Api Test Kit Help

[LionessN3cubs]

I tested my tank for PH. From the readings I got last week with the tetratest kit (8) I decided to use the high ph bottle first. It turned dark purple immediately showing a level of 8.8. Curious as to if this was right, I tested a 2nd vial with the PH bottle. It turned a pretty blue (7.6). Curious even further I tested my tap water with each bottle. High bottle turns a pale brown and low turned a blue equal to that of the low bottle used on the tank water. So...it looks like this.

Tap: Ph 7.6 blue
high PH 7.4

Tank: Ph 7.6 blue
high ph 8.8

Tank: ammonia 1.0
Tap: 0

Can I assume that my PH is actually more along the lines of 7.6 since I got the same ph level reading from both tank and tap? 1ppm of ammonia wouldnt raise tap water from 7.6 to over 8.8 would it?

Tank temp is 86 degrees

 

[mark.w.jones]

The regualar pH is for a normal tropical tanks whose ph should be somewhere around 7.0.

African Rift Cichlid tanks and Saltwater tanks are where you use the high pH test. In these tanks ph should be around 8.2 if kept properly. Most people don't need the high PH one unless they are keeping these kinds of fish.

 

[Shrimper]

No the Low PH will only read from 6.0 to 7.6 PH and the high range from 7.4 to 8.8.

Based on your readings i would say your tap PH is the same as mine, about 7.5, my tank ph is the same as my tap water though.

I would double check your tank water again with the high ph reader. 8.8 is very high for a normal tropical tank.

What decorations/gravel do you have as something may be affecting the ph?

 

[Colin_T]

1ppm ammonia won't affect the PH and if it does it will drop the PH slightly, not raise it to 8.8.

I would be thinking the standard PH test is more accurate than the high range PH because the tank PH should drop over time. And if the tap water is 7.6 and there is nothing in the tank to raise the PH, then the tank water should be pretty close to 7.6 or slightly lower.

You might have a dodgy test kit. Take it back to the LFS and test some water with yours and their test kits.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

the way it works is you have a normal pH test this is what you use most of the time. if your reading is the highest on the normal test kit then it could be that reading or it could be higher. so you'd then use the high range test kit and the reading from that one would be the correct one.

you can also get a low range test kit for the same thing.


it's all a bit confusing tbh, which is why i got a digital pH meter, cost us about £10 from ebay and is much more accurate!!

 

[LionessN3cubs]

No the Low PH will only read from 6.0 to 7.6 PH and the high range from 7.4 to 8.8.

Based on your readings i would say your tap PH is the same as mine, about 7.5, my tank ph is the same as my tap water though.

I would double check your tank water again with the high ph reader. 8.8 is very high for a normal tropical tank.

What decorations/gravel do you have as something may be affecting the ph?

I double checked the tank water with the high PH reader...its definately at the WAY bottom of the chart with a dark purple color. Both tap and tank water turn the same blue color with the regular PH bottle tho so Im thinking that is why I should assume that this is the correct level to go by.

I have some silk plants and a few (resin?) decorations I bought from the fish store..hidey holes if you will. For gravel I have normal grade gravel.

 

[Shrimper]

All the decor sounds like it should be ok, i was hoping you said you had some coral sand or stone in there which would explain why it is so high but i guess i was wrong

It seems strange your tap water is the same value for both tests and the tank isn't, I would ask your lfs to test some water see what they say it is. If its a dodgy test kit they should replace it for you.