aqua_chem
Aquarium Advice Addict
As a scientist, and more particularly a chemist, let me say that what he was wanting to do was extremely basic, and not requiring any sort of potentiometric techniques. It's the kind of grunt work that they would make interns do, not the upper level scientists. That would be a waste of manpower. Using an indicator solution would be acceptable, as an especially high degree of accuracy is not needed. He's looking for proof of concept, not any sort of qualitative or quantitative data.
I'm sorry, but what are you talking about? Fusion point, balancing equations with elements?
Frankly, aquaria was factually stunted for a long time. Many ideas were strictly conjecture, anecdotal, or purely superstitious. Take planted tank lights for example. People basically just guessed their light until people started sticking PAR meters under their lights to determine, scientifically and analytically, how much light they were getting. People have been experimenting qualitatively with planted tanks extensively, and have gotten results from it, disproving or at least discrediting some strongly held beliefs.
The fact that anyone would suggest, or at least imply, that experimentation was futile or pointless blows me away. Science should not be left to the nerds in lab coats, but should be done by all, regardless of formal background or resources.
I'm pretty sure that the makeup of seachem's buffers are classified as trade secrets, so they wouldn't list pKas or anything of the sort on them.
it really is a simple and replicable procedure. In fact, you could say I'm replicating seachem's original experiment by testing the product. Assuming I followed scientific method, I have every right to make a conclusion.
