corrosionjerry Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Ok this is what is happening.... I have two PH kits The Nutrafin wide range kit 4.5-9.0 that reads in increments of .5 and I have an API kit 6-7.6 that reads in increments of .2............ My water in the tank I am watching closely is reading between 5.5 and 6 with the nutrafin and with the API the water is reading 6.6 Big difference... my gut is telling me the API is the real deal.......... What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byte Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) I really struggle with the colour charts that come with the test kits. From what I have read, the plastic card that gets printed does not have the proper colours sometimes... For the low range pH test kits the chemical used is Bromothymol Blue in many... so the (low range) test kits you have may both be using Bromothymol Blue. Are they both the same colour in the test tube and the charts are different shades? Even though, you have 3 tests... 5.5--6.0--6.5 average 6.0 and none of them are really that far off. To see if the pH changes, pick your favourite test kit and keep testing. If it is a planted tank, get a drop checker and some 4 dkH solution to watch your pH and CO2 concentration. A pH controller/monitor can be bought for about $120. Edited July 23, 2008 by byte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 In my experience, pH isn't the most important property to moniter - it changes quite a bit in nature, too. The main property you need to keep an eye on is hardness (or more accurately, alkilinity - the water's ability to buffer) - the loss in alkilinity is what caused Werner's pH crash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) This is in a bare bottom tank no CO2 / I want the PH to remain constant ( Discus) The GH is < 5 and KH is 3 The PH kits use different color strips and the measuring liquid is deffinetly different in color.. Edited July 23, 2008 by corrosionjerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Try taking a sample into an LFS to see what their test shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 You may want to raise the KH a bit. It's generally recommended that you keep it over 4dh. Anything lower may not have enough buffering capacity to prevent a pH crash. Baking soda will work: 0.5 tsp per 25 gallons will raise the KH by 1dh. It does not affect the GH. the loss in alkilinity is what caused Werner's pH crash. Actually, I believe my pH crash was due to the acids produced by long term buildup of organics in the substrate. The KH was the first thing I checked, but it hadn't dropped at all. If you are really concerned about monitoring your pH, you can get the pen type pH probes pretty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) You may want to raise the KH a bit. It's generally recommended that you keep it over 4dh. Anything lower may not have enough buffering capacity to prevent a pH crash. Baking soda will work: 0.5 tsp per 25 gallons will raise the KH by 1dh. It does not affect the GH.Thank You for that information.... I Learn something new every day... the loss in alkilinity is what caused Werner's pH crash. Actually, I believe my pH crash was due to the acids produced by long term buildup of organics in the substrate. The KH was the first thing I checked, but it hadn't dropped at all. If you are really concerned about monitoring your pH, you can get the pen type pH probes pretty cheap. I will look into one of these devices... anyone know where I could purchase one economically that is reliable? Edited July 23, 2008 by corrosionjerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Check out ebay. WHen I was considering buying one there were many brands on there to choose from. Becareful of the 5$ ph pens from china on there though. Not sure I"d trust something that cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 I will look into one of these devices... anyone know where I could purchase one economically that is reliable? Pool or spa stores should carry them. Maybe even Home Depot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 Check ebay once you research the different brands. You can usually find things cheaper off there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Are you adjusting your water for discus Jerry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Are you adjusting your water for discus Jerry? Yes Nick I am... I plan on spawning them sooner or later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 http://search.ebay.ca/search/search.dll?fr...&category0= Here they have a few different ones. If you've never bought off Ebay before, always check the seller's ranking. Better to buy from someone who all the others have been happy with, rating of 98% if thousands, or 99-100% if there are only 100 or less in the number next to his star. buynow means if you pay the asking price you will win the bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trixie Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Try to get or make distilled water it should have o PH of 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Try to get or make distilled water it should have o PH of 7 It should... However, distilled water that has been exposed to the atmosphere absorbs CO2 and ends up around 5.8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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