Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry alkalinity test kit

Fishman, Awhile back you mentioned the COle Parmer kit # 05540-60. It appears it test with color change. The tech folks were little help. My question is can you really detect down to 1 ppm. I have used Lamotte kit for years that works great for 4ppm determinations, but it would be great to be more accurate than that especially 10-30 ppm range. ALso Bill did you buy one of these and try it out? I appreciate y'alls help.
Greg

Greg, have not bought one. Sent a water sample to get tested instead, do not have results yet. Still need to come up one weekend and buy some fertilizer from you.

Greg & Bill-- I bought test strips from the Ben Meadows Co. came up with these readings , Hardness-PPM80---GPG5---DH5---PH6.---Alkalinity between 0&80---but don't really know if this is good water---Pond is 7.5' at the deepest apprx. 2.5 acres.Have T-Shad-Bluegill-Readear-C-Cat-Bass-I know It's a no no but put in 300 B-Crappie in October,but were just 3" {10 Grandkids} im sure not to many survived . Any help on the water quality THANKS HARVEY

Greg,

It does indeed measure to 1ppm in the 10 to 20 ppm range. From 20 to 30 it measures in about 2 ppm increments. Above that it gradually becomes less precise and 5 ppm accuracy is the best you can do above about 60 ppm.

The test is quite simple, a lot simpler than describing it, but I'll try. First, you obtain a 20 ml sample of water and put 6 drops of a green liquid (provided) in it. Each test has a glass ampule shaped like a syringe and a flexible tube that fits over the pointy part. The pointy end is broken and then placed in a titrating device that allows the sample to be drawn into the ampule by the user simply by pressing a lever. The ampule is already filled with a second clear solution and it is also a vacuum. As you draw the green solution into the ampule it turns a pinkish-red. Draw it in small amounts watching the color. When it turns back to green and stays that way, remove the ampule and invert. The alkalinity in ppm is determined by graduations on the side of the ampule. Wherever the liquid line is, there is your measurement.

It is almost impossible to screw it up and it measures most precisely exactly in the range that pondmeisters are interested in. It is far superior to test strips, and seems tailor-made for ponds. I've been extremely happy with it.

On a similar note, I just ordered my first pallet of Southern Excellence from Jerry Robinson. Springtime and lots o' work are upon us!

Fishman--Just what is Southern Excellence . You mentioned Pallet so must be some sort of grass or deer clover , if so how do i reach Jerry Robinson ? Thanks Harvey

fishman, Thanks for the reply. I have used tons of test kits over the years, but will give this one a try b/c 2 ppm is better than 4 ppm in the 10 to 20 range. Harvey, Southern Excellence is a pond fertilizer... check you POnd Boss Mag. However as stated in past post it is way more costly than water soluble 10-52-4 pond fertilizer.

Greg/Fishman, can you tell me where I can find that good Cole Parmer alkalinity test kit. thanks!

Harvey,
To find out if your test strips are accurate, send a sample of your water to the Texas A&M soil sciences lab for an independent test. Compare their results to yours, and you will see how accurate yours is.
Southern Excellence is a fertilizer, sold by a company in Alabama. They advertise in Pond Boss.
Double check your water chemistry, then talk about fertilizer. Tell us your results after the A&M lab tests it. By the way, your county agent has a form to fill out and send with the sample.

I posted this some time ago, and it should still be accurate, although the price might have increased.

Thanks! I'm looking into the Cole, as well as the La Motte Greg recommended. Both sound like they will fit the bill. -JB

the price is $28,(30 ampoules included with this kit),enough to last a while,I'm satisfied.

Just received my cole-parmer titrets total alkalinity test kit price was 29.00 do'nt live close to pond , will try it later - Harvey

harvey, you'll like it. mine has proven to be very easy to use and is quite accurate, especially in the 10-30 ppm range. -jb