Color standards on K2006 kit

[KirstenHW]

I had this same issue last year with my trusty K2006 test kit. I initially thought it was my reagents, but when I replaced them it persisted, last year and now this year too. The kit & reagents are stored indoors all year round.

When I test the pH, instead of a yellow to red/blue range for the test sample, I am getting an off-orange color that doesn't correlate with any of the color chips in my kit. I can't determine what my pH really is - I am assuming around 7.4. The odd thing is when I use my Rainbow daily kit, I am getting the right color range.

I haven't had any issues with the chlorine, alk or hardness tests. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I'd like to post photos taken Sun 6/3 that illustrate this anomaly, but I am not sure how to do it on here - I have them on my hard drive.

Thanks in advance for your advice & comments.

[KirstenHW]

Can anyone comment on this?

[giroup01]

I had this same issue last year with my trusty K2006 test kit. I initially thought it was my reagents, but when I replaced them it persisted, last year and now this year too. The kit & reagents are stored indoors all year round.

When I test the pH, instead of a yellow to red/blue range for the test sample, I am getting an off-orange color that doesn't correlate with any of the color chips in my kit. I can't determine what my pH really is - I am assuming around 7.4. The odd thing is when I use my Rainbow daily kit, I am getting the right color range.

I haven't had any issues with the chlorine, alk or hardness tests. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

I'd like to post photos taken Sun 6/3 that illustrate this anomaly, but I am not sure how to do it on here - I have them on my hard drive.

Thanks in advance for your advice & comments.
Try adding a drop of base demand or a drop of acid demand to see if this moves it somewhat. You may be in between two colors.

The thing with the pH test is that you have to watch out for *color* as opposed to intensity, in a nutshell yellow is low, purple is too high, orange is fine.

Also, if it's a 2000-series comparator block (you'll find them in the K2005 and K2006 kits) you have to use the R-0001 reagent, not the R-0014.

Take the comparator block and the pH reagent to a pool store that uses the same products and compare.

I like to use a good portable light box as a background for any colometric test, the one I use has a 5000k color temp and is very bright.

[KirstenHW]

Thx, Giroup - I always do aim for the color over the intensity. The thing that is confusing to me is that the color I've been getting doesn't correlate to any of the color chips on the block. I added 4 lbs of Borax and 3 of baking soda over the past week and I can't get the readings past 7.2. My alkalinity is firmly set at 70. FC is 5.5, CC is zero, CYA is about 30.

[KirstenHW]

Here are three not-great shots of what I am seeing.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/KirstenHW/100_0987.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/KirstenHW/100_0985.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/KirstenHW/100_0984.jpg

[giroup01]

I'm reading this as 7.2 (picture 987), 984 also looks like 7.2 but a bit darker, and 985 well, to me anyways, looks orange. It actually looks a fair bit like what I'm getting when I test my water.

I'll post pictures later.

[Poconos]

The reagent in the K-2006 is R-0004 (probably a typo above) used for the 44 ml sample size. R-0014 is for the OTO kit with a smaller sample vial. And yes, the colors look around 7.2 - 7.3 so not to panic.
Al

[giroup01]

I'm reading this as 7.2 (picture 987), 984 also looks like 7.2 but a bit darker, and 985 well, to me anyways, looks orange. It actually looks a fair bit like what I'm getting when I test my water.

I'll post pictures later.
Pictures here:

http://piscines-apollo.com/ph/ph_1.jpg
http://piscines-apollo.com/ph/ph_2.jpg
http://piscines-apollo.com/ph/ph_3.jpg

So yes, your colors indicate 7.2 or thereabouts.

And the reagent is an R-0004 sorry for the tpyo.

[KirstenHW]

Awesome lightbox - what a great idea - talk about consistency of testing parameters! And thanks very much for talking me off the ledge . . . :rolleyes:

[KirstenHW]

In 2007 you guys helped - I need more hep today! Maybe I am going color blind . . . What do you think this pH color reading is? I see it is more yellow than the numbers in 2007 - but IMO the pH hasn't budged since opening day on Sat 6/18. In three days I have added about 6 pounds of Borax.

Thx in advance for all advice . . .
http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/KirstenHW/pH%20June%202011/?action=view&current=2011-06-21_09-30-50_682.jpg

[Watermom]

It is hard to tell from looking at the picture but whatever it is, it is too low. Keep working to get it up 7.2-7.8. (I like 7.4-7.6 best.) 6 lbs. of Borax isn't all that much in a big pool. What is your volume?

[KirstenHW]

I have been estimating it at 30K - it has a 3.5 foot shallow end and an 8.5 foot deep end . . . I have 9 more lbs of Borax I can dump in . . .

[Watermom]

Add a box at a time slowly into the skimmer while the pump is running. Keep the pump running and after about 2 hours, retest, redose. When the pH starts to move, you can decide if you need smaller additions to reach your target.

[Phillbo]

might be better to do the test outside with a white piece of paper behind it too...

[Watermom]

Good idea, Philbo.