Salifert kh/alk test question...

[solomon08]

Hi,

Here is what I am doing:

Add 4ml to the container
Add two drops of resolution dye to container
Swirl for a second
Draw 1.0 ml into syringe with tip on
Slowly, continually add dropwise while swirling, until blue changes to Orange/red - pink color
Read syringe with tip still on

Question: Is all of the liquid in the vial suppose to turn orange or pink or just when you see that drop turn color. At some point when a drop hits the vial, I see a faint color of pink. But when I swirl it around the pink goes away.

Thanks

[Hendersonracing]

wait til you swirl and it all turns pink

[solomon08]

Originally Posted by Hendersonracing

wait til you swirl and it all turns pink

Thanks Henderson....I was just testing my tap water. What does that mean if it never turned pink? Super high or off the chart?

[Hendersonracing]

if it never turns pink than your alk is extremely high....it needs to be between 8-12dkh or 3-5 on the syringe...

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by solomon08

Thanks Henderson....I was just testing my tap water. What does that mean if it never turned pink? Super high or off the chart?

If it doesnt turn pink....fill the syringe with the reagent again, and keep dropping until it does........

And figure out just how high it really is.

[tdwyatt]

Hard water areas test high for alkalinity for ground water (and the local mains water). If your area has a lot of limestone in the ground, the pH of FW is around 7.0 to start with, much more acidic than seawater at its isoelectric buffer point (~8.2). This is why areas that have a lot of caves HAVE caves (because acidic FW dissolves the limestone over thousands of years). This dissolved calcium carbonate will act as buffer in the FW in terms of a alkalinity test response. It will require a good bit of the acid in the syringe to neutralize the dissolved calcium carbonate in the water in such areas. The indicator dye turns color when there is not any carbonate left to neutralize the dropwise addition of the acid being added, and there is a sudden drop in the overal pH of the solution. This is why it is important to swirl strongly when getting close to the endpoint of the titration after each drop. This will improve your accuracy and the reliability of your results.

HTH

[Hop]

I just read that there may be an issue with certain lots of salifert Alk kits. They are doing exactly what you are saying. The person posting the thread indicated that they have not been able to get a hold of salifert for a few months. others advised that they just ordered a new kit and everything tested normal. So at this point, I would suggest that you do nothing to correct any alk issues until you know for sure

Hope that helps some

Edit: And reading on, it appears that the owner, CEO and chemist of the company is having some personal and/or health issues and is missing in action. It looks like there are at least a few dozen people having similar issues. I wish the best for the owner.

Here is a little test you can do to see whether your alk kit is readin high... If you place 1.1 grams of baking soda in 1 gallon of distilled water will give you an alkalinity standard of 10dk. Good luck!

[skeety]

wow. Is this true?

Anyone know what's going on with Habib?

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by skeety

wow. Is this true?

Anyone know what's going on with Habib?

I believe this is idle rumor, I find it interesting that this type of rumor comes up at the same time that another brand of hobbyists' test kit becomes available in direct competition with the Salifert kits, but I am pursuing the issue anyway.

I'll post back what I find both regarding the kits and Habib.

[Hop]

I was just basing it off the hundred some posts elsewhere and the fact that he has not logged into that site for some time. I hope your not implying that I'm in some way spreading poor info at the cost of saliferts reputation.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Hop

...I hope your not implying that I'm in some way spreading poor info at the cost of saliferts reputation.

No, nothing untoward meant nor implied in my comments toward you, although I do find the timing for some of the comments at other sites to be a bit suspicious in this regard. I want to know as well, I am seeing what you're seeing, and Habib has not responded to direct inquiries from me regarding his health nor issues at Salifert.

I am more concerned that he has not been (able to?) corresponding than I am worried about issues with the product.

[Hop]

OK. I agree. I was suprised as I have never had a salifert issue and was concerned that he has not posted over there since 3/31 I think... And no one has been able to get a hold of anyone at the company. Someone just suggested they call at night due to the netherlands vs. US time. I hope that is all it is