test kit color changes..HELP PLEASE :-)

[thefatman]

ok odd question here. Actually a few odd questions. As you may know by now, i'm very anal about checking the levels in my tanks. Sometimes to the point of twice a day. Not so much on my FW tanks, but particularly so on this SW tank. Especially after losing the scooter blenny.

I've noticed something happening when i run my tests, that does NOT happen on my FW tests. The colors change, drastically. What i mean is this. When i fill my test tube with water, add in x amount of drops for whatever test it is, it initially turns one color. I never go off the initial reading though. Then within about 5 minutes, i havea totally new color, that's usually the reading i use. However, let the tube sit another hour and i have a new color again, let it go a few more hours, your guessed it, a new color again. It's like it's never ending.. So jsut how long should i be waiting to assume that a particular color is my actual test result. Is there something in the salt that makes this happen?

next problem/question. It would seem that none of my colors actually match the color chart, not preceisly anyway. Is this normal? On my FW test kits, my colors match perfectly to the refderance chart. But on the SW that isn't happening. On my PH test, the color is usually not really a different shade, but mroeso a different hue. On nitrites, the colors match fairly well. But on Ammonia, the colors are way off. For instance, my color referance chart for ammonia has varying degrees of green/yellow. but my tube colors are actually in shades of blue with a hint of green. again more of a hue difference than a color difference. But it's annoying to try and get an accurate reading, when the hues don't match, let alone, when the colors keep changing as well!

I'll post some pictures when i get home from the office around 8 this morning, that can better explain the problem. I'll some pics of the tubes alongside the color chart, then maybe it'll make more sense what i'm delaing with.

[tdwyatt]

which brands of the kits, and what has been your methodology?

[thefatman]

i use aquarium pharmeceuticals brand tests, with the liguid dropepr bottles and test tubes. i know a lot of people have told me that the "tablet" type kits are more precise. however, i have been using the AP liquid tests for so many years on my FW tanks, that i am used to them, so i stuck with that for my SW test kit. (i'm NOT using my FW kit on the SW tank) i did buy SW tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and high range ph.

as for method, i simply fill the test tube with the correct amount of water, drop in the required amount of drops, replace the cap and shake the tube for a few seconds to get everything mixed. then i set the tube aside and wait about 5 minutes then check the results. i never shake the tube with my finger covering the opening, only the cap, since i'm aware that human skin oils and acid can change the results.

usually the color within 5 minutes is the color that will best match my color chart, with the exception of the hue, but after a few hours the color will not even resemble anything on my chart. it just seems odd to me that there is so much fluctiation in colors, but never in my SW tank. and i've always been happy with the AP line of products.

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by thefatman
i use aquarium pharmeceuticals brand tests, ... ...usually the color within 5 minutes is the color that will best match my color chart, with the exception of the hue, but after a few hours the color will not even resemble anything on my chart.

The reaction that allows this test to work continutes untill all the reactants are consumed. It has been a while since I have seen one of these kits, but I seem to remember that the test colors must be compared to the standard sheet at 5 min for accurate results. Keep in mind that there is a lot of error introduced by the subjectivity of the color comparison associated with the individual testing the sample. Better accuracy is obtained by using one of the titration test kits, where there is a definite end point as opposed to a subjective comparison to a standardized color chart. Prolly not the answer you want to hear, but it pretty much sums up the problem with these types of water test kits.

My personal suggestion is buy the Salifiert kits for these tests.

HTH

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by tdwyatt
My personal suggestion is buy the Salifiert kits for these tests.

Ditto Tom's post,,,,,might as well get them now,,,,you more than likely will get them in time anyway,,,,

[thefatman]

why did i just KNOW that was the answer i was going to get!!!

you couldn't have just said.. oh yeah, the problem is because of the salt, it happens to everyone.

thanks for the info guys.

[cath]

Originally posted by thefatman
why did i just KNOW that was the answer i was going to get!!!

you couldn't have just said.. oh yeah, the problem is because of the salt, it happens to everyone.

thanks for the info guys.

Exactimundo, FM I'm slowly changing over to Salifiert too. Wish I had purchased their test kits in the beginnin

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by cath
. Wish I had purchased their test kits in the beginnin

Not that i'm implying anything towards you Cath, our Hi-Exalted
Princess Member o da Month,,, but i quess there a benefit of being BOTH old and in the wet-pet scene for a long time,,,we can steer the "young'uns"(in ring counts and in "reefin years") towards the right stuff in the beginning, so they spend $$ wisely
(do they still make Skilters? )
If i knew now what i knew then,,,,

[Cali Kid]

Originally posted by thefatman
When i fill my test tube with water, add in x amount of drops for whatever test it is, it initially turns one color. I never go off the initial reading though. Then within about 5 minutes, i havea totally new color, that's usually the reading i use. However, let the tube sit another hour and i have a new color again, let it go a few more hours, your guessed it, a new color again. It's like it's never ending..

OK - Never test water parameters while under the influence of narcotics

You'll definitely like the Salifert kits. Very dramatic color change from pink to blue (Calcium) and you don't have to count the drops. I put together an Excel spreadsheet for calcium and alk with the value scale and instructions. Its nice for tracking.

[cath]

Originally posted by Junkzoo
Not that i'm implying anything towards you Cath, our Hi-Exalted
Princess Member o da Month,,, but i quess there a benefit of being BOTH old and in the wet-pet scene for a long time,,,we can steer the "young'uns"(in ring counts and in "reefin years") towards the right stuff in the beginning, so they spend $$ wisely
(do they still make Skilters? )
If i knew now what i knew then,,,,

Wow! You shaved years off of me, Jeff! But let me help you out with this

I'm about 1 month younger than Doug so that qualifies me for bein' an OFBRW, fer sher!(right Doug?) hehehehe However, I often act like I'm in the 5th grade...

and I am most definately not a princess. Ask my brothers.

Cali- thanks so much for the spreadsheet. Great documentation.

[Doug1]

"OK - Never test water parameters while under the influence of narcotics "
unless you are outta beer

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by Doug1

unless you are outta beer

I'm outa BEER?????