Ph ....?

msduncan · 08/03/2006, 12:13 PM

I bought a PH test kit from the LFS, but my results didn't match ANY on the chart.

My wife is a hospital Med tech so I had her double check me by doing the test (thinking I'm a science dummy) but hers matched mine.

the optimum shade is a dark blue, and green is the other end of the spectrum on this test.... but my water came back a shade of purplish blue. No idea what that meant.

Not sure where to go with this.... get a different test?

angelsj247 · 08/03/2006, 12:16 PM

are you sure you have a saltwater test.. normally there a pink color.
what brand do you have

msduncan · 08/03/2006, 12:31 PM

I'll have to check when I get home as far as the brands. This test was for salt. I don't recall pink being one of the potential colors though.

nickterp · 08/03/2006, 12:37 PM

There are ph tests for low range ph and high range ph. 6.0 to 7.6 or so is for freshwater, 7.4 - 8.6 is for saltwater.

Your "optimum shade" of dark blue I think is the color matching card for freshwater. The saltwater color matching card goes from light green to purple. (At least in the kits I'm familiar with).

Purple is actually the color you want for saltwater in the ph test I have. Make sure you have the correct kit

.

ericwebster · 08/03/2006, 12:45 PM

Do you guys usually trust the test strips or drop in powder more?

I have both and I'm getting conflicting results.

msduncan · 08/03/2006, 12:50 PM

I may just have my wife take some water to her hospital lab and tested there. I'd get a 100% accurate reading in that case.

nickterp · 08/03/2006, 12:59 PM

Yeah but at those labs, sometimes, someone else's test bumps into yours and a drop of blood gets in it..... Next thing you know your doctor says you have menopause even though you're a 25 year old man!

jdieck · 08/03/2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ericwebster
Do you guys usually trust the test strips or drop in powder more?

I have both and I'm getting conflicting results.

Neither. Really strips and test kits for PH are inaccurate most of the time.
Try investing in a good PH monitor.

angelsj247 · 08/03/2006, 03:16 PM

i have both, strips and the tubes when i use both they come up with the same results

08/03/2006, 12:13 PM	#1
msduncan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 164	Ph ....? I bought a PH test kit from the LFS, but my results didn't match ANY on the chart. My wife is a hospital Med tech so I had her double check me by doing the test (thinking I'm a science dummy) but hers matched mine. the optimum shade is a dark blue, and green is the other end of the spectrum on this test.... but my water came back a shade of purplish blue. No idea what that meant. Not sure where to go with this.... get a different test?

08/03/2006, 12:16 PM	#2
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	are you sure you have a saltwater test.. normally there a pink color. what brand do you have __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

08/03/2006, 12:45 PM	#5
ericwebster Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston MA Posts: 375	Do you guys usually trust the test strips or drop in powder more? I have both and I'm getting conflicting results. __________________ "Nobody tried to sell me the most used piece of equipment I own .. my mop." 72G Tank LTA, Pulsing Xenia, Blue Tang, Mated Maroons, 2 Damsels, Neon Goby, Watchman Goby, Algae Blenny, Peppermint Shrimp (3), CBS (1), Cleaner Shrimp Current Tank Info: 100G bow front corner. Yellow Tank, Coral Beauty, Clownfish, some SPS, LPS and Soft Corals

08/03/2006, 03:16 PM	#9
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	i have both, strips and the tubes when i use both they come up with the same results __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR

08/03/2006, 12:31 PM	#3
msduncan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 164	I'll have to check when I get home as far as the brands. This test was for salt. I don't recall pink being one of the potential colors though.

08/03/2006, 12:37 PM	#4
nickterp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 263	There are ph tests for low range ph and high range ph. 6.0 to 7.6 or so is for freshwater, 7.4 - 8.6 is for saltwater. Your "optimum shade" of dark blue I think is the color matching card for freshwater. The saltwater color matching card goes from light green to purple. (At least in the kits I'm familiar with). Purple is actually the color you want for saltwater in the ph test I have. Make sure you have the correct kit .

08/03/2006, 12:50 PM	#6
msduncan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 164	I may just have my wife take some water to her hospital lab and tested there. I'd get a 100% accurate reading in that case.

08/03/2006, 12:59 PM	#7
nickterp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 263	Yeah but at those labs, sometimes, someone else's test bumps into yours and a drop of blood gets in it..... Next thing you know your doctor says you have menopause even though you're a 25 year old man!