RedSea Alk test end color is???

[dragonfisher33]

I have the reef foundation kit and so far the calcium and mag readings are very consistent. I'm having problem with the alk test. Should the end result be orange, as indicated on the laminated instruction card, or some other color? I did a search online and some say that the end color should be orange, as indicated on the instruction card, and some say that it should be some shade of pink. If I go by the orange color as indicated on the instruction card, I would need to use all of my reagent. I can't seem to get the "pink" people are referring to.

So which one is it?

 

[Salt Creep]

Depends on the light in the background. I could see how people say pink, I think it's an orange color. When it's not blue anymore :)

 

[zoomonster]

Don't worry about the color so much as the color change. First drop that changes the color from blue and after shaking the color remains changed. There's some discussion if that's correct and I generally go +1 drop for a more distinct color change.

 

[dragonfisher33]

so, i have seen where the color is between mostly blue with some orange to half blue half orange to orange. which one is it?

in addition, the color changes all the time during titration, which complicates things.

 

[Salt Creep]

Well I do one drop at a time after the initial 4 (is it ml?). My alk is at 8 so around 5.5 is see a change, but when I shake it the color goes back a little blue. I add one more drop, or really I just add 0.5 to whatever I used, and call it a day. It needs to be a distinct change and stay orange/red/pink. The actual number is not as important as getting consistent results. Your number won't be off by enough to actually make a difference of someone making a diagnosis of high/low alk killing your chalice (or whatever it may be). Just be consistent. If you are going to test to when it starts to change but changes back to blue then test to that point every time. I prefer doing it to a solid orange after the drop and shaking it just in case I miss the quick change and change back.

 

[jsker]

Hopefully this helps

 

[jd371]

Instead of getting either orange or pink it would go from blue to clear, never any shades of color at all. I assumed that's when you would take a reading at the moment the color changed. In the end I got so frustrated with this kit and bought a Hanna. I wish there were more kits that gave you an actual number instead of color changes or comparisons.:mad:

 

[dragonfisher33]

yup, def helps. I like how the end color in the video doesn't match the end color of the card.

 

[miyags]

Hopefully this helps

Thats the color I used to get.My new kit now it turns light orange. Lot#1075 eper date 0218

 

[jsker]

Thats the color I used to get.My new kit now it turns light orange. Lot#1075 eper date 0218

Yes that is normal from lot to lot.

 

[Syntax1235]

I had an issue with this fairly recently. I sent Red Sea pictures and they sent me a new bottle of reagent. The new bottle matches the end color of the video.

 

[masterbuilder]

Just get a Salifert ALK Kit. The color change is very easy to interpret, accurate and repeatable. IMO..Red Sea kits are really not very good or accurate