More out of curiosity than anything else, if I take a sample of water from a tank, must I test immediately? Will a delay in testing the sample impact the numbers in any way?
How long can a testing sample be stored?
- Thread starter Dom
- Start date
Depends on the test. Which tests are you thinking of and how long of a delay?
OP
OP
Currently monitoring pH, Nitrate, ALK, Calcium and Mag.
Lets say I take a sample in the evening (9pm) but test it the following day around noon.
pH would be a big no for that period of delay. Those others are likely fine unless nitrate is very low, in which case a little algae uptake might reduce it noticeably.
To do things right, refrigerate a sample for a several hour hold period or freeze it if storing overnight. I occasionally monitor 8 or more aquarium experiments at once and sometimes do not have the time (or patience) to do all the measurements at once. Freezing is my first choice.
I saw @Randy Holmes-Farley advice not to delay a pH reading. I never take pH measurements on stored samples. I bite the bullet and get these done immediately.
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