Cleaning/Drying Cuvettes

[Heavymman]

I hate to ask this boring question but how do you all clean and dry your testing cuvettes?

 

[Brad Miller]

After each use, I rinse and clean with rodi water and q-tip, then shake off and allow to air dry before putting them back n test kit

 

[cracker]

Hey Heavy, I rinse in tap then rodi . Always fill the vile with test ware shake it good & discard it . Also wipe out side real well. I have to replaced the viles after a etching or something builds up inside. Iv'e tried the use a Qtip to no avail . I like Brad's way better may try that .

 

[jkapit]

I rinse with RODI after use, if I notice some crud on the outside before use I wipe down with RODI, if the stains are stubborn I use some rubbing alcohol and that normally does the job.

 

[jkapit]

I rinse with RODI after use, if I notice some crud on the outside before use I wipe down with RODI, if the stains are stubborn I use some rubbing alcohol and that normally does the job.

 

[jkapit]

I rinse with RODI after use, if I notice some crud on the outside before use I wipe down with RODI, if the stains are stubborn I use some rubbing alcohol and that normally does the job.

 

[64Ivy]

I put them through 2-3 RO/DI rinses, shake off excess water, then simply let them air dry. I'll also replace them about every 6 months.

 

[smellytunic]

Bottle washers come in super handy for a rinse and flush with RODI. Something like this https://www.amazon.com/Economy-Bott...hers&qid=1555760371&s=industrial&sr=1-7-spell

 

[SnookNRedZ]

After the test. Ill fill both up half full with RODI, shake it. Empty the water and flick the curvette with my hand and finger, ( like snapping your index against your middle finger) to drain any excess water. Ill take the corner of microfiber cloth, twist it up (clockwise), and continue twisting until I cram as much of the towel inside the curvette as I can. Once I twist it clockwise, ill go counter, and it will unravel inside and wipe clean just about everything inside. then ill flip them upside down do dry. If its still a little dirty, repeat said steps again. I also have a dedicated cloth just for cleaning my test viles.

 

[AdamNC]

Before each use I soak each vial in vinegar for a few mins. Empty, wipe with a q-tip, 2-3 RO/DI dips and then shake dry. Fill full with tank water, empty and then use appropriate amount for testing. After use I use tap water then 2-3 RO/DI dips then air dry.

 

[cracker]

We all do about the same , for tough spotting on the outside,I use lens cleaner I got a Wally World . I use the same on my desktop , glasses, monitor, tv's etc.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

If you mean the Hanna glass cuvettes, I run the test, rinse with tap water, rinse with RODI, then fill the vial with RODI, replace the cap and store them. Purified water is an excellent solvent, especially if given long periods to work. It's rarely necessary, but if I feel like it I might occasionally give them a soak in 0.1N HCl.

 

[Mical]

I rotate my stock of cuvettes. Old ones I soak in RODI water and let air dry. I bought the 25 pak of cuvettes from Hanna a much better deal than the 4 for $20 - https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hanna-cuvettes.560794/

 

[Hitman]

Personally after thorough rinsing after use I fill mine back up with rodi water, then when it's testing time again I rinse them out again with tank water twice then test. Once testing is over I start the same process all over agin.

 

[jrill]

I follow the advice given on a BRS video and store mine full of rodi water.

 

[homer1475]

If you mean the Hanna glass cuvettes, I run the test, rinse with tap water, rinse with RODI, then fill the vial with RODI, replace the cap and store them. Purified water is an excellent solvent, especially if given long periods to work. It's rarely necessary, but if I feel like it I might occasionally give them a soak in 0.1N HCl.

I read about this a long time ago, and have been using and storing in this fashion for years. I have 0 scratches on my cuvettes, and 0 stains, yet my cuvettes are about 3 years old. Might be time to replace them. lol

 

[ckalupa]

As I use mine daily, I clean them out immediately after use by dumping the product down the drain and rinse three times with RODI. I have a test tube rack on my counter and invert them to dry. About every month I soak them in the Hanna curvette cleaner solution.

 

[jsker]

I run them in the dishwasher with a high heat cycle to sanitize the cuvettes then rinse the cuvettes with distilled water before I test.

The cuvettes are made of glass and soaking them in RO/DI or anything else does not make sense. In a lab one would clean and sanitize. Dish washer and to get rid of any residue and cautionary rinse of distilled water.

 

[Almondkc]

I rinse, brush with tube brush and dry upside down on a 3D print tube drying rack

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2730303

 

[JCOLE]

Rinse with tap, then fill with RODI and shake. I then empty and shake the tube like it is on fire while my family stares at me in the kitchen thinking I am crazy... . Then they go on a drying rack like this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRJ3HPW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wJfVCb5CZWN5Y

I also clean my drawing syringe, my graduated cylinders, etc that I used with RODI. I know it might be overkill.

It takes me longer to prep and clean than it does to actually test. I heard there is this mystical being called the Trident that should one day take this all away! One should hope....

 

[Heavymman]

If you mean the Hanna glass cuvettes, I run the test, rinse with tap water, rinse with RODI, then fill the vial with RODI, replace the cap and store them. Purified water is an excellent solvent, especially if given long periods to work. It's rarely necessary, but if I feel like it I might occasionally give them a soak in 0.1N HCl.

I meant any testing vial but I would think the Hanna colormeters are most sensitive to clean cuvettes and I guess any calcium/alk test too since you could have left over residue.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I run them in the dishwasher with a high heat cycle to sanitize the cuvettes then rinse the cuvettes with distilled water before I test.

The cuvettes are made of glass and soaking them in RO/DI or anything else does not make since. In a lab one would clean and sanitize. Dish washer and to get ride on and residue and cautionary rinse of distilled water.

The reason you'd do this is that there are some potential residues that will not easily be removed immediately, and long term soaking in RODI will. In the lab at work, we've lots of materials available to remove virtually anything from glassware, including chromic acid. But that's not exactly something that your average reefer would have (or should have) at home.