Will rinsing test vials with soft tap water skew results?

pschmitz · 01/18/2010, 10:10 PM

Calling all chemists!! The title says it all.

Ive been rinsing my test vials in soft tap water after testing my parameters - are there any residues that will skew the test results over time?

Thanks,
Peter

foxhuntr · 01/18/2010, 10:21 PM

no ....... you should be ok as long as you rinse the vails in the tank water your gonna test..... most test kits tell you to do this before testing....

bertoni · 01/18/2010, 11:47 PM

I agree that using tap water likely is fine. I did that for a while. If you're worried, following up with a rinse of RO/DI water would remove anything that could be a problem.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 01/18/2010, 11:48 PM

Always rinse your viles in tank after tap rinse to be safe imo.

bertoni · 01/18/2010, 11:51 PM

Personally, I would avoid rinsing vials in the tank or in tank water. Rinsing them in the tank could add reagents to the water column, and the tank water could leave more on the vials than tap water. I guess the risk of reagent contamination is very small, though.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 01/19/2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Personally, I would avoid rinsing vials in the tank or in tank water. Rinsing them in the tank could add reagents to the water column, and the tank water could leave more on the vials than tap water. I guess the risk of reagent contamination is very small, though.

Just going by what API says to do in the literature provided, just seems like a rinse in the water your testing prior to test should be safe practice.

Flipper62 · 01/19/2010, 01:50 AM

I always dump the test vials old test water in the shop tub...then do a rince with tap water just to get everything out.

Then before I use them again...All the vials get a rince using RO/DI water.

Works for me..

ScooterTDI · 01/19/2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Personally, I would avoid rinsing vials in the tank or in tank water. Rinsing them in the tank could add reagents to the water column, and the tank water could leave more on the vials than tap water. I guess the risk of reagent contamination is very small, though.

I think there is some misunderstanding here.

It is generally good practice to rinse any containers coming in contact with the sample solution immediately before actually filling with the sample to be tested.

Don't rinse the vials with tank water after testing though.

Scott

heatdissipation · 01/19/2010, 07:24 AM

I agree with scooter, rinse them out with tap water after testing, but rinse with tank water before testing. That is what I do.

cpittmx · 01/19/2010, 08:58 AM

After testing.

I give a good rinsing under the faucet I then dip the vials in a small container of RO/DI water before putting them away. That way they dry clean without mineral deposits.

When I take them out the next time to test then I rinse in tank water, fill and test.

bertoni · 01/19/2010, 06:17 PM

Rinsing with tank water before testing would be fine, although I wouldn't bother, on average, given the accuracy that we need.

Nor_Cal_Guy · 01/20/2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatdissipation

I agree with scooter, rinse them out with tap water after testing, but rinse with tank water before testing. That is what I do.

That's what I was trying to say.

01/18/2010, 10:10 PM	#1
pschmitz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: iowa city Posts: 30	Will rinsing test vials with soft tap water skew results? Calling all chemists!! The title says it all. Ive been rinsing my test vials in soft tap water after testing my parameters - are there any residues that will skew the test results over time? Thanks, Peter

01/18/2010, 11:47 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that using tap water likely is fine. I did that for a while. If you're worried, following up with a rinse of RO/DI water would remove anything that could be a problem. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/18/2010, 11:51 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Personally, I would avoid rinsing vials in the tank or in tank water. Rinsing them in the tank could add reagents to the water column, and the tank water could leave more on the vials than tap water. I guess the risk of reagent contamination is very small, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/19/2010, 01:50 AM	#7
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	I always dump the test vials old test water in the shop tub...then do a rince with tap water just to get everything out. Then before I use them again...All the vials get a rince using RO/DI water. Works for me.. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

01/19/2010, 06:17 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Rinsing with tank water before testing would be fine, although I wouldn't bother, on average, given the accuracy that we need. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/18/2010, 10:21 PM	#2
foxhuntr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: PA Posts: 266	no ....... you should be ok as long as you rinse the vails in the tank water your gonna test..... most test kits tell you to do this before testing....

01/18/2010, 11:48 PM	#4
Nor_Cal_Guy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NorCal Posts: 300	Always rinse your viles in tank after tap rinse to be safe imo.

01/19/2010, 07:24 AM	#9
heatdissipation Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Shore PA Posts: 257	I agree with scooter, rinse them out with tap water after testing, but rinse with tank water before testing. That is what I do.

01/19/2010, 08:58 AM	#10
cpittmx Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ravenna, Ohio Posts: 260	After testing. I give a good rinsing under the faucet I then dip the vials in a small container of RO/DI water before putting them away. That way they dry clean without mineral deposits. When I take them out the next time to test then I rinse in tank water, fill and test.