Salifert ALK test kit instructions are CRAP!

[Shawnts106]

Those instructions should be written by someone who acctually speaks the english language!!! geeze!


can anyone tell me exactly what to do?>

First you fill it with 4ml of SW
then add 2 drops of the blue dye reagent.
then ... this is where I get confused.

put the little tip on the 1ml thing.lol
and pull up untill the stopper is at 1ml... there is air about .2 ml of air in the thing... lol

then drop by drop, drop it in untill you get pink water.. lol

then What?

do you see how much reagent you have used?
or where exactly the stopper is?

IM SO FREAKEN CONFUSED!:eek1:

[DrBDC]

Read where the black stopper is and compare to the instruction chart. The actual number it is at, not how much is gone. Notice on the chart as the number goes down to 0, the alk number is higher.

[Pyrrhus]

Well, if you read the rest of the instructions you would see the part where it tells you to read from the black piston for the titrant reading.

[Shawnts106]

that doesnt make any sence though... that means my alk is like 1.95!meq/L


I just dosed coral builder by kent like twice within the last 2 days...


something isnt right!


My acros/montis/etc.. corals are growing, but they AINT A' GROWEN' THAT FAST!

[PatMayo]

Yup, your trying to make it more complicated than it is. It's really very easy, one of the easier test kits to use.

I read it a couple of times and then got it.

Regards,

Pat

[Shawnts106]

so it doesnt matter how much reagent is attually in the "thing", as long as the stopper is at 1ml, then after dropping, it is at whatever ml ... that is your ALK?

wow, that is simple... but IM FREAKING OUT ABOUT MY ALK NOW!!!!

[Pyrrhus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8454939#post8454939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
so it doesnt matter how much reagent is attually in the "thing", as long as the stopper is at 1ml, then after dropping, it is at whatever ml ... that is your ALK?

Exactly. if you remove the plastic tip prior to filling the syringe will be completely full of fluid, but the drops will be larger and the results less accurate.

If you have SPS a 2 degree dKH drop daily is pretty common.

[Pyrrhus]

and, tip or not, there is 1ml in the syringe.

[reefnetworth]

place the tip on the syringe. pull in about 1/3 of the fluid. turn the syringe tip up and tap the side till the bubble is at the bottom of the tip. push out the air utill you see the fluid barely start to come out, then stop. place it (tip and syringe) back into the fluid and draw fluid till the bottom of the black stoper is at 1.0 mL. then slowly push and count the drops till the color changes. stop and look at the bottom of the plunger for the correct reading. it also helps after finishing testing to leave a little in the syringe if there is any. that way next time you draw you dont have to do all this again. sounds like alot but it really only takes about 15 seconds! oh, and the titrant readings are the ones between the mL readings (mL as a whole) 10 titrants makes one mL. whew! hows that? ;)

[ChemE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8455686#post8455686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
place the tip on the syringe. pull in about 1/3 of the fluid. turn the syringe tip up and tap the side till the bubble is at the bottom of the tip. push out the air utill you see the fluid barely start to come out, then stop. place it (tip and syringe) back into the fluid and draw fluid till the bottom of the black stoper is at 1.0 mL. then slowly push and count the drops till the color changes. stop and look at the bottom of the plunger for the correct reading...

This will not produce an incorrect result but is WAY more trouble than is necessary. Put the tip tightly on the 1.0 mL syringe and suck up KH. The volume of air that starts out between the bottom of the black plunger and the tip has nowhere to go so it stays in the syringe. You suck up 1.00 mL of KH because you pull the plunger from 0.00 mL to 1.00 mL. The air can't possibly screw up the reading the test gives. You dispense KH until the titration turns pink and then turn the syringe upside down and read where the top of the plunger is. The reading you take is truly the amount of titrant you dispensed during the titration.

Getting the air out of the syringe is a useless step.

[ChemE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8455686#post8455686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnetworth
...oh, and the titrant readings are the ones between the mL readings (mL as a whole) 10 titrants makes one mL. whew! hows that? ;)

Uhm, what? The syringe can be read to the nearest tenth of a mL but a tenth of a mL is absolutely not called a titrant. Titrant is a solution used to conduct a titration.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f26/cdl1051/RC/titrant.png

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I just want to be sure that everyone understands that the air is intended to be in the syringe and is not a source of error. Efforts to eliminate the air may end up with erroneous values. Just suck up fluid until the bottom of the black stopper lines up at 1.0 mL, and dispense to the color change. Then read the scale next to the bottom of the black stopper and get the alkalinity from the chart.

Be sure that it appears correct that the less titrant remaining, the higher the alkalinity. Some folks end up reading it backwards.

[2639]

This has to be the easiest test kit I've ever used. Drop till the solution changes to pink and compare the remaining amount in the syringe and look it up on the chart.

The only way it could get any simpler is if my 3 year old read me the numbers.

[Shawnts106]

OK PEOPLE CHILL!! its ok, I figured it out, its ok, my sps are Carbonate hogs and need to be on a diet! haha

If you have SPS a 2 degree dKH drop daily is pretty common.

THAT IS INSAIN!

and, tip or not, there is 1ml in the syringe.

true

The only way it could get any simpler is if my 3 year old read me the numbers.

lol, simpler huh? haha


thanks everyone, I was just reading it backward... thanks again!

[2639]

Sorry about that comment...That wasn't intended to be derogatory. :( I honestly meant that to be funny

;)

[Shawnts106]

That wasn't intended to be derogatory.

didnt take it that way... I meant to be funny too! haha :lol:

[neuroslicer]

In case you're reading this thread and wondering about the Salifert test kits, they're extremely easy and precise...

but hey, what do you expect from a college student...
(I'm sorry, that was meant to be derogatory)...:lol:

[reefnetworth]

lol! also... "titration" sorry, had a "blonde moment" thanx!

air compresses alot more than fluid! in my 2 mL and 30 mL i use, the value reading when the pluger is relaxed is not the same as when the air is compressing the fluid out. the air concaves the fluid until plunger is relaxed and then it levels. so, make sure if you choose to leave the air in/out you get a reading that is accetable. oh man, i think i thought to much about thinkin about this! :lol:

[RicksReefs]

well, since there is no compression of the air in the syringe, it's a strangly moot point.

why create an issue that doesn't exist? just use the test as designed.

[Hobster]

[QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8454462#post8454462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
[B]Those instructions should be written by someone who acctually speaks the english language!!! geeze!


FWIW and I doubt you care, I find your post rude and inappropriate.:(

[old salty]

I am now using an Elos KH test kit. Not that the Salifert was difficult, but if you want simplicity, check 'em out.

Add 5ml of water to the vial, and then drops of titrant; 1 drop = 1dKH, 8 drops = 8 dKH. If you want higher resolution then add 10m of water so 1 drop = 0.5dKH. So simple, even a caveman could do it.

[GreshamH]

So simple, even a caveman could do it. Oh great, now the threads gonna get locked :lol:

FWIW, I just switched over to Elos test kits as well, and I can't say enough about them :D

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8469297#post8469297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
Oh great, now the threads gonna get locked :lol:

FWIW, I just switched over to Elos test kits as well, and I can't say enough about them :D

where are you acquiring the elos test kits?

[GreshamH]

I have two local dealers:

http://www.aquariumconceptsinc.com/
http://www.aquatic-gallery.com/

Not to mention the Elos USA office is near me :D

[GreshamH]

If you visit the Elos sponsor forum here on RC, I'm sure Jesse can hook you up with a dealer close by, or have them shipped to you :D

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=905063

[boxfishpooalot]

I think Saliferts alkalinity test kit is written good.
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/lastscan.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[2639]

uh oh! copyright infringement!!! LOL just kidding.

[Shawnts106]

but hey, what do you expect from a college student...

.. uh-huh... funny.


FWIW and I doubt you care, I find your post rude and inappropriate.
Why was that post rude and inappropriate?
they are imported from Holland... And yes, Im sorry if I did offend you.. however..

Might I say, someone who's mother language is english would write better and more "easily read" than that.

FWIW, I am multi-lingual/multi-cultural and still have problems reading the instructions.


and why is this thread still active?
I asked a simple question, got a simple answer, made things simple again and this thread is still rolling!

whats the big deal, if someone ONE NIGHT cant read the instruction clearly? geeze you guys need to take some chill pills!

[Hobster]

Well just maybe it has to do with your title of the thread

[Hobster]

Well perhaps it is because of your title of the thread and:


Salifert ALK test kit instructions are CRAP!


[QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8454462#post8454462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shawnts106
[B]Those instructions should be written by someone who acctually speaks the english language!!! geeze!

It's good that Randy and Habib are both nice.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Shawnts106:

One of the reasons that folks may have reacted the way they did is because many of us consider Habib Sekha (owner of Salifert and an RC staff member) a friend. :)

[Habib]

I hate that Habib guy!




:D


FWIW, I was not offended and I saw that thread earlier but after several had chimed in with good advice so stayed out of it. :)

FWIW, Shawn, if you have suggestions, comments or questions, please feel free to visit the Salifert forum on this board. :)

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8484479#post8484479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by habib

FWIW, Shawn, if you have suggestions, comments or questions, please feel free to visit the Salifert forum on this board. :)

The first time I used the alk test i found the instructions not as clear as I would have liked, a couple of pics would have been nice. However once you figure it out it's a breeze.

[Shawnts106]

Well just maybe it has to do with your title of the thread

haha, yeah

One of the reasons that folks may have reacted the way they did is because many of us consider Habib Sekha (owner of Salifert and an RC staff member) a friend.

Im sure this Habib Sekha guys is a good guy, I have never heard of him before you posted that.

FWIW, I was not offended and I saw that thread earlier but after several had chimed in with good advice so stayed out of it.

Well hello!
Im glad your not offended, I was not trying to be offensive.. but rather aggrivated when I wrote this thread... Hormones! :rolleye1:

The first time I used the alk test i found the instructions not as clear as I would have liked, a couple of pics would have been nice. However once you figure it out it's a breeze.
My exact thought!

and yes, a picture of two with a arrow or two would be nice.