Cleaning/Drying Cuvettes

[Dkeller_nc]

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.

For the plastic vials associated with the Salifert tests, I just rinse them with tap water, rinse them with RODI, then shake them out. They're disposable, and you're not relying on their optical properties for the accuracy of the test, so build-up really isn't much of a concern (within reason, of course).

 

[jsker]

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.

Again, I do not.

 

[jsker]

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.

I have found that using new syringes and tips, really keep your testing more accurate besides a clean test vial. Myself, I use 10ml and 20ml beakers with a magnetic stirrer for most of my tests as I do here link

 

[tdlawdo]

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....

Ditto

 

[MnFish1]

I'm lazy - I rinse with tap H20 - shake to dry - when I take a sample - I Rinse it with tank water 2-3 times. Any residual 'stuff' left in is probably within the variation of measurement itself. That said - I try to get as much of the sample out by rinsing with Tap water as possible.

 

[MnFish1]

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.

In a lab one would do that. However, if the manufacturer doesnt recommend those procedures I don't do it - but like I said - I am lazy.

 

[jsker]

In a lab one would do that. However, if the manufacturer doesnt recommend those procedures I don't do it - but like I said - I am lazy.

Very true,

The manufacture states to basically rinse with Distilled water and us there cleaning solution$$. I will say that I am a hobbyist, and have had a couple of chemistry classes. One of the things that most intrigued me was that all the pipes in one of the labs that I had a class in, were all Pyrex glass, the teacher/professor did mention that event the glass will ware over time from the pure water leaching ions from the glass.

Since I do not have a nomenclature for sterilizing, I figure the dish washer is the next best thing.

 

[MnFish1]

Very true,

The manufacture states to basically rinse with Distilled water and us there cleaning solution$$. I will say that I am a hobbyist, and have had a couple of chemistry classes. One of the things that most intrigued me was that all the pipes in one of the labs that I had a class in, were all Pyrex glass, the teacher/professor did mention that event the glass will ware over time from the pure water leaching ions from the glass.

Since I do not have a nomenclature for sterilizing, I figure the dish washer is the next best thing.

OH - ok the tests I use dont recommend that - just rinsing. But (heresy alert - I use API - with no problems - of which I'm aware)..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do what Dkeller does. Be careful to not scratch the glass or plastic. Vinegar can also be useful.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Very true, [emoji1]

The manufacture states to basically rinse with Distilled water and us there cleaning solution$$[emoji33]. I will say that I am a hobbyist, and have had a couple of chemistry classes. One of the things that most intrigued me was that all the pipes in one of the labs that I had a class in, were all Pyrex glass, the teacher/professor did mention that event the glass will ware over time from the pure water leaching ions from the glass.

Since I do not have a nomenclature for sterilizing, I figure the dish washer is the next best thing.

Corroding of glass in pure water is a total nonissue. While technically correct, it’s not ever going to be detectable on the glass clarity even with great instruments.

However, very high pH (14+) will dissolve glass. So do not use sodium hydroxide unless absolutely necessary.

 

[jsker]

Corroding of glass with pure water is a total nonissue. While technically correct, it’s not ever going to be detectable on the glass clarity even with great instruments.

However, very high pH (14+) will dissolve glass. So do not use sodium hydroxide unless absolutely necessary.

Very good to know and kind of my point. glass once rinsed should do the trick for cleaning and not soaking.? Thank you Randy for chiming in

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Very good to know and kind of my point. glass once rinsed should do the trick for cleaning and not soaking.? Thank you Randy for chiming in

What is best does depend on what was in it. Organics deposited might need things like vinegar or isopropanol. Mist of the time, several di rinses should be fine, followed by shaking or gently wiping out the water.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

Corroding of glass in pure water is a total nonissue. While technically correct, it’s not ever going to be detectable on the glass clarity even with great instruments.

Yeah, I've run across those sorts of statements before (ultra-pure water will "corrode" glass), and I always get a good chuckle out of it.

Jsker - yes, your professor was technically correct in that you can measure the increase in conductivity of a pure sample of water held in a glass beaker, whether borosilicate or soda lime glass, from the dissolution of various ions from the glass. The part that the professor missed is that you'd need to wait until the end of the universe for enough of the glass to dissolve to actually get a leak, and at least past the Age of the Animals on Earth (approximately the next 200 million years) to visibly see the etching. It does happen, and is of concern if you're manufacturing microelectronics, but it's so slow that it's not a factor for almost any other purpose.

 

[jasonrusso]

I bought some stuff made for Mary J pipes. It works really well and obviously is non toxic. It is salt based and you just shake it for a minute.

Formula 420 Glass Metal Ceramic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B0GIHZI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[vetteguy53081]

I rinse with water immediately and shake dry

 

[KrisReef]

I rinse my cuvettes with water, a final rinse with DI and then shake them out and then "air dry" in the box.

I don't fill them with DI water to store them because I have been concerned that the lid seals would fail from sitting in water?

Great "boring" topic, @Heavymman, thanks for starting this excellent discussion thread, imo!

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I rinse my cuvettes with water, a final rinse with DI and then shake them out and then "air dry" in the box.

I don't fill them with DI water to store them because I have been concerned that the lid seals would fail from sitting in water?

Great "boring" topic, @Heavymman, thanks for starting this excellent discussion thread, imo!

The lid seals won't fail. They're a type of polymer that won't break down in RODI, at least on any reasonable time scale.

 

[infinite0180]

I rinse with tap and then a quick di rinse. Ive recently started rinsing with tank water right before testing and i feel its a solid move! I just make sure i dont get any tank water on the outside with the hanna ones!

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

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

Use distill, face downward to drain, like dishwasher

 

[saintsreturn]

I rinse off with RODI, occasionally hit it with a Qtip and then hang to dry do that the sides to not get scratched. I used to set them on the counter until one got knocked off and shattered. These help a lot too... Keeps the bottles drip drying and the syringes/tips dry as well