For high precision determination of the potassium concentration in saltwater
Potassium is a vitally important macro-nutrient for all living beings. In natural ocean water, this alkali metal is present in an average concentration of 408 mg/l. In a saltwater aquarium, the potassium concentration is usually kept stable by regularly changing the water. Nevertheless, a lack of potassium can occur in individual aquariums tanks due to the use of zeolites and other adsorbents. One sign of a possible lack of potassium is clear discolouration of corals and retraction of polyps. The potassium level in a saltwater aquarium should be checked regularly to ensure that the level is between 380 and 420 mg/l.
With the high resolution titration test Tropic Marin®Potassium Test Professional the potassium concentrations can be determined reliably with a resolution of 5 mg/l.
Benefits:
• Measurement range: 300 – 500 mg/l (ppm)
• Accuracy: 5 mg/l
• For determining the K concentration in saltwater aquaria
• Sufficient for approximately 50 applications
• Incl. potassium standard to check function and shelf life of the test reagents
How to use:
Note: The precision of the measurement results may be increased by determining a „correction value“. For this purpose a measurement with reagent “Standard” (potassium) is carried out. This measurement indicates the correction value that should be included during each potassium measurement. We recommend determining the correction value again every 3-4 weeks.
1. Determining the “correction value“:
1.1If you recently determined the correction value, then proceed to item 2 “Determining the potassium concentration”.
1.2 Shake all reagent bottles before use!
1.3 Place a clean syringe tip onto the 1 ml dosing syringe with green piston and draw up 1 ml of “Standard”. Ensure the dosing syringe is as dry as possible. Add the entire volume to one of the two cuvettes.
1.4 Now carry out the potassium measurement as described at points 2.3 to 2.8.1.5The correction value can now be determined using the table. To do so, read the corresponding potassium concentration of the residual volume of reagent D on the table. Subtract this value (measured potassium concentration) from the standard value 400 mg/l (concentration of the potassium standard). That is how to determine the correction value that you will use for the measurement values established later on.
1.6 The used glass cuvette, syringes, and syringe tips must be thoroughly cleaned after completing the actual potassium measurements.
2. Determining the potassium concentration:
2.1 Shake all reagent bottles before use!
2.2 Insert a clean syringe tip onto the 1 ml dosing syringe with the green piston, flush out the syringe several times with the water sample being tested (aquarium water) and then draw up 1 ml of this water. Empty the entire amount into the clean second cuvette.
2.3 Place a clean syringe tip onto the 1 ml dosing syringe with red lettering and draw out reagent A up to the 20 marking on the syringe (corresponds with 0.5 ml). Add the entire amount to the water sample. The exact completion of this step is very important for the precision of the final result!
2.4 Swirl the cuvette with the water sample for approx. 10 sec. to mix the reagent well, and then wait 5 minutes. White clouding will form.
2.5 Add 9 drops of reagent B, swirl for 10 seconds, and allow the cuvette to stand for another 2 minutes.
2.6 Next, add 3 drops of reagent C from the dropper bottle, and the water sample will turn to a yellow colour.
2.7 Place another clean syringe tip onto the third 1 ml dosing syringe with black lettering and draw out 1 ml of reagent D. Each time add three drops of reagent D to the water sample (CAUTION: Do not add, under any circumstances, a larger amount of reagent D all at once into the cuvette) and mix the reagent thoroughly by swirling it carefully. This is important so that a clear colour changing point is available later. Repeat this procedure until the yellow colour disappears and turns into a pale pink colour.
2.8 After that, continue carefully with the titration. After each drop of reagent D, the cuvette must be swirled until a rich, darker pink colour results after approx. 1 – 3 droplets. Read the remaining quantity of reagent D on the syringe.
Note: If you are unsure if the end point of the titration has been reached, then add one more drop of reagent D. If the colour intensity does NOT continue to increase, then the final point of titration has already been reached. In this case, add on the last drop (0.01 ml) to the remaining quantity (mathematically). At this point, if you come up with the determined correction value, continue with point 1.5. To determine the actual potassium level in your water sample, continue with your measurement at point 2.9.
2.9 The corresponding potassium concentration can now be read on the table using the residual volume of reagent D. Provided it has been determined previously, the correction value determined at point 1.5 is either deducted (negative value) from the potassium concentration or added to it (positive value).
2.10 If additional measurements are carried out immediately, then the cuvette(s) and the syringe with the green piston should be cleaned briefly using reverse osmosis water. After completing the measurement series, the glass cuvettes should immediately be cleaned thoroughly according to item 3 so that precipitation cannot adhere too severely.
3. Cleaning the glass cuvette and syringes:
After completing a test series, we recommend cleaning the used glass cuvettes, syringes, and dropper tips.
– The syringes and associated syringe tips must be flushed out thoroughly with reverse osmosis water and left to dry.
– Rinse out the glass cuvettes thoroughly with tap water. Clean the cuvettes with a piece of paper towel as best as possible, rinse thoroughly with reverse osmosis water, and leave them to dry. A light precipitation may remain. To remove this, we recommend using a suitable brush like the Tropic Marin® cuvette brush (available separately) or adding some household vinegar or vinegar-based cleaner. Allow the vinegar solution to sit for 12 -?24 hours, then rinse out the cuvette with reverse osmosis water and allow it to dry.
How to correct unfavourable values
To increase the potassium concentration in case of values that are too low, we recommend using Tropic Marin®Potassium to adjust the potassium level to the natural level again and to produce an increase in the vitality of diverse corals as well. If the potassium level in the water is too high, we recommend doing a partial water change.
Shelf life of 6 months after opening. Store in a cool, dark place
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