DIY Alkatronic reagent

[Jason_MrFrags]

See and I was going to be more biased and say... "proof that the trident is off!"
In all honesty, the trident shows a lot bigger swing throughout a 24h period.

I know that it's using a rubber ruler, but when I see a significant drop or increase with the alkatronic, I bump it against hanna and it's always within 0.3 dkh.

There's no doubt that both units use an algorithm to determine the readings based on previous tests in order to minimize outliers. I also wonder which one is more correct?

The trident had been on track with alkatronic before I switched to DIY. Both of them were consistent with the hanna checker. So something about the reagent or the reagent tube I had to replace causing issues.

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

The trident had been on track with alkatronic before I switched to DIY. Both of them were consistent with the hanna checker. So something about the reagent or the reagent tube I had to replace causing issues.

Replaces tubing, ran calibration and checked measurements and its backup and running like it should.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Replaces tubing, ran calibration and checked measurements and its backup and running like it should.

Where did you get the tubes from???

 

[GoVols]

@lexinverts

I use a good airtight 5 gallon GEO ATO container and mix big batches.

Saturday evening, mixed 2.5 gallons worth (1 part reagent to 4 parts of RO/DI) of the Amazon Acid in the post you quoted me in.

I also recalibrated the ph probe and pumps C and A

It came in a tad higher than my Hanna checker, so just used Baseline Correction to nail the readings to the Hanna.

Got to give these guys a big kudos for hanging in there until they found the right reagent match!!

 

[lexinverts]

@lexinverts

I use a good airtight 5 gallon GEO ATO container and mix big batches.

Saturday evening, mixed 2.5 gallons worth (1 part reagent to 4 parts of RO/DI) of the Amazon Acid in the post you quoted me in.

I also recalibrated the ph probe and pumps C and A

It came in a tad higher than my Hanna checker, so just used Baseline Correction to nail the readings to the Hanna.

Got to give these guys a big kudos for hanging in there until they found the right reagent match!!

Thank you! Let me know how it goes.

 

[GoVols]

Thank you! Let me know how it goes.

Will do.

One key (for steady calibration) is to replace Pump C's inner tubing, Pump A's inner tubing, and the sump's filter once a year from CoralVue.

If you use the pump D to add alk, I'd replace it's inner tube as well

Alkatronic Dosing Head Inner Replacement Tube

Alkatronic Dosing Pump A, B, C, or D Inner Tube Replacement Super flexible tubing ideal for the use with Alkatronic dosing heads A. Sold individually as 5" section with end adapters included. IMPORTANT: To be used as dosing head replacement tubing ONLY.

www.coralvue.com

Alkatronic Check Valve

Alkatronic Check Valve Prevents contaminants from entering the Alkatronic unit

www.coralvue.com

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Will do.

One key (for steady calibration) is to replace Pump C's inner tubing, Pump A's inner tubing, and the sump's filter once a year from CoralVue.

If you use the pump D to add alk, I'd replace it's inner tube as well

Alkatronic Dosing Head Inner Replacement Tube

Alkatronic Dosing Pump A, B, C, or D Inner Tube Replacement Super flexible tubing ideal for the use with Alkatronic dosing heads A. Sold individually as 5" section with end adapters included. IMPORTANT: To be used as dosing head replacement tubing ONLY.

www.coralvue.com

Alkatronic Check Valve

Alkatronic Check Valve Prevents contaminants from entering the Alkatronic unit

www.coralvue.com

I was told that a peroxide bath would clean the filter and make it just like new.

 

[Herby’s reef]

I am about out of my alkatronic reagent and I have a bottle of this stuff ready to go. Are you guys still returning the waste to the sump? Any problems with this?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I am about out of my alkatronic reagent and I have a bottle of this stuff ready to go. Are you guys still returning the waste to the sump? Any problems with this?

Testing 6 times a day, and I return my waste back to the tank, I haven't seen any I'll effects,

 

[Herby’s reef]

Testing 6 times a day, and I return my waste back to the tank, I haven't seen any I'll effects,

So just to make sure I understand, you are using the amazon acid reagent solution, not the alkatronic brand reagent, correct? I return the alkatronic stuff to my tank, but just want to triple check the amazon stuff is safe.

 

[mcgaws]

Is this the right stuff for making diy alkatronic reagent?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Is this the right stuff for making diy alkatronic reagent?

That's exactly what I use.

 

[GoVols]

This is a brand new shot of my Amazon jug

Seems to read the same...

 

[mcgaws]

That's exactly what I use.

Great thanks and you just dilute like normal reagent yes? 1 litre to 4 litres ro?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Great thanks and you just dilute like normal reagent yes? 1 litre to 4 litres ro?

Yep 4:1

 

[ineption]

I am sure this has been addressed, but for my own peace of mind am I correct in understanding that
1N Sulphuric Acid would need to be diluted 10 times to get to 0.1N? So 1L of 1N sulphuric Acid diluted with 10L of Rodi would make 0.1N?

 

[dwest]

I am sure this has been addressed, but for my own peace of mind am I correct in understanding that
1N Sulphuric Acid would need to be diluted 10 times to get to 0.1N? So 1L of 1N sulphuric Acid diluted with 10L of Rodi would make 0.1N?

I believe you will need 100 ml of acid and 900 ml of RODI.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I believe you will need 100 ml of acid and 900 ml of RODI.

Correct.

 

[Mkkari]

Randy is been years since chemistry class can you please check my calculations?

Alkatronic uses sulfuric acid for their reagent and I would like to DIY instead of spending way too much for the concentrate.

The concentrate reagent is 1mg/m3 that is diluted 1:4 with RODI to .2mg/m3 for testing


Calculation of DIY 1mg/m3 H2S04 concentrate

1mg/1000l = .001g/1000l = .000001g/l

.000001g/98.08g = .00000001019475 mol H2SO4


[H2SO4] 00000001019475 mol/1l
= .00000001019475M

.00000001019475M/.05M =.000000203915

Using .05 M stock concentration H2SO4 from Amazon
Would add .000203915ml with RODI for 1L total volume for reagent concentrate.

That number seems low so I feel like my math is off someplace.

I was debating between TRIDENT, KH DIRECTOR and ALKATRONIC in that order. After this post!!! I am sold lol. I would be stupid to buy anything else but Alkatronic.

Its just me rambling tbh: I have all products from NEPTUNE except the TRIDENT and honestly shame on them, I thought they where out there for their reefers and not ONLY MONEY!!!

 

[GoVols]

I was debating between TRIDENT, KH DIRECTOR and ALKATRONIC in that order. After this post!!! I am sold lol. I would be stupid to buy anything else but Alkatronic.

Its just me rambling tbh: I have all products from NEPTUNE except the TRIDENT and honestly shame on them, I thought they where out there for their reefers and not ONLY MONEY!!!

If you pair one up with a cal reactor, the Alkatronic is hard to beat.

If you fine-tune tune (with Baseline Calibration function) to the Hanna checker then make sure you test with fresh reagents, because Hanna's reagents have a short lifespan once a new bottle is opened. Older opened Hanna reagents will come in on the high side.

Salifert and the "New" Red Sea Pro alk are pretty hard to beat, with their reagents lasting a lot longer.