pH testing

Isn't 7.8 -8.0 a tad on the low end? It's not low enough to cause a major problem however, I've always aimed to keep mine in the 8.2-8.4 area.

 

Though if your testing in the morning before the lights come on I'm told the ph drops during the night so....

 

I only read the first post, sorry.

I use this pen past several years. $20 on eBay, never needs calibrated after initial. It says it does, but it's always been spot on with the calibration fluid after 3 years now.

I like the super fast measurement. I agree pH is just a number, but now that my tank is stable and old, I only liquid test my params once a month or every two months. But I test the pen every few weeks. As long as my pH is stable, I've learned the rest are too. If pH is off, then I run full spectrum tests.

 

7.8-8.0 is a little on the low end but I do normally testy in the morning where it might be more normal. Even when I test in the evening though it is never above 8.0. I tried buffering awhile back but you come back to the old argumenet of which is more important, stability vs optimum values. You also have to rememebr this is with a color matching API kit which are not always the msopt accurate but give a good ballpark idea of where you are at. This is why I use API for weekly testing with many different test to get a general idea of where I stand and make sure my chemistry isnt drifting. Then once a month or whenever anything seems off I bust out the Red Sea Pro test kits that take more time and money to confirm my readings. Maybe the pH probe will say my pH is 8.2, guess we will find out in a week or so!

 

Yeah I hate color test kits. Going to be starting a diy controller build here soon and aim to start monitoring my ph via probes.