added 12 drops and never turns green.
Tested by adding 1tbs baking soda to a glass of tap water and the test never turns green, as it should.

I'm in Maimi, Florida and water has a lot of minerals, for sure.

Any similar experiences?

[thorpbrian]

Did you try banging it against the table and shaking it for a few minutes?

[lookit]

I have found the API kit for GH very hard to read. I have very soft water in my tanks, so I'm going to get a low reading after only 1 - maybe 4 drops. What I've found helps is to hold the test tube against a white napkin. Basically, I lay a napkin on the table, add a drop to the test tube, shake the tube, then stand it on the white napkin. I make sure that I hold the tube with one finger on the rim. That way, I don't get a color distortion from my hand. I've never seen the water turn ORANGE, more like a very faint yellow on the orangish side. I keep adding solution one drop at a time until I get a very faint greenish tinge. If in doubt, I add one more drop, but like you, I never get a distinct GREEN. I agree that the test is very hard to read -- not at all like the KH test.

[coach_z]

are you shaking in between drops as instructed??

i dont know much from the scientific end but 1 tbs of baking soda to 8oz of water seems like a lot of baking soda and would require a lot of drops to get a color change.

[CWO4GUNNER]

With very hard tap water I have to test before each water chnage to make sure the prior night recharge of zeolites in the softener brought GH down from 600 to 18. Before the recharge the test is always yellow/orange and requires about 12 drops then after recharge only 1 drop and it green right off. The initial color is never a perfect orange

[rcalzadilla]

are you shaking in between drops as instructed??

i dont know much from the scientific end but 1 tbs of baking soda to 8oz of water seems like a lot of baking soda and would require a lot of drops to get a color change.

You, ofcourse, are right.
thanks