Salt Water Test Failure?

[mculik5]

Was testing my water for salt content today using the Taylor K-1766 kit. Prior to today, I've never had a problem with this test. FYI, I'm using the Taylor stirrer.

Filled the cylinder with 25ml of water, added the drop of yellow and started adding the other drops. As soon as I added the first drop, the water turned milky white and remained that way for 40 or so drops, after which I stopped because I know my salt isn't that hight and I didn't want to waste the test fluid.

I know a precipitate forms when doing this test, and I think it did this time, too, but the water itself looked like milk. Normally, the water looks milky because of the precipitate, and when I stop the stirrer, the precipitate quickly falls to the bottom. In this case, the water remained like milk after stopping the stirrer. Also, normally the water starts to "flash" red when I'm getting close, but in this case, it never did that, not even after 40 or so drops.

Any ideas about what went wrong?

Thanks.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

I think you need to use a 10 ml sample size. The directions in the salt test box are confusing because they instruct you to use the 25 ml cylinder but to fill to the 10 ml line for the 200 ppm per drop test. I made the same mistake last year. I prefer the directions in my K-2006 box which are simply to use a 10 ml sample.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Yes 10ml sample.

 

[mculik5]

Ha...I'm an idiot...10 ml sample is correct.

 

[Traviz02]

I feel like an idiot too,kept thinking no way is this right as I kept putting drops in,then seen this post and sure enough read the directions and 10ml sample--dooooohhhh

 

[laprjns]

I must admit that I made this mistake also.

 

[Tena]

Same here! I had clumps in the bottom and milky water. I stopped. I knew salt was in there...I just put it in. I was afraid it wasn't enough. PB said 6 bags was plenty for start up we should go get more if the light didn't go green after 24 hrs and disappeared. (His mo). I don't trust him anymore with reasons. So I wanted to test after 6 hrs. ?‍ moral...salt cell is happy, read tpf first.