yikes! exhausted fixer!

[newfilm]

So, I made a blunder (possibly) for my previous batch of film (i think). I am about to develop my another batch and when doing the film-leader fixer test it only turn very very slightly transparent on the edge! So that means my previous batch must be near to exhaustion too!

So, what happened now?

1. do I take out my previous batch of negatives and dunk it in the newly mix fixer again?
2. Is there a way to tell if my previous batch of negative is properly fixed? I mean, it scan fine, looks transparent enough (I don't have a densitometer of sort to verify the film against film base color).
3. this is my second batch of film, maybe I can compare the clear side of the negative to my previous batch that is now in question, I guess?

 

[user237428934]

Fixer is cheap. I don't develop a lot of film so I mix new fixer for every batch of film. Made the mistake once, had to refix, scratched the film doing this.

If your fixer was depleted, the negatives get dark quickly, in my case it was a matter of 2-3 hours. You'll see it.

 

[Moto-Uno]

My experience has been that fixer can last quite a while and when it approaches exhaustion it simply takes longer and longer to give a clear and transparent base . If you're not sure that your previous negatives were adequately fixed you can safely refix the negatives . I develop quite a few B&W films and can't afford replacing fixer with every roll . Hope this helps . Peter

 

[Jake Mongey]

I realised that my fixer was dead today while developing 16 rolls of film I shot over the weekend, on the last four you could see some light tint where it hadnt cleared, I just got out my darkroom trays and re fixed them in there with fresh fixer

 

[Sid836]

What are you using for fixing? I find Ilford's Rapid Fixer 1+4 to degrade considerably after using it to fix 6-7 rolls. Are you replenish it or something? With that many rolls fixed you should already be getting some precipitate in the solution.