The Chemicals In Liquid Test Kits

[Miss Wiggle]

interesting BigNose

i remember someone asking a while ago about disposal of the chemicals after you'd done the tests, I think they contacted API to try and ask what they should do and failed to get a response.

is this something that API should be able to advise us on, and have you any tips on disposal of chemicals like this.

I just tip them down the sink but I have thought before I don't know if this is actually safe to put in the water supply, is it stuff that the water treatment firms can get rid of?!

 

[tenohfive]

Miss W - although theres a lot of stuff that shouldn't go down the sewers, it invariably does and it does get dealt with in my experience (used to work for a couple of water companies, one freshwater and one dealing with sewers.)

Personally I do exactly the same thing, pouring the end product down the drain. Given the number of people in this area that do water changes compared to the vast amount of water that goes into my local treatment works, its fair to say it'll be massively diluted by the time it arrives there.

 

[Tobigara]

Bignose is absolutely right. and happily all the msds for the company are on the website. here's the link

http/www.aquariumpharm.com/Products/MSDSs.aspx

 

[johno]

Unless you're incredibly stupid (or do your water tests whilst on a trampoline) there is no risk of spillage with the API test kits.

Well i dont have a trampoline, so i guess i must fall into the other category

 

[NonstickRon]

For what its worth, i've taken to using a needle-less syringe I got in the bird section of the pet store to fill the test tubes with water. Easier than swearing for 5 minutes as I try repeatedly to tip just the right amount out of the tube after holding it under the water.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

For what its worth, i've taken to using a needle-less syringe I got in the bird section of the pet store to fill the test tubes with water. Easier than swearing for 5 minutes as I try repeatedly to tip just the right amount out of the tube after holding it under the water.

lol, yeah we use a syringe as well

 

[Bignose]

For what its worth, i've taken to using a needle-less syringe I got in the bird section of the pet store to fill the test tubes with water. Easier than swearing for 5 minutes as I try repeatedly to tip just the right amount out of the tube after holding it under the water.

lol, yeah we use a syringe as well

An eyedropper from the medicine section of your local pharmacy is good too.

Regarding the disposal -- just flush it down the sink with a large amount of water. "Dilution is the solution to pollution!" Ok, not really, but by the time you run the sink for 10 seconds -- dump the test tube contents, and then run the sink for 10 more seconds, you're already at trace levels and that doesn't even consider the amount of fluid in the next pipe down. It really becomes an undetectable amount pretty quickly when mixed with all the other drains out there.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

ok cool, thanks for the tips guys

i always flush it down well with water, don't want to leave chemicals lurking in the kitchen sink as i put food in there!