Ph test results?

[Danny925]

Hello,

I tested my ph and high range ph tonight using the api master test kit. The regular ph is 7.6 and high range ph is 7.4 so my question is which ph level should I go off of?

 

[Colin_T]

7.5

 

[itiwhetu]

Does it really matter??

 

[Essjay]

The exact level is not terribly important, which is why 7.5 is good enough. But for fishless cycling, it is important to have a precise starting point especially if KH is low. Knowing the starting pH means you can easily spot if the pH starts to drift downwards.
Like Danny925, my tap water pH (after standing) is in the overlap between the two testers, and my KH is 3 dH. The first time I did a fishless cycle the pH dropped. Quite a lot.