Dr. Tim- diluting test with RO ?

[427HISS]

YouTube- "How to use Water Test Kits" - By Dr. Tim's Aquatics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPiDRid_Km8

This video is interesting and I need some of your thoughts.

He suggests diluting the test with RO water to get accurate results, as a unit, and I've never heard of it. He show the testing with three company's.

It was shocking and confusing that all the years I've tested, that many time the results could have been way off ?

Do you dilute your tests like he does ?

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[427HISS]

Thanks for the bump. Guess no one is interested in this subject, which I find hard to believe ?

 

[tankstudy]

The API tests are very hard to tell apart once they reach higher levels on some of the kits. In his video, he explains about false 0 readings if they go way off of what the kits measure in.

If you dilute the sample, depending on your dilution, you can bring it back in to those number ranges where the kit reads.

I have hard time telling apart some of the color differences in the API test kits, so I dilute it 50:50 with R/O water and it will bring it to a color I can clearly tell its more matched with and then just multiply it by 2 to tell me where the actual level is. Its very simple and it helps, especially when some of the colors are so close its hard to discern them apart.

Just keep in mind you have to multiply accordingly to your dilution.

Hope this helps.

 

[427HISS]

That's very interesting. So, just dilute by 2, and that makes for a real accurate result ?
I have problems reading colors as well. That's why I have the Hanna Checkers, for most all other tests.

 

[tankstudy]

That's very interesting. So, just dilute by 2, and that makes for a real accurate result ?
I have problems reading colors as well. That's why I have the Hanna Checkers, for most all other tests.

If your colors are in between 2 colors that are very similar, diluting it will bring it down, usually to a color scheme where its obvious its green or yellow. A lot of the lower numbers have a much more discernable color.

Just keep in mind its 50:50 to equal 5 mL or whatever the test kit wants it to be. Don't do a 5 ml your saltwater to 5 ml ro water and then do the test kit. You will have to multiply by 2 for the dilution and then 2 more for the amount of testing chemical you didn't use.