Ph Level

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hey Everyone

I'm hopefully going to be adding LR to my nano on wednesday all my levels are fine except my PH. It's hard to read....I'm using the hagen master kit and the colour is grey on the high chart (No match) and is a little darker blue that the highest (7.6) on the low chart. I'd guess it's somewhere around 7.7-7.8.

I'm using live arog for substrate and reef crystals for salt along with RO/DI water. The PH for a reef tank is normally around 8.1 - 8.4? Is my PH too low? Is a stable low PH better than a constantly fluctuating normal one? If i need buffer what UK brand would you reccomend?

Thanks
Dan

Edit: Perhaps the LR and the cycle will hell stabilize and bring up the PH?

 

[steelhealr]

NO....don't worry about your pH. Almost all new tanks don't have a pH of 8.2. I WILL say that, most people don't like the Hagen kits. I'd switch to API. JMO. SH

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Thanks for your help SH.

Wish i had of asked for everyone opinions before i bought the kit

Ah well. I'll go and order a PH meter for backup.

Dan

 

[Opcn]

why not get some litmus paper, you cannot go wrong with litmus strips, put a drop of water on the paper and read, its fast a cheap http/vwrlabshop.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_0011566

I'd go with the 100 pack of narrow range 6.5-10 unless your colorblind you should be able to tell within .2 and its a cost effective means.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Funny that,

I have that exact pack that my mate gave me (Works for water cleaning company) and they read the same as the Hagen test kit. Hopefully now the LR is in everything will buff up

Thanks for your help
Dan

 

[steelhealr]

I have a constant pH monitor. It's not cheap, but, I thought it was an important parameter to keep an eye on. You can calibrate it against known pH solutions. The PinPoint monitor I have correlates almost perfectly with the API test kit. Is it necessary..probably not. Is it handy...yes. SH