Which Ph Kit To Use, High Ph Or Low Ph?

[sallyann]

I was given a high ph test kit to test my water, for a goldfish tank, one fish, 42 litre tank, cycled etc, so i assumed this was correct I now know that some Lfs are not always good at giving the correct advice, if you look back at my last post, thursday, i had a long chat with miss wiggle and waterdrop about the ph dropping in my tank, over a period of 3 days. I have now realised that probably I should be using the low ph test kit, my tap water with the high ph came in at 8.8, and the water dropped to 7.4ph over 3 days, this is all with the high ph test kit.

So which should I be using, I know 7.4 is better for goldie, although he has lived with this water for 10 years., I now have the API master test kit.

Just tested my water using both ph tests, normal ph test came in at 7.6, the last colour on the scale, high ph test came in at 7.4,the first colour on the scale so which is correct, or is it somewhere between the two

 

[waterdrop]

The two tests are just confirming that the pH of your water is right in that range at the edge of each kit. It shouldn't matter to you which number it actually is because numbers down at that level of detail are not "actionable items." The results of test kits are actually more useful when interpreted as a collection of multiple test results in a log book along with time and date data. You usually want to analyze changes and trends. Experienced fishkeepers do this almost by instinct, which can be confusing to those new to the information.

For these two API tests, over time you can begin to see which broad range of pH you are working with and go more with that test. I have very soft water which starts out at a high of 7.6 from the tap and tends to drop in the acid direction during fishless cycling, so I use the low pH test virtually all the time. Those who have high pH probably spend most of their time using the High pH kit. The more experienced with your pH trends, pH steady-states etc. the less you will care probably about tenths of a degree.

KH is usually an important tandem with pH because it so strongly effects how quickly and unexpectedly a pH movement can occur.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[sallyann]

The two tests are just confirming that the pH of your water is right in that range at the edge of each kit. It shouldn't matter to you which number it actually is because numbers down at that level of detail are not "actionable items." The results of test kits are actually more useful when interpreted as a collection of multiple test results in a log book along with time and date data. You usually want to analyze changes and trends. Experienced fishkeepers do this almost by instinct, which can be confusing to those new to the information.

For these two API tests, over time you can begin to see which broad range of pH you are working with and go more with that test. I have very soft water which starts out at a high of 7.6 from the tap and tends to drop in the acid direction during fishless cycling, so I use the low pH test virtually all the time. Those who have high pH probably spend most of their time using the High pH kit. The more experienced with your pH trends, pH steady-states etc. the less you will care probably about tenths of a degree.

KH is usually an important tandem with pH because it so strongly effects how quickly and unexpectedly a pH movement can occur.

~~waterdrop~~

Ok, I get it now, will continue to test every week, be interesting to see how it alters, but I have a feeling it will stay steady at 7.4.

Thanks

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Ok, I get it now, will continue to test every week, be interesting to see how it alters, but I have a feeling it will stay steady at 7.4.

Thanks

agree with waterdrop.

good to see your fishkeeping instincts are developing, i think you're turning out to be a v good fishkeeper you know. all it takes is a willingness to learn