Red sea alkalinity test kit advice?

[Hiachi20]

Hey guys! Three quick questions about the red sea alkalinity kit which aren't fully apparent.

1) do you count the drops it takes to get the water sample to the blue indicator level initially? It seemed like you do given that my .5dkh resolution ended up being around 10 which is what my alkalinity should be.

2) the kit says to use one drop to start the blue, but nothing about using 2 drops for a 10ml sample. Doesn't matter with alkalinity I'm assuming but is anyone else experiencing this?

3) how green should the end color be? Mine went straight to a yellow-green before yellow and maybe I can take off .25dkh but also maybe not so what is your guys experience?

Extra question, how do you guys like the kit? Any concerns?

Thanks for any help!

 

[AdamNC]

Once the color turns a pale green you are done. If it’s yellowish you over shot it. I usually do a few drops at a time until it starts to turn a turquoise color and then slow to one drop at a time. Once you do it a few times you’ll get the hang of where the green is for stopping.

I’ve been using the Red Sea test kits for about 4 years now. I think it’s safe to say I don’t have any concerns.

 

[Hiachi20]

Once the color turns a pale green you are done. If it’s yellowish you over shot it. I usually do a few drops at a time until it starts to turn a turquoise color and then slow to one drop at a time. Once you do it a few times you’ll get the hang of where the green is for stopping.

I’ve been using the Red Sea test kits for about 4 years now. I think it’s safe to say I don’t have any concerns.

So do you count the initial drops? It seems like useless instructions to say that you need to add drops to make it blue initially. Also, what do you think about the ph kit? If you ever do a ph test I would love to see what it looks like for you. I can't tell the colors apart at ALL. Also, is the vial the same for phosphate and every other one?

 

[AdamNC]

I don’t count drops, just the final measurement on the side of the syringe.

I’ve never used the pH kit, got my Apex for that. The Red Sea kits I use are Alk, Ca, Mg, No3, Po4, I2, K and Fe. The vials are all the same size, it’s the measurement of the water you want. The vials can be any size to be able too hold 2ml for the Mg up to 17ml for the Po4.

 

[K. Steven]

The first drops of titrant are just to reach the initial blue color, then the additional drops to determine the color change from blue to green. You don't have to count drops, just the volume of titrant you use for the test, which you refer to the card for the alkalinity.

 

[Hiachi20]

I have the non pro one without the special titator. But I think I get it. You count all titrant being used

 

[taricha]

So do you count the initial drops? It seems like useless instructions to say that you need to add drops to make it blue initially.

They are conveying that the blue does not come from a separate indicator. The titration step will provide both the blue and the later color change that you care about.

Once the color turns a pale green you are done. If it’s yellowish you over shot it.

I actually found it helpful to hold the card with the pic of the green target color up to the vial. I try to judge if the vial is bluer or yellower than that green.

All that said, I use the DIY Alk test now.

 

[Hiachi20]

They are conveying that the blue does not come from a separate indicator. The titration step will provide both the blue and the later color change that you care about.


I actually found it helpful to hold the card with the pic of the green target color up to the vial. I try to judge if the vial is bluer or yellower than that green.

All that said, I use the DIY Alk test now.

I see what you're saying. That being said, the instructions make sense. Could be clearer though. I'll do some testing and watch videos of others do it and see how it goes. I might have just been unlucky by .25dKh and got a yellow green the first time so we will see. I'll use that card trick for the green. What's up with the DIY option?

 

[chris k.]

I hold a paper towel behind the vial so i can see the color better. I stop adding titrant when i see a color change. The best thing to do is stop at the same color change everytime. Weather it is green or yellow. And i keep shaking the vial as the titrant is being dropped in. Then see total amount used.

 

[Hiachi20]

Good idea. I'm going to start using a setup more like this where you stir as you add it, in order to make things quicker. That will be once I get used to the red sea kit

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Took me a couple tries to get it as well. I have the pro kit though so don't know how much it differs. What kept throwing me off is when I filled the syringe. What I didn't realise was that amount was accounted for in the drip tip.

What clarified it for me is always looking at the bottom seal of the plunger. That seal should be at the 1 ml. Drip til you get the color to green then measure how much you used and compare. Measurement is always that bottom seal of the plunger not the liquid level.

I actually just saw this morning that brs released a vid on the red sea tests

 

[taricha]

Good idea. I'm going to start using a setup more like this where you stir as you add it, in order to make things quicker. That will be once I get used to the red sea kit

If you have stuff like that, you should totally check out the DIY alk test here.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-alk-test-discussion-thread.186606/
Calibrated ph meter, accurate volumes of sample and of small amount of acid and you're done. More accurate than test kit.

 

[Hiachi20]

If you have stuff like that, you should totally check out the DIY alk test here.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-alk-test-discussion-thread.186606/
Calibrated ph meter, accurate volumes of sample and of small amount of acid and you're done. More accurate than test kit.

The glass isn't mine but the owner offered me the cheaper plastic version. Which I may take him up on depending on the cost of DIY. Will definitely check it out though so thanks for the information

 

[Hiachi20]

Already has acid might I add lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey guys! Three quick questions about the red sea alkalinity kit which aren't fully apparent.

1) do you count the drops it takes to get the water sample to the blue indicator level initially? It seemed like you do given that my .5dkh resolution ended up being around 10 which is what my alkalinity should be.

2) the kit says to use one drop to start the blue, but nothing about using 2 drops for a 10ml sample. Doesn't matter with alkalinity I'm assuming but is anyone else experiencing this?

3) how green should the end color be? Mine went straight to a yellow-green before yellow and maybe I can take off .25dkh but also maybe not so what is your guys experience?

Extra question, how do you guys like the kit? Any concerns?

Thanks for any help!

If you have a pH meter, you can determine what the color of the endpoint should be just by monitoring the pH. The endpoint is in the pH 4.2 to 4.5 range. pH will change very fast in that range, so one drop may shoot by it.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I quit using titration tests as I found them HIGHLY inaccurate and almost impossible for me to duplicate tests back to back. I have the red sea pro kit that goes from some kind of blue to some kind of pink.

I now use the Hanna HI772 exclusively.