PH Test Kits

I get a fishkeeping magazine posted to me and which I look forward to receiving and browsing through (although it always re-ignites my MTS tendencies... argh).

There's a really good "tried and tested" article of different PH test kits, including broad range, normal range and high range test kits, PH pens, test strips and PH computers. Obviously, I can't cite too much, but suffice to say that the "normal range" test kits 6.0-7.6 (JBL, NT Labs, API included in that particular review) were all considered equally consistent, whereas there's a bit more variation in results for the different test kits under the "broad range" category, with some not particularly good at measuring acidic water.

pH indicators have a range where they work best. Back when I was at university we had a range of indicators and we used the one specific to the pH range we were working with. Some were for a little as 1 pH unit spread.


The best money-no-option kit is always reckoned to be Salifert. They cost about the same to buy as everyone else's but they do few tests per pack. I think they are powders rather than liquids so they don't go off as fast either.