How to use Elos KH test kit?

[myjohnson]

Hey guys,

Need a little help. I'm not sure how to use the elos test kit for KH.

From reading the instructions, it's unclear how much drops of the reagent I need to added to the test tube.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[gilmour01]

you keep adding drops till the color changes from a blue-ish color to yellow color. if it takes 6 drops, then your KH is 3. if it takes 8 drops, then your KH is 4 etc..etc..


After some further reading, the kit is supposed to be 1 drop = 0.5 dKH. There is a misprint in the written instructions.

 

[myjohnson]

Yeah, sorry for the noob question.

but thanks for the help man!

 

[ksc]

If you use 5ml of tank water, each drop = .5 dkh. If you use 2.5 ml of tank water, each drop = 1dkh according to the directions on my Elos alk kit.

 

[myjohnson]

How do I know I have the right "yellow" color?

at 7kh it's light yellow.

at 8kh it's darker yellow.

I also think my elos kit is reading low.

 

[ksc]

I've read chemists who claim the reading is when the color starts to change, and chemists who claim it's when the full change has occured. I'd call that 7-8 dkh which is close enough for our tanks and these hobby grade test kits. I've also read that the Elos alk kit is a freshwater kit, so you are supposed to add 10 percent to your reading.

 

[myjohnson]

I tested my incoming water and my tank water before water change.

Numbers look exactly the same so that's good news. I don't have to dose let.

 

[gilmour01]

If you use 5ml of tank water, each drop = .5 dkh. If you use 2.5 ml of tank water, each drop = 1dkh according to the directions on my Elos alk kit.

i think the instructions have a misprint. it says "Each drop of reagent corresponds to 1 degree of hardness. The total number of drops used equals the total hardness." Then it gives the weird example of "8 drops = 4 dKH" which doesnt make sense. I stopped using the ELOS KH test b/c i didnt like the color change with it. I still use ELOS for CA and Mg, but i use Salifert for KH.

 

[agent462]

I think it was RC that I read it on, Elos confirmed it is NOT a freshwater kit.