API Test kit gone bad?

[Fishinfreak]

The problem is after 12 drops the chart ends. I could probably find an extension for it, but for now Ill settle on knowing the kh is high, or im doing something wrong

 

[sinibotia]

I can give you the extension. Number of drops=number of degrees KH. I promise you it's really that simple.

 

[Fishinfreak]

Can't kh also be measured in ppm? I understand your part, but was wondering about ppm. Of course, i honestly don't know much about what these mean other than harder water means things like ph dont sway, and harder water usually means higher ph. And I gues most plants and SA fish like it softer/lower. At least this stuff is my understanding

 

[sinibotia]

Can't kh also be measured in ppm? I understand your part, but was wondering about ppm. Of course, i honestly don't know much about what these mean other than harder water means things like ph dont sway, and harder water usually means higher ph. And I gues most plants and SA fish like it softer/lower. At least this stuff is my understanding

KH can be described in ppm but usually it's just spoken of in degrees. 12+ degrees KH just means your water has a lot of carbonate buffers... I think. 12 is actually exceptionally high, I know that much.

 

[Fishinfreak]

That's what I figured my tank was. Before i took off my rim, water that got in it left a calcium build up. ( I think that's what it was

 

[sinibotia]

Then it's odd your tank's pH was dropping. I honestly don't know what to say. Hopefully someone brighter and wiser than I can help.

 

[wildroseofky]

I get the same results with my PH test. Had it around a year. The low reading is always 7.6 and the high test is always 7.4. It has to do with the way the test is set up. Each one has a set point it will read with a margin of error. They are just not 100% accurate. It shows you that the PH is staying steady between 7.4 and 7.6. Not a big difference in the overall scheme of things. You would have to get a lab calibrated test to get closer to a 100% reading on PH. It would make the price of the test very high. I have very hard water that creates deposits on the glass too. My GH stays around 7-8 drops but my KH takes 14-20 drops depending on the tank. I have several with varying amounts of CO2 and driftwood and buffers like shells and limestone.