Taylor Salt Test q

ak29 · May 8, 2023

I am using the Taylor chromate inidcator and silver nitride sold as a kit and recently as I add the reagent the mix (on a speedstir ) starts to become colloidal. Little floating globules of whatever appear. I do eventually touch the milky salmon 'stop' color but the tube looks a mess and if this thing is to be believed my salt levels have not changed since I added salt in Feb. That is despite heavy rain, overflow, splashout. The pool store numbers tend to be a little lower than mine. One said I was off by 1200 ppm though. The SWG's opnion has bounced around with variances up to 600 or so but thats apparently normal. I'm kind of curious what my salt level really is and if I'd know if it was under/over.

Mdragger88 · May 8, 2023

Having some residue in the cylinder is normal but it globbing up like you’re describing is not. Sounds like they’ve gone bad.
How old are your reagents? They should have an expiration date on the bottle. They have a 2 year shelf life with proper storage.
If you recently purchased them you should contact the retailer.

Bperry · May 8, 2023

ak29 said:
I am using the Taylor chromate inidcator and silver nitride sold as a kit and recently as I add the reagent the mix (on a speedstir ) starts to become colloidal. Little floating globules of whatever appear. I do eventually touch the milky salmon 'stop' color but the tube looks a mess and if this thing is to be believed my salt levels have not changed since I added salt in Feb. That is despite heavy rain, overflow, splashout. The pool store numbers tend to be a little lower than mine. One said I was off by 1200 ppm though. The SWG's opnion has bounced around with variances up to 600 or so but thats apparently normal. I'm kind of curious what my salt level really is and if I'd know if it was under/over.

Make sure you are filling the tube to the 10ml mark and not the 25ml. The instructions are worded in a way that goofs people up a lot (myself included)

Newdude · May 8, 2023

Jimrahbe · May 8, 2023

29,

You are really not looking for a specific color, what you should be looking for is the change.

As you get close to the actual salt level, as you add drops you will see the color change kind of flash salmon, then it will quickly go back to milky. The first time it changes and does not change back is where you stop.

Glad you have the speed-stir as that really makes the test easy.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Newdude · May 8, 2023

+1. The salt test is one that I feel the need to hug the smart stir afterwards. It seems like each drop wants to change the solution but a second or two later the smart stir mixes it what would have taken me many swirls by hand and I need to keep adding. The solution is a gross curdled milk for most of the test before finally going red/brick.

Then I think, 'Wow. That would have sucked by hand and i probably would have stopped at 2200 when it's 3200. THANK you smart stir!!'

Mdragger88 · May 8, 2023

Maybe this will be helpful-
He begins the test @ 3:15