pH too low questions...

[Myka]

Elos kits are kinda pricey (depending what you compare to lol), but they are really easy to use and to read. Salifert kits are good too. API are pretty straight forward, but I would prefer a higher quality kit (their Mg kit is pretty good imo). Generally though, hobbyist grade kits are not overly accurate. Buy 3 kits from the same manufacturer, but from different batches, and you will get 3 different numbers from the same water sample. I have had kits vary by 100ppm (Ca), and 3 dKH. Annoying as "heck".

You hear people talk about "the big three" when it comes to testing which means Ca, Alk, and Mg. I think that Nitrate and Phosphate kits are also important, but don't need to be tested very often (kits will often expire before you use them up), so often I recommend people to just take a sample to their LFS for testing once a month or so.

I wouldn't be too worried about the pH for now as I suggested earlier, but I agree that you will need to calibrate your pH monitor before you trust it. Most will not be accurate out of the box. You will need pH 7 and pH 10 solutions to calibrate for alkaline pH as in our marine aquariums. Fyi, for freshwater aquariums that would be reading acidic pH you would use pH 4 and pH 7 solutions to calibrate. Personally, I like the single use pH calibration solutions offered by Milwaukee which should be available at any good retailer.

[Milad]

Just tested my stuff

300ppm CA
8ish dKH
this is at 8.03PH

thoughts?

[Myka]

You will need to raise the calcium by over 100 ppm. I suggest you do this by raising no more than 50 ppm per day. Please read the link in my signature for lots of information on calcium, alkalinity, pH, etc - it's a good starting point.

[Megalodon]

Originally Posted by Milad

Just tested my stuff

300ppm CA
8ish dKH
this is at 8.03PH

thoughts?

My thoughts are low calcium, so either it's true and requires intervention, or, your test is bunk.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by Megalodon

My thoughts are low calcium, so either it's true and requires intervention, or, your test is bunk.

ill retest the calcium today
its annoying dropping 231423423423 drops and shaking between each one. someone needs to come up with a calcium probe or something, lol

[Myka]

Pinpoint used to make a calcium probe, but from what I understand it had some issues either inaccurate, or burning out probes I'm not sure. I know they quit offering it because of the issues. I know using a probe to test calcium and particularly alkalinity isn't straight forward and either we don't have the technology to do it accurately and reliably or maybe it isn't overly possible. I don't know...either way it's not a viable option right now.

[Megalodon]

I asked about them at JL's and the guy said that unlike the handy pH and salinity probes, the calcium one's a "toy" and the test kit is still the way to go in terms of accuracy, cost, and convenience.

[Myka]

A $250 "toy"!!!