Which oh is this color, API test

markus902 · Feb 27, 2022

Hi everyone,

i was trying to get away without a ph probe, but the api low range ph kit is really hard to identify . The color looks different in every light angle and background. I tried day light or artificial. What do you think my pH is?

Thanks.

Sean Clark · Feb 27, 2022

I call that 8.1 in all three lighting examples but... this is the problem with these kind of tests.

mdb_talon · Feb 28, 2022

I am sure it is somewhere between 7.4 and 8.8

Honestly in my opinion it is not even worth testing without a probe/pen

markus902 · Feb 28, 2022

mdb_talon said:
I am sure it is somewhere between 7.4 and 8.8

Honestly in my opinion it is not even worth testing without a probe/pen

Close enough for my reef

Well… 7 bucks is not that bad of a mistake. I had worse

mdb_talon · Feb 28, 2022

markus902 said:
Close enough for my reef

Well… 7 bucks is not that bad of a mistake. I had worse

Lol $7 isnt even enough to be a rounding error in some of the mistakes i have made so i know what you mean.

Karen00 · Feb 28, 2022

I was told by API (I contacted them for my freshwater kit) that you're supposed to read it in natural daylight with the light shining at the test vial with the vial about an inch away from the white part of the card. That looks like your first pic so I would say 8.1.

Idech · Feb 28, 2022

It looks close to 8.0 on two of the cards for me. The other one looks like 8.1. You’re supposed to look at it under daylight.

I use the APi for my PH test as it does not fluctuate so not worth paying more. At least for now.

blaxsun · Feb 28, 2022

I'd say 8-ish.

Sean Clark · Feb 28, 2022

Karen00 said:
I was told by API (I contacted them for my freshwater kit) that you're supposed to read it in natural daylight with the light shining at the test vial with the vial about an inch away from the white part of the card. That looks like your first pic so I would say 8.1.

I support someone that supports my position... lol

Karen00 · Feb 28, 2022

Sean Clark said:
I support someone that supports my position... lol

You know I have your back!! LOL

markus902 · Mar 1, 2022

Karen00 said:
I was told by API (I contacted them for my freshwater kit) that you're supposed to read it in natural daylight with the light shining at the test vial with the vial about an inch away from the white part of the card. That looks like your first pic so I would say 8.1.

Hard to do that with day light when I want to know my pH at night. But still good to know. I’m anyway just getting started with this tank, and have easy corals. Anything above 8 is fine by me. Now we can start tweaking and maybe get a monitor later once the sps move in. Thanks everyone.

Karen00 · Mar 2, 2022

markus902 said:
Hard to do that with day light when I want to know my pH at night. But still good to know. I’m anyway just getting started with this tank, and have easy corals. Anything above 8 is fine by me. Now we can start tweaking and maybe get a monitor later once the sps move in. Thanks everyone.

And it's probably the need for daytime accuracy that people stay away from API. LOL. I'm just finishing my last couple API's then I'm switching. ;-) Looking forward to seeing more of your tank.

Sean Clark · Mar 2, 2022

Karen00 said:
And it's probably the need for daytime accuracy that people stay away from API. LOL. I'm just finishing my last couple API's then I'm switching. ;-) Looking forward to seeing more of your tank.

Somehow I knew you would convert.