Drop Checker (just A Ph Check)

[ShoC]

Hi,
I was reading an interesting article about Drop checkers,
and it mentions they are simply a in tank PH checker,
and you can tell if you have 30ppm by the drop of 1.0 ph,

so I understand how it works but how is it affected via people out of tap being a different PH?
and can;t I simple just add PH test kit to it?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

In effect yes it is. You as the amount of CO2 changes so does the PH of the water/drop check solution. This is why if you use tap or tank water in your drop checker you are not going to get an accurate result as the PH could have been changed by other factors.

To get an accurate result you use a solution with a known PH/KH value. Typically this will be 4Dkh solution. Because this solution is made to give us a "zero" reading in the drop checker an is not going to be effected by any other PH adjusting factors you will get a much more acurate CO2 reading (as CO2 will be the only thing that will change the PH in the solution).

You can make 4Dkh solution but it is much easier just to buy a bottle (it lasts for ages).

 

[ShoC]

Now I'm really confused,

My drop checker comes with a test solution and was under the impression I just add 5 drops and then tank water.......


but I know my tap water sits at 7.1/7.2 PH and if I add tap/tank water (either one) and my PH shows 6.8 that indicates 20/25 pm (at a guess) so if it was sitting in the drop checker and PH is indicated at that then I get a rough idea using just normal PH solution!!

or am I way of the bat here..

EDIT: on aqua essentials I think they sell it and say to use tank water

I now understand the ph test solution will have to have bromothymol blue to work......
I fully understand now but still cant see why normal tap water can't be used if you are aware of how the colour will look etc...

would distilled water work.