Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fishtank Filtration and Cycling => Topic started by: fcmf on March 17, 2016, 07:31:01 PM
-
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.
-
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.
I wasn't aware of tests that were broad range... Although I have wondered why my API kit has a normal range and high range pH test separate... I Just assumed obviously acidity and alkalinity are two different things so different tests are required for accuracy...
What does the article cite as the best value for money or the best money-no-optoon kit for water test? Or was it strictly pH?
-
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.
-
I had read about the wonders of the Salifert test kit in a marine section of an earlier issue of this magazine - seems to be very popular among marine fishkeepers (although I haven't really seen it mentioned on here during the time I've been using the forum).
In the article, the tests were strictly PH tests and the focus was on reliability rather than on value for money. The range of tests were all the usual ones we see mentioned on here - the ones I mentioned earlier as well as Waterlife and Tetra.