Trying out with Sulphuric acid

[Dave S]

In March Murphy's measured it at 267 ppm. First test with Salifert it was 299 last test 289. I reiterate subject to user error. But the errors using the calculator all pointed to a rise in alkalinity so I just need to practise with the kit I think.

I don't know if you do, Orlando. Every time I use the Salifert kit I get about 195. The report I got from Murphy's, 165 - a similar margin to what you're getting. I did a Salifert test immediately after getting the Murphy report back, still 195. I think I'm going to assume, (rightly or wrongly) 165 if my local utilities reports don't significantly change, and they haven't for as long as I've been checking them.

Edit: Also get a Murphy's analysis done at least annually.

[sllimeel]

In March Murphy's measured it at 267 ppm. First test with Salifert it was 299 last test 289. I reiterate subject to user error. But the errors using the calculator all pointed to a rise in alkalinity so I just need to practise with the kit I think.

I don't know if you do, Orlando. Every time I use the Salifert kit I get about 195. The report I got from Murphy's, 165 - a similar margin to what you're getting. I did a Salifert test immediately after getting the Murphy report back, still 195. I think I'm going to assume, (rightly or wrongly) 165 if my local utilities reports don't significantly change, and they haven't for as long as I've been checking them.

Edit: Also get a Murphy's analysis done at least annually.

So Dave, do you use the 165 in the spreadsheet and get the mash ph correct or...the 195?

Lee.

[Dave S]

In March Murphy's measured it at 267 ppm. First test with Salifert it was 299 last test 289. I reiterate subject to user error. But the errors using the calculator all pointed to a rise in alkalinity so I just need to practise with the kit I think.

I don't know if you do, Orlando. Every time I use the Salifert kit I get about 195. The report I got from Murphy's, 165 - a similar margin to what you're getting. I did a Salifert test immediately after getting the Murphy report back, still 195. I think I'm going to assume, (rightly or wrongly) 165 if my local utilities reports don't significantly change, and they haven't for as long as I've been checking them.

Edit: Also get a Murphy's analysis done at least annually.

So Dave, do you use the 165 in the spreadsheet and get the mash ph correct or...the 195?

Lee.

Hi Lee

I've been using 165 since I got the Murphy's test done and my mash pH's have been within around 0.05 of target. I think it'd be very lucky to always get it spot on given grain variability and human error etc.

[orlando]

Why ignore Murphy's? The water report round here is only updated every 6 months but the end of the most recent reporting period was March, right when I had my water analysed. This is how they compare:

Murphy's - Anglian Water

Nitrate 30.1 - 31.6 (ave)
Calcium 137 - 139
Magnesium 5 - 4.64
Chloride 47.19 - 53.6 (ave)
Sulphate 72.95 - 60.5 (ave)

Murphy's has the Alkalinity as 267 my Salifert test today suggests its exactly the same and I repeated the test, I must assume I made an error of some kind with the other tests as both came up 267. Anglian don't give a specific figure for alkalinity they just give a figure for calcium carbonate at 366 mg/l, Brun water calculates it as 367.

Given the above I use Murphy's for everything, checking the alkalinity hasn't changed from now on for each brew with the Salifert kit. If my experience is that the kit gives the same result twice I would go with that in the spreadsheet. Alkalinity is one thing that can change just because of the weather, particularly extremes, wet or dry and of course whether the water company switches where the water you are supplied comes from in there catchment.

[Dave S]

Why ignore Murphy's? The water report round here is only updated every 6 months but the end of the most recent reporting period was March, right when I had my water analysed. This is how they compare:

Murphy's - Anglian Water

Nitrate 30.1 - 31.6 (ave)
Calcium 137 - 139
Magnesium 5 - 4.64
Chloride 47.19 - 53.6 (ave)
Sulphate 72.95 - 60.5 (ave)

Murphy's has the Alkalinity as 267 my Salifert test today suggests its exactly the same and I repeated the test, I must assume I made an error of some kind with the other tests as both came up 267. Anglian don't give a specific figure for alkalinity they just give a figure for calcium carbonate at 366 mg/l, Brun water calculates it as 367.

Given the above I use Murphy's for everything, checking the alkalinity hasn't changed from now on for each brew with the Salifert kit. If my experience is that the kit gives the same result twice I would go with that in the spreadsheet. Alkalinity is one thing that can change just because of the weather, particularly extremes, wet or dry and of course whether the water company switches where the water you are supplied comes from in there catchment.

Do you mean 297 for the other tests? You've said 267 which is the same as the Murphy's figure. But yeah, I always use Murphy's. Up till now my mash pH figures have all been within acceptable tolerance. If my water had altered much they would be noticeably out.

Edit: Ah hold on, I think I see what you mean now. You mean an error with the other tests as both (of the current tests) came to 267. Right?

[orlando]

Correct, as I intimated, user error .