LaMotte Fresh Water Aquaculture User Manual

Fresh Water Aquaculture

Test Kit Instruction Manual

Code 3633-04 Code 3634-04

WARNING! This set contains chemicals

that may be harmful if misued. Read

cautions on individual containers

carefully. Not to be used by children

except under adult supervision.

This booklet provides step-by-step detailed instructions for the Code 3633-04 and Code 3634-04 test kits. It is important to review these instructions thoroughly attempting to perform the tests by the short-form instructions contained in the case lid. To order individual reagents or test kit components, use the speciﬁ ed code number.

before

Testing Hints / Reagent Care ........................................................ 4

Analytical Technique ..................................................................... 5

General Safety Information ........................................................... 6

Test Methods ................................................................................. 7

Test Procedures

Introduction ......................................................................................... 9

Alkalinity ............................................................................................. 10

Ammonia Nitrogen ............................................................................. 11

Carbon Dioxide .................................................................................. 14

Chloride ............................................................................................. 15

Dissolved Oxygen .............................................................................. 17

Hardness ............................................................................................ 22

Nitrite Nitrogen ................................................................................... 24

pH ....................................................................................................... 25

Kit Diagrams ................................................................................. 26

TESTING HINTS / REAGENT CARE

Tightly close all reagent containers immediately after use. Be sure not to interchange caps and pipets from different containers.

Wipe up any reagent chemical

spills, liquid or powder, as soon as they occur. Refer to label and accompanying MSDS at www.lamotte.com for proper reagent disposal.

Avoid prolonged exposure of equipment and reagents to direct sunlight. Protect reagents and components from extreme heat and cold.

Use care when dispensing or handling all reagents. Some reagents also may cause permanent stains if spilled.

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUE

1. Clean glassware is a must for accurate results. Thoroughly rinse test tubes before and after each test. Caps and stoppers should also be cleaned after each use.

2. Use test tube caps, not your ﬁ ngers, to cover test tubes and ﬂ asks during shaking or mixing.

3. When adding sample to calibrated test tube, be sure vial is ﬁ lled to the appropriate mark. The bottom of the liquid (meniscus) should be level with the desired mark. (Figure 1)

4. When dispensing reagents from bottles ﬁ lled with dropper plug and cap, be sure to hold bottle vertically and gently squeeze to dispense the appropriate number of uniform drops. (Figure 2)

5. For those reagents to be added with the screwcap pipet assemblies

enclosed, remove polyseal cap on bottle and replace with the screwcap pipet. NOTE: Place the polyseal caps back on the reagent bottles for longer periods of storage. Be sure that both pipet assemblies and polyseal caps are thoroughly cleaned before placing on bottles to avoid contamination.

6. When dispensing reagents from pipets, hold pipet vertically to assure uniform drop size. This is extremely important when performing drop count titrations. (Figure 3)

7. To ﬁ ll pipets, squeeze rubber bulb and immerse into reagent. Release bulb to ﬁ ll. (Figure 4)

8. To accurately dispense powdered reagents with spoon, tap spoon on edge of reagent container to remove excess reagent. (Figure 5)

9. When performing tests that include Octa-Slide Comparators, the comparator should be positioned between the operator and non-direct sunlight. This allows the light to enter through the

light-diffusing screen at the back of the

comparator for optimum

color comparison.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Store the test kit in a cool dry area.

Read the labels on all reagent bottles. Note warnings and ﬁ rst aid information. Reagents marked with a * on instructions are considered possible health hazards.

Avoid contact between reagent chemicals and skin, eyes, nose, and mouth. Wear safety glasses when

Read all instructions and note precautions before performing the test procedure. Read all Material Safety Data Sheets

Material

Safety

(MSDS)

Data

at www.lamotte.com.

Sheet

Keep all equipment and reagent chemicals out of the reach of young children.

performing test procedures.

In the event of an accident or suspected poisoning, immediately call the Poison Center phone number in the front of your local telephone directory or call a physician. Additional information for all LaMotte reagents is available in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands from Chem-Tel by calling 1-800-255-3924. For other areas, call 813-248-0585 collect to contact Chem-Tel’s International access number. Each reagent can be identiﬁ ed by the four digit number listed on the upper left corner of the reagent label, in the contents list and in the test procedures.

TEST METHODS

This test kit uses two basic analytical procedures common to ﬁ eld test kits. A brief explanation of each follows:

COLORIMETRIC: OCTA-SLIDE 2 VIEWER

In a visual colorimetric test, a sample is treated with reagent(s) to produce a color reaction, generally in proportion to the amount of test factor present. The sample color is then compared against color standards representing known concentrations of the factor being tested over a speciﬁ c range.

Hold the Octa-Slide 2

123

Viewer so that non direct light enters through the back of the viewer.

Match sample color

to color standard. Record results.

The calibrated test tubes (0106) included in this kit may be used to perform dilutions for the Ammonia Nitrogen and Nitrite Nitrogen tests. Distilled or deionized water is needed to perform dilutions. The following table provides a quick reference guide for dilutions of various proportions. Once the dilution is prepared, use this diluted sample to perform the test, and multiply the result by the dilution factor to obtain the actual concentration.

Insert Octa-Slide 2

Bar into the

Octa-Slide 2

Viewer (1101).

Note:

If sample color is between two standards, the midpoint is taken as the result.

If the sample is darker than the highest standard, a dilution may be performed on a fresh sample, and the test repeated to bring the concentration within range.

DILUTIONS

Insert test tube containing reacted sample into the Octa-Slide 2

Viewer (1101).

Sample Size Distilled Water to

Bring to 10 mL

5.0 mL 5.0 mL 2

2.5 mL 7.5 mL 4

Dilution Factor

TITRIMETRIC: DIRECT READING TITRATOR

In a titrimetric method, titrating solution (or titrant) is added to a treated sample until a color change occurs. The volume of titrant required to reach this endpoint is proportional to the concentration of the factor being tested. Direct Reading Titrators provide results directly in the appropriate concentration for the test - no counting of drops, no calculations.

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

Plunger Barrel Adapter Tip

The Titrator consists of a plastic barrel, a plastic plunger, and a plastic adapter tip. The adapter tip reduces the size of the drops that are dispensed, increasing the precision of the test results. DO NOT remove the plunger or adapter tip from the Titrator.

12 3

Fill the test tube to the appropriate line with sample water.

To ﬁ ll Titrator, slowly

withdraw the plunger until the bottom of the plunger is opposite the zero mark on the scale.

Add reagents as speciﬁ ed in the instructions for the individual test method. Cap with the special test tube cap. Mix by swirling gently.

I If small air

Note:

bubbles appear in the barrel, expel them by partially ﬁ lling the barrel and pumping the solution back into reagent container.

titration

the

Repeat

until bubble disappears.

Insert the Titrator into the center hole of the test tube cap. While gently swirling tube, add titrating solution one drop at a time until the desired color changes occur.

Read the test result directly from the scale where the large ring on the Titrator meets the Titrator barrel.

Follow individual test instructions.

Depress the Titrator plunger to expel air. Insert Titrator into the plastic ﬁ tting of the titrating solution bottle and invert.

Turn the bottle right-side-up and remove the Titrator.

When testing is complete, discard titrating solution in Titrator. Do not return the titrant to the reagent bottle. Rinse Titrator and titration tube thoroughly. Do not remove the plunger or the adapter tip from the Titrator.

TEST PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION

Proper control of water quality is an essential part of successful aquaculture operation. Immediate test results provided by on-site water analysis equipment can conﬁ rm a healthy environment, or give early warning signals for required treatment.

1. Develop a routine testing schedule.

2. Keep records! Historical data is extremely important if treatments are required. Note environmental conditions, ﬁ sh activity, feeding habits, etc.

3. Observe ﬁ sh to note any particular behavior or feeding rates, as this may be a sign of stress.

4. Stable characteristics, such as alkalinity and hardness, do not have to be tested as frequently as ones that ﬂ uctuate, such as ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature. Keep in mind that these factors ﬂ uctuate throughout the day and in some cases are interdependent.

5. Be alert to sudden changes in one factor, as it may be a clue to perform further analysis.

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