DIY Alkatronic reagent

[DivingTheWorld]

Pro Tip: After you go through your first bottle, save it to make a bottle of diluted reagent. Then you can just pour into your reagent container rather than have to mix up a new batch each time.

 

[Beonedge]

This is my recipe:

To make 5L of alkatronic reagent

100 ml 1M HCl plus 4900 ml water

Instructions:

1. Fill a 100 ml volumetric flask with 1M acid
2. Put the acid in a 1L volumetric flask and fill to 1L with ro water
3. Add the solution to the alkatronic feed container.
4. Add 4 more L RO water to container

Double post

 

[Beonedge]

This is my recipe:

To make 5L of alkatronic reagent

100 ml 1M HCl plus 4900 ml water

Instructions:

1. Fill a 100 ml volumetric flask with 1M acid
2. Put the acid in a 1L volumetric flask and fill to 1L with ro water
3. Add the solution to the alkatronic feed container.
4. Add 4 more L RO water to container.

For safety reason 2) should be in reverse order -> add water , then acid

 

[dwest]

For safety reason 2) should be in reverse order -> add water , then acid

There’s a lot of water with these dilute solutions. The exotherm is very small. But, in general, I agree you should add acid to water.

 

[GoVols]

I thought about getting that one, but I worried (and this will show my ignorance) that maybe it would lose potency over time. Is that not something to worry about?

Got a GEO 5 gallon ATO container, not much air gets into it.

So, I'm mixing two-gallon batches at a time, and the mixture's strength holds. Only test two times a day so it lasts a long time.

Daniel,
Do you like your Alkatronic?

 

[dwest]

Got a GEO 5 gallon ATO container, not much air gets into it.

So, I'm mixing two-gallon batches at a time, and the mixture's strength holds. Only test two times a day so it lasts a long time.

Daniel,
Do you like your Alkatronic?

Me too. I mix 10L at a time and test twice a day. Sometimes test more often, usually when I travel. My acid mix lasts many months without any noticeable changes.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Got a GEO 5 gallon ATO container, not much air gets into it.

So, I'm mixing two-gallon batches at a time, and the mixture's strength holds. Only test two times a day so it lasts a long time.

Daniel,
Do you like your Alkatronic?

I do! I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to finally get it set up, but man, I love it! I'm looking into the mastertronic as a possible next step for me.

 

[ReefBeta]

Is there advantage to use 0.1 Sulfuric Acid instead of diluting from 1M Sulfuric Acid? The two are the same price per volume. So 1M solution is 20 times cheaper.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is there advantage to use 0.1 Sulfuric Acid instead of diluting from 1M Sulfuric Acid? The two are the same price per volume. So 1M solution is 20 times cheaper.

10x, right?

Convenience and possibly accuracy are the only advantages of buying an already diluted solution.

 

[beesnreefs]

Apologies - tried reading through the thread but felt a bit lost.

Just want to verify that this product is the same thing as the Focustronic labeled conecentrate..?

So if I get this I can mix it at the typical 1:4 ration to make my Alkatronic reagent? And it’s ok for the titrated “waste” water to go back in my tank using this product?

Thanks!

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Apologies - tried reading through the thread but felt a bit lost.

Just want to verify that this product is the same thing as the Focustronic labeled conecentrate..?

So if I get this I can mix it at the typical 1:4 ration to make my Alkatronic reagent? And it’s ok for the titrated “waste” water to go back in my tank using this product?

Thanks!

If you are talking about the product from Amazon (0.1N Sulfuric Acid), then yes. Identical to the OEM for mixing and safe to return the waste to the tank.

Dennis

 

[beesnreefs]

If you are talking about the product from Amazon (0.1N Sulfuric Acid), then yes. Identical to the OEM for mixing and safe to return the waste to the tank.

Dennis

Thank you!!

 

[notclear]

Has anyone found a source to buy the Alkatronic reagent or the Labchem sulfuric acid in Canada?

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Has anyone found a source to buy the Alkatronic reagent or the Labchem sulfuric acid in Canada?

You can order it from Amazon in the US. They will ship it up here affordably.

Dennis

 

[notclear]

Oh didn't know that Amazon US ships this sulfuric acid to Canada! Thanks.

 

[e34stx]

has anyone made diy reagents for the kh keeper?

 

[jtichenor]

I am so glad I found this thread! I'm a new Alkatronic owner (about 2 months) and was stressing over reagent availability (or lack thereof). Not only does DIY make it much easier to obtain reagent, but it is incredibly inexpensive - especially the 1n concentrations!

 

[ReeferBud]

I am so glad I found this thread! I'm a new Alkatronic owner (about 2 months) and was stressing over reagent availability (or lack thereof). Not only does DIY make it much easier to obtain reagent, but it is incredibly inexpensive - especially the 1n concentrations!

aside from being a reliable piece of equipment, the ability to make your own inexpensive reagents is the most significant advantage I see to the Alkatronic vs other auto testers.

I would never buy a unit that requires me to spend $230/yr on proprietary reagents!

 

[jtichenor]

I could only get a 250ml bottle of 1.0M (2.0N) solution of Sulfuric Acid. I see some posts mentioning diluting the 1.0M solution at a 1:9 ratio to get a .1N concentration. However, isn't 1.0M actually 2.0N and therefore needs to be diluted to 1:18?
For example,
50ml of 1.0M (2.0N) Sulfuric Acid diluted with 950ml water makes .1N solution.

Is this correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

50ml of 1.0M (2.0N) Sulfuric Acid diluted with 950ml water makes .1N solution.

Is this correct?

That sentence is correct,.