p h

[tonyponty]

hi soz about this just checked my p h with a salifert test kit and the test shows slightly tinted green does any one what the reading is because i have lost my colour chart so dont remember weather my reading is ok or to high/low help :oops:

[flying Jock]

Hi TP

Your reading looks around 8.0 on the salifert test kit chart.

When did you take this reading?

8.0 is fine and even upto 8.4 is great!

Cheers

FJ

[tonyponty]

thanks fj i took it about aout 5pm ish

[Reefer]

If your worried your lfs should check it for you f.o.c.
I test at home but I will always from time to time take a sample of water in for them to test just to get a second opinion so to speak. :grin:

[marcoz]

good shout reefer :) sometimes my colours don't match any on the chart so it's reassuring to get your LFS check it which they should for free - if only I didn't have to travel so far for a decent LFS :(

[flying Jock]

Hi

You can also get a digital PH probe that reads constantly from ebay.

Think it cost me about £20 :wink:

A lot more accurate than test kits and you can see your reading 24/7.

Cheers

FJ

[tonyponty]

cheers will have a look on ebay

[flying Jock]

Hi

Try: monitors direct on ebay! :wink:

FJ

[tonyponty]

ok thx

[Dons1903]

Remember that PH can vary quite dramatically through out the day! If you take a sample first thing on the morning it will give a lower value than a sample taken at 5pm.

I beleive that the 24/7 lighting of a refugium can help combat this.

[flying Jock]

Good point Dons! :wink:

As said 24'7 lit refugums will help a lot although i still get a wee bit of a fluctuation :grin:

FJ

[Chris, Reef Ranch]

The thing that you should be aware of with pH is that it is the shift or drop you get at night that is most important. A snap shot at anyone time is not very relevant. Additionally you need to use a probe and calibrate it every time you use it with pH 7 buffer then pH 10.

It is fine to run even at pH 7.8 as long as you don’t get a drop of more than 0.2 from peak period illumination to when the lights have been off in the aquarium for at least 2 hours.

Excessive drops are caused by CO2 retention, ammonia or H2S. A common cause is covering the aquarium!

[tonyponty]

well my tank as a hood on it should i lift it up off the tank

[Dons1903]

My tank has a hood also, but each end of the hood has a large (4") hole with a 4" computer fan attached. There is also a row of 1.5" holes all the way along the back of the hood. This gives lots of airflow through the hood.

By using larger fans I can runn them slower (and hence quieter) than the smaller ones and still move the same amount of air! 8-)

[tonyponty]

good idea but hoe did you wire a computer fan to it thx

[Dons1903]

I got a variable voltage power supply from Maplin. The fans are 12V dc input but you can drop drop the voltage to slow the fan down to reduce speed and hence noise. 8-)

You just need to play with the voltage so you still get plenty airflow.

[tonyponty]

cheers donns will look in to getting one of those thx