alkalinity

[Freckles]

I bought the salifert alkalinity test yesterday and dont understand how to get the reading. I put the reagent into the water, which turned pink with the first drop I put in there. Now, how do I get the plunger to move?????????? Can someone please help me

[Spanky]

Freck,

Alk tests are pretty much standard. You should have a green/blue color first. Seeing as how it's a one step test with the indicator added first, and then titrated with a reagent - are you sure you added the right thing first?

Anywho about the plunger. Can you soak the syringe in hot water until it loosens up? If so, you can lubricate the rubber washer thing with silicon. If not, you're probably using a one ml = one cc syringe which you can pick up from the pharmacist at the drug store.

If you did go from green/blue to pink with the first drop, you need to seriously think about adding some buffer to that system.

hth
Jerel

[Freckles]

Spanky,
Whats a good buffer? Does that mean with the one drop, that I have a low level of alkalinity?

[Spanky]

Freckles, If you did that test right, it means you have extremely low to none on the alk.

What we use we make ourselves, it's the same thing you would buy as Kent SuperBuffer though. It works very well for us.

Jerel

[Green Chromis]

Hi Freckles, How did you add the KH reagent if the 1ml. syringe was not working? You need to dispense the regent from the syringe filled to the 1ml. mark into the test vial after you added 2 drops of KH indicator into 4ml. of your aquarium water. Hope this helps.

[Freckles]

Ok, I think I figured it out, just let me clarify:

When I added the 2nd chemical, I thoght the whole syringe (1 ml) was considered 1 drop So, I pushed the syringe down until 1 drop came out individually, not one big squirt. So, when ever the water turns to pink, is that where the black thing will be at the mark to read? I think I made it more difficult on myself than it should have been!

[Spanky]

LOL I did that too

Be sure to add it one drop at a time and mix between drops. Slowly for a more accurate reading. This thing goes from blue to pink - right? Be sure there's no blue tint left at the end. Sometimes after it turns pink - if you mix a little longer you'll see a blue cast develop again. Add one more drop and mix again.

HTH
Jerel

[Freckles]

Spanky,
My alkalinity is. 20 or 4.57.
Gee, I feel like such a dork now!

[Spanky]

Look up ^

See the cow with the beenie? that's me.