PH Testing

[TJ_fishman]

My liquid test kit has two different bottles for PH tests, one labeled PH and the the other labeled High PH. What is the difference and do you always do both?

 

[tnfinfan]

They cover two ranges. If your water is either acidic or alkaline, you only need to use one. But, many find that their water is somewhere near the 7.4-7.6 area where the ranges overlap so it's difficult to tell exactly what you have without using both. My water is 7.5, for example, and slightly hard. Good conditions for a lot of fish and doesn't shift pH easily like soft water does. I use both tests every time, though, or I might not realize if it did shift a bit one way or the other.

 

[TJ_fishman]

Ok, thanks. That's kind of what I thought, my tap water tops out the regular test at 7.6 and is 7.8 with the high range. My 10 gallon tank seems to stay pretty stable at 8.0.