Salifert Kit - Whole 1ml syringe added!

[JayM72]

Just received my Salifert kit and had a go at my tap water, trouble is I had to empty the whole syringe into the test vial to get the colour change. It was literally the last drop that made the definite colour change from blue to pink.

After watching Chris' You Tube video I'm feeling this is not quite right!

Any ideas

Thanks
Jason

[JayM72]

Well did the test and got the pretty much the same result this morning (I had to use 1 more drop to get the reaction). So to double check i've brought the test kit to work, and the Alkalinity here come out at about 4.91meq/l.

Now I'm really worried! Does this mean the beer I've made that tastes really good actually isn't! Seriously though, where does this leave me?!

[JayM72]

everyone's water will be different. I don't have the chart infront of me so don't know what alkalinity a whole syringe load represents but i'd imagine if you have done it accurately your alkalinity is unusually high.

Well according to the chart which only goes up to 0.98mls (rather than the 1ml I used) the Alkalinity is 0.11meq/l!

[JayM72]

OK I've got the test sample here so I'll have a go later.

Do you mean when I'm brewing to reduce the water I intend to use by the addition of CRS and then treat according to figured detemined as a result?

[JayM72]

One other question...what are meq/l? Sorry on a bit of a learning curve here at the mo'!

[Graham]

Well according to the chart which only goes up to 0.98mls (rather than the 1ml I used) the Alkalinity is 0.11meq/l!

No, for some strange reason the chart goes backwards. it shows the amount left in the syringe. You have zero left, so your alkalinity is 5.71 meq/l. It would be better if the table went the other way; e.g., showed the amount used rather than the amount remaining in the syringe, but there we are.

In your case, because you are on the cusp of a syringe full, it probably would be better to work the other way round, or use a different sample size, but I don't want to complicate things for you at this stage. Your alkalinity is about the same as mine, so it is not unheard of to go off the Salifert scale, particularly at this time of year.

[JayM72]

Thanks Graham

At least it's good to know someone is in the same boat! 5.7 meq (285mg CaCO3/l) is high Alkalinity. I'm probably asking the wrong person if I ask what you do!

Jason