How to take samples and clean viles

[Wnrwade]

So i was wondering what is the proper way to take samples when testing water.
Do you dip the vile and pour out any extra or use a syringe and fill vile?
Also how do you clean the vile? Clean with only tap water or some other way.
Have searched here and youtube and seen many different ways so didn't knoe if there was a correct way and if you did it wrong can you get false readings.

 

[Fisch]

I normally use a syringe to get the 5ml required, easy and clean. Rinse with tap water and turn upside down to dry.
Should not have any effect on the readings.

 

[lucky123]

I’ve never thought about it before. I’m assuming it shouldn’t matter to much. I have always just dipped the vile in the water and poured the extra water back into the tank until it’s at the line but I think a syringe would be easier. After that, I just dump out the tested water and rinse the vile under tap water.

 

[CTYankee79]

I normally use a syringe to get the 5ml required, easy and clean. Rinse with tap water and turn upside down to dry.
Should not have any effect on the readings.

This is exactly what I do

 

[Kitley]

I dip in a plastic measuring cup, then pour into the tubes and use a syringe to get the water at the line. Then I still have some left in the cup in case I want to repeat a test or knock one over..lol. I rinse out everything with the tap water and stand upside down to dry.

 

[Flyfisha]

I rinse vile after each time I use it but I also rinse it in tank water before I test. No water ever goes back in the tank .

 

[ProudPapa]

I use a syringe to fill the vials (and it is vial; vile means something completely different) also, and rinse them in tap water.

 

[mattgirl]

LIke others I use a 5ml syringe to fill the test tubes for pH and nitrite test. I use a 2.5ml syringe for the ammonia and nitrate test. Since it takes so much more of the testing solutions for those 2 tests I cut them in half and can perform twice as many tests. I tested it out and get the same reading as I do when testing a full 5 mls. Once done I rinse them with hot water and set them upside down in my wooden holder to dry.

 

[CTYankee79]

LIke others I use a 5ml syringe to fill the test tubes for pH and nitrite test. I use a 2.5ml syringe for the ammonia and nitrate test. Since it takes so much more of the testing solutions for those 2 tests I cut them in half and can perform twice as many tests. I tested it out and get the same reading as I do when testing a full 5 mls. Once done I rinse them with hot water and set them upside down in my wooden holder to dry.

What a great idea I never thought of that

 

[ProudPapa]

. . . Once done I rinse them with hot water and set them upside down in my wooden holder to dry.

I have a cup in a drawer with a paper towel folded up in the bottom. I put mine in it, with the open end down.

 

[Kathylee]

So i was wondering what is the proper way to take samples when testing water.
Do you dip the vile and pour out any extra or use a syringe and fill vile?
Also how do you clean the vile? Clean with only tap water or some other way.
Have searched here and youtube and seen many different ways so didn't knoe if there was a correct way and if you did it wrong can you get false readings.

I have the API freshwater master test kit & I had the very same questions, especially about dumping chemicals afterwards. I called 2 LFS & I even called API's manufacturer. So I have an old medicine cup of my daughter's it has labels on it, 5ml 10ml 15ml 20ml.. I hold it under the water coming out my filter & fill up glass tubes one by one. Other people use syringes or cups, everyone has their own way. If I overfill the vial then I just pour a little water back out. I let the water in my sink run for a minute, and dump 1 tube down the sink at a time, flushing with lots of water to dilute it further because I have a septic system, I just rinse with warm water, rinse tube cap, then I dry upside down in my dishwasher for the night, the tubes & caps fit perfectly on the metal racks. You can put them upside down on a paper towel too.

 

[Wnrwade]

I use a syringe to fill the vials (and it is vial; vile means something completely different) also, and rinse them in tap water.

Yeah after I wrote that and read it later I realized I used the wrong vial.

 

[Kathylee]

Yeah after I wrote that and read it later I realized I used the wrong vial.

It's okay, I think we all make spelling mistakes! Lol. I'm using my phone on here & when I'm typing my pop-up keyboard takes up half my screen & I can't even see what I'm writing- I have to proofread it afterwards.