Help guess my ph

[Karlos69]

Hi have a nutrafin ph test ( yes i know lfs recommended...before i found this site can you give your best guess on ph? This is the color before and after pwc

 

[melosu58]

Maybe 7.8 I guess. Try taking a reading about an hour before the lights go out. You are not cycling the tank are you?

 

[Karlos69]

Ya im cycling it

 

[Karlos69]

I tried my hot tub ph test and it was 8.0+ thats the max it goes too i probably should just buy a better test?

 

[melosu58]

Do not test your PH during the cycle. Because of the ammonia and nitrites in the tank you will be getting false readings on your PH. Only test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates only till you are at 0 on the first two. Then do a 33% PWC and then you can start checking the other parameters.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Testing pH during the cycle is good for practice, but that's about it. Due to all the biological activity going on in a tank while it's cycling, your pH will swing all over the place. Once it's done cycling and you've done a couple water changes, then it will start to settle down.

 

[Karlos69]

Ya sorry i meant i have cycled tank with shrimp method but dont have any fish or corals just a couple turbos and hermit crabs my ammonia is now 0, nitites 0, nitrate 5 steady for 3 weeks this is my 3rd pwc tank has been going for about 2 months

 

[Karlos69]

Went bought a api ph test kit shows my ph at 8.2 that nutrafin test kit is seriosly useless