Poll questions

[Dr Jen]

Hi all, heres a couple of questions for everyone...

1. What test kit or meter do you like for evaluating pH of your tanks and/or dip solutions?
- I have found the meters to not seem to be very accurate except for right after you calibrate them, even then they seem to fluctuate a lot.

2. Do you vacuum your sand bed? If so how often?

Thanks all![emoji120] [emoji106]

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Great question. I'm following the answer for your first question.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I really like the Salifert test kits for everything except alkalinity. I let my hannah checker take care of that.
I don't have a sandbed anymore, running bare bottom, but when I did I never vacuumed it, I left that to my snails and clean up crew

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I really like the Salifert test kits for everything except alkalinity. I let my hannah checker take care of that.
I don't have a sandbed anymore, running bare bottom, but when I did I never vacuumed it, I left that to my snails and clean up crew

Zach, what you think about the hanna pH checker?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Zach, what you think about the hanna pH checker?

I've never used one unfortunately but if it performs anything like the alkalinity checker i'd definitely give it a try

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I've never used one unfortunately but if it performs anything like the alkalinity checker i'd definitely give it a try

ok, thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all, heres a couple of questions for everyone...

1. What test kit or meter do you like for evaluating pH of your tanks and/or dip solutions?
- I have found the meters to not seem to be very accurate except for right after you calibrate them, even then they seem to fluctuate a lot.

2. Do you vacuum your sand bed? If so how often?

Well, any calibrated meter beats any kit, since you (at least most reefers) cannot check a pH kit for accuracy.

What meters have you used? Mine often ran for months without excessive drift.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

ok, thanks

You definitely want two (or more) point pH calibration.

A double junction electrode is better than a single junction.

This has more:

Aquarium Chemistry: Measuring pH with a Meter
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/2/chemistry

FWIW, I rarely if ever vacuumed my sand.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Well, any calibrated meter beats any kit, since you (at least most reefers) cannot check a pH kit for accuracy.

What meters have you used? Mine often ran for months without excessive drift.

Randy, could you use PH calibration fluid to check accuracy on a test kit? Or is that different from checking saltwater?

 

[Dr Jen]

Well, any calibrated meter beats any kit, since you (at least most reefers) cannot check a pH kit for accuracy.

What meters have you used? Mine often ran for months without excessive drift.

I have two meters that both seem to drift after a few uses. I dont store them in an electrode solution. Should I be doing that?
Thanks for the article, I'll read up on it some more.
What is your favorite meter (one that does not cost hundreds anyway)?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, could you use PH calibration fluid to check accuracy on a test kit? Or is that different from checking saltwater?

Somewhat different, but most importantly you need to check it at the pH you want to validate. Checking a kit at pH 7 would not ensure accuracy at pH 8.2, even if the kit could read that low. There are commercial or diy buffers for pH 8, but if you go that route, why not use a meter?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have two meters that both seem to drift after a few uses. I dont store them in an electrode solution. Should I be doing that?
Thanks for the article, I'll read up on it some more.
What is your favorite meter (one that does not cost hundreds anyway)?

What do you store them in?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Somewhat different, but most importantly you need to check it at the pH you want to validate. Checking a kit at pH 7 would not ensure accuracy at pH 8.2, even if the kit could read that low. There are commercial or diy buffers for pH 8, but if you go that route, why not use a meter?

Just curious, thank you

 

[Dr Jen]

What do you store them in?

I just rinse them in distilled water and put the cap back on. The packaging that came with them did not say to store them in anything.