Fixer turns Black

[buckpago]

my fixer turn black after using it on 4 rolls, I also use stop bath as usual. I encountered this for first time.

 

[Mackinaw]

What kind of fixer you using?

Jim B.

 

[Tin]

I think it is the silver salts collected by the fixer during fixing that became unstable, and the silver precipitates into the fixer. Did you fixed the four rolls within short periods of time (like a couple of weeks), or the used fixer was left there for a long time? If the latter case, the silver salts in solution will get unstable with time.

If you development sessions are few and far between, you should make fresh fixer the next time you plan to use it. And of course you should store fixers in the dark, not just kept in a dark bottle.

 

[GoodOldNorm]

I would pour the fixer through a paper coffee filter then take a piece of film leader and agitate it in the fix untill the film clears. If the film clears in say 2mins then fix your next film that you develop for 4mins. Just double the film clearing time.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Hunh? Shouldn't happen. Pulling our collective legs?

 

[buckpago]

Truly black? Or purple? Or brown?

What do you do between developing and fixing in your workflow?

truly black, I got new fixer now, a friend of mine told me the reason, the batch of the fixer that got dark was the one that were mix during the summer time. he mix a new batch of fixer now and its fine, its getting cold here now.

 

[clayne]

Fixer usually yellows or gives off a sulfuric smell when it's decomposed. Never heard of completely black fixer before.

 

[Ezzie]

My TMAX fixer goes a very slight yellow, and then clears after 10 minutes after use. I fix maybe 4-6 films (much less than Kodak say is possible) then pour it out. Its not like it breaks the bank.