Kh test kit

[PAT]

Please can anyone of our sponsors or members help I cannot find a tropic marine test kit anywhere, does anyone know where I can get one urgently. If not tropic marine the next best one possibly red sea ?

 

[Alan]

Pat does NP not have in stock?

 

[Midasblenny]

Are you handy with diy? I can assist you to make your own with methyl orange and hydrochloric acid (dilute), very simple but needs a trained eye for change in colour from yellow to orange.

 

[PAT]

Pat does NP not have in stock?

not at all alan all that the have is the complete kitfor average R500

I dont know how good the tetra test strips are, but as far as I know they are a waste of time and money.

 

[PAT]

Are you handy with diy? I can assist you to make your own with methyl orange and hydrochloric acid (dilute), very simple but needs a trained eye for change in colour from yellow to orange.

how do u go about it, with quantities. I would appreciate it, how accurate is it

 

[Midasblenny]

how do u go about it, with quantities. I would appreciate it, how accurate is it

100ml tank water, add 10 drops methyl orange(usually only available in one concentration unless requested), solution turns yellow and add a 1:100 32%HCL drop by drop until solution turns orange ie no more yellow. Each ml used to achieve colour change equals 2.8 deg of kH. The test measures in meg/l so thats what you get but most of are familiar with DegkH so hense the multiplication by 2.8.
Its very accurate PAT but as i said just to get the colour change can be difficuilt for some to see.
BTW it works out as a few cents per test.

 

[PAT]

if it is to high or to low what are the additives

 

[Midasblenny]

if it is to high or to low what are the additives

Any good kH Buffer liquid or powder will increase kH levels, follow the directions given by the manufacturer.
It is very unlikely if you are not currently adding any type of buffer that your kH will be high as it dips slightly on a daily basis.

 

[Pterois]

100ml tank water, add 10 drops methyl orange(usually only available in one concentration unless requested), solution turns yellow and add a 1:100 32%HCL drop by drop until solution turns orange ie no more yellow. Each ml used to achieve colour change equals 2.8 deg of kH. The test measures in meg/l so thats what you get but most of are familiar with DegkH so hense the multiplication by 2.8.
Its very accurate PAT but as i said just to get the colour change can be difficuilt for some to see.
BTW it works out as a few cents per test.

Now that has to be one of the most useful posts I have ever seen! :blue: (Whatever that icon is meant show!). THANK YOU!

Are there any other secret test recipes you know? I have access to a huge departmental store of chemicals that are seldom used... Will definitely try this out!

 

[Pterois]

1:100 32%HCL drop by drop

Whoops - I gushed to early. Do you mean 32% HCL diluted further 1:100 in water?

 

[AndreT]

PAT,

I bought a TM kH test kit this afternoon from G4Y. I think there is one more in stock. If you're willing to wait a couple of days for delivery.

 

[palmerc]

100ml tank water, add 10 drops methyl orange(usually only available in one concentration unless requested), solution turns yellow and add a 1:100 32%HCL drop by drop until solution turns orange ie no more yellow. Each ml used to achieve colour change equals 2.8 deg of kH. The test measures in meg/l so thats what you get but most of are familiar with DegkH so hense the multiplication by 2.8.
Its very accurate PAT but as i said just to get the colour change can be difficuilt for some to see.
BTW it works out as a few cents per test.

The only "problem" with this is the actual concentration of the HCl. The assumption in the above is that acid is 32% exactly and that you can make a 1/100 dilution (I assume this is v/v?) accurately.

May be easier (but not chepaer) if you purchase a standardised 0.1N HCL solution and use this. Would be a different calc though that would be used.

 

[Midasblenny]

Whoops - I gushed to early. Do you mean 32% HCL diluted further 1:100 in water?

Pure HCl bought from a chemical co. is 32% so you basically take 1ml of this and add 99ml RO water this is now a 1:100 which you take 5ml of and add to the methyl orange/tank water mix to achieve the change from yellow to orange.

 

[Pterois]

Our SAARCHEM HCL is 37% so requires a dilution to get to you 32%...

Other big Q is what concentration to make the Methyl Orange up to? 1%?

I have found a huge big 25 g bottle of powder

 

[palmerc]

Our SAARCHEM HCL is 37% so requires a dilution to get to you 32%...

Other big Q is what concentration to make the Methyl Orange up to? 1%?

I have found a huge big 25 g bottle of powder

Make the methyl orange up at 0.1%

 

[Pterois]

Baie thank you!

I will give it a try...

As I asked before, are there any other "DIY" tests out there that you know about? Even complicated ones...

 

[Midasblenny]

Baie thank you!

I will give it a try...

As I asked before, are there any other "DIY" tests out there that you know about? Even complicated ones...

I have one for calcium up my sleave but not perfected it yet.

 

[Pterois]

I have one for calcium up my sleave but not perfected it yet.

Sounds exciting - keep us posted!

 

[PAT]

PAT,

I bought a TM kH test kit this afternoon from G4Y. I think there is one more in stock. If you're willing to wait a couple of days for delivery.

thanx for the offer I found one, it will work in the mean time until I can get a TR from NP.

 

[palmerc]

I have one for calcium up my sleave but not perfected it yet.

Yeah that is the problem. To adapt and simplify the usual lab tests to make them accessible to everyone.

Here is a modified method from Vogel (not sure if it would work on seawater, perhaps Robin knows of any mods/precautiosn one would need to take):

Basic approach would be a titration using 0.01 M EDTA with a suitable high pH buffer (diethylamine) and indicator (Calcon). Each ml titrated would represent 4.0mg calcium.

So take a 10ml sample. Add 2ml diethylamine, mix well and allow to stand for 2-3 minutes. Add 2 drops Calcon indicator and then titrate with 0.01N EDTA solution.

Each ml titrated will be equivalent to 0.4 mg Ca. So if you get a reading of say 10.0 ml this will be equivalent to 4mg calcium (in 10ml) = 400mg/litre.