yellowish fixer (stop bath contaminated)

[Fellipe de Paula]

My fixer (rapid fixer) is becoming yellowish because of the stop bath (ilfostop).
Is this a problem or it's normal??

 

[Bob-D659]

Test the clearing time with a piece of film leader, if it is more than half the recommended time, it is time to dispose of it.

 

[Anscojohn]

The yellow may be from sulfurization; indicating the fixer is exhausted, iirc.

 

[Fellipe de Paula]

The yellow is because of the ilfostop (stop bath)... Is there a problem to store the fixer "contaminated" with (just a little) stop bath?

 

[BetterSense]

I don't think it's a problem. Right now my paper fixer is bright blue because of the foma sheet film I've been running through it. Not even a hint of the blue remains on the paper after washing, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Neal]

Dear Fellipe,

Not to worry, there is no problem.

Neal Wydra

 

[Leighgion]

Unless you water rinse between the stop bath and fixer (does anybody on the planet do this?), contaminating your fixer with a touch of stop bath isn't simply normal. It's inevitable.

Don't fight the inevitable. Worry about other things.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I don't think it's a problem. Right now my paper fixer is bright blue because of the foma sheet film I've been running through it. Not even a hint of the blue remains on the paper after washing, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree, it's not a problem, but using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

My fixer (rapid fixer) is becoming yellowish because of the stop bath (ilfostop).
Is this a problem or it's normal??

Not a problem, but some use it as a reasonable indicator when to dispose of the fixer.

 

[Ian Grant]

I agree, it's not a problem, but using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

Definitely not advisable, particularly if used for Fibre based prints after fixing Films. Film fixer can be re-used

Films contain Iodide which builds up as more films are fixed, this iodide is detrimental when fixing papers as less soluble silver/thiosulphate/iodide complexes are formed, these can ve very difficult to remove from Fibre based papers and will cause staining.

It's worth reading Ilford's datasheet for Hypam or Rapid fixer. (Essentially the same except Hypam is balanced to accept an optional Hardener)

Ian

 

[Vaughn]

I'll just mention the obvious -- let the paper drip over the stop bath tray until it stops dripping before putting the paper in the fix. Wish our students had the patience for it.

Vaughn

 

[BetterSense]

using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

I agree. I'm simply lazy.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I find it a problem when using Kodak's indicator stop bath. I mix the stop with 28% acetic and add a few ml of indicator stop for a very pale yellow. It only changes to a pale violet when the bath expires but the fixer doesn't turn turn bright yellow.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I find it a problem when using Kodak's indicator stop bath. I mix the stop with 28% acetic and add a few ml of indicator stop for a very pale yellow. It only changes to a pale violet when the bath expires but the fixer doesn't turn turn bright yellow.

As I said, I don't mind if the fixer slowly turns yellow. It's a nice reminder that it is time to check the silver content.

 

[fschifano]

The fixer I use is not terribly acidic, so any indicating dye that gets carried over into the fixing bath immediately turns to a blue/violet color. It's not a problem. When the bath turns acidic enough for the color to change back to yellow, I figure that I've exceeded the buffering capacity of the fixer and it's time to discard and make a fresh batch.