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Old September 1st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
If your pH is 7.6 and you use API pH test, READ THIS

If you're using API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) normal pH test, and it reads 7.6 (dark blue) on the color chart, it can mean 2 things: (1) that your pH is simply 7.6, or (2) that your pH is higher than 7.6. API's normal pH test is designed to measure pH up to 7.6 only, so if your pH is higher than 7.6, it will still show as 7.6 on your color chart, as this is the highest value on that color chart.

To double check if you pH is indeed at 7.6, or if it is higher than that, get API's high range pH test. It measures pH up to 8.8. This way you'll know for sure what your pH is. Many people mistakenly think their pH is 7.6 while in reality it is much higher.

API's normal pH test measures pH from 6.0 to 7.6, and its high range pH test measures pH from 7.4 to 8.8.
Isabella is offline  
Old September 1st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
Re: If your pH is 7.6 and you use API pH test, READ THIS

The older kits have high range pH test kit in it, do the new one's not also do this too?
atmmachine816 is offline  
Old September 1st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
Re: If your pH is 7.6 and you use API pH test, READ THIS

I was referring to the normal pH test alone, not to the Master Test Kit. API's Master Test Kit has both normal and high range pH tests. There are people who don't use Master Test Kits, but particular API tests separately. If they have pH of 7.6, they should measure their high range pH too.
Isabella is offline  
Old September 1st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
Re: If your pH is 7.6 and you use API pH test, READ THIS

Ok I was a little confused there for a moment.
atmmachine816 is offline  
Old September 1st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
Re: If your pH is 7.6 and you use API pH test, READ THIS

Sorry for that
Isabella is offline  
Old October 31st, 2007  
Fish Master
 
A little bit of a late response, but I think I should probably add that this applies to most people's tap water. Tap water (in many areas of the US, anyway) tends to have a fairly high pH.
0morrokh is offline  
Old December 23rd, 2007  
Fish Helper
 
With my Master Test Kit I get these readings here. The normal test kit 7.6 and then when I do the High range Test I get 7.4.. How can this be? I take it as a 7.5,LOL..
ewolfe315 is offline  
Old December 23rd, 2007  
Fish Master
 
What type of test kit are you using ewolfe?
0morrokh is offline  
Old December 23rd, 2007  
Fish Keeper
 
Quote:
The normal test kit 7.6 and then when I do the High range Test I get 7.4.. How can this be?
The same thing happens when I test! I"m using the API Freshwater master test kit as well.
Barbrella is offline  
Old December 23rd, 2007  
Fish Addict
 
I tested with my High Range before, but I did it again this morning. I wasn't sure whether it was 7.8, but it seemed to be leaning towards that. It was 7.6 before - maybe I need to get rid of some snail shells! Thanks for the heads up, Isabella
Bill is offline  
Old December 24th, 2007  
Fish Helper
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 0morrokh View Post
What type of test kit are you using ewolfe?
The API master test kit as mentioned above. I can't figure out how this could happen. And I make sure everytime I use the bottles I bang the heck out of them and shake em til my arms sore.

As a matter of fact it's been like 3 times that I have used the High PH test just to see the readings. Every Master Kit I buy I always have full bottles of the high PH left over as I never seemed to need it.
ewolfe315 is offline  
Old December 25th, 2007  
Fish Keeper
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ewolfe315 View Post
As a matter of fact it's been like 3 times that I have used the High PH test just to see the readings. Every Master Kit I buy I always have full bottles of the high PH left over as I never seemed to need it.
We should setup a pH test exchange here -- all of us who mostly do high pH tests can swap the low pH bottles for the high pH bottles from those who only use the low ones.
jsalemi is offline  
Old December 27th, 2007  
Fish Helper
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsalemi View Post
We should setup a pH test exchange here -- all of us who mostly do high pH tests can swap the low pH bottles for the high pH bottles from those who only use the low ones.
Joe I totally agree. Why the heck would I want these High Range Ph bottles just sitting around as I only use the low range PH. Super Idea

John

R.I.P. Buddy and Rebel
ewolfe315 is offline  
Old December 27th, 2007  
Fish Keeper
 
Alas, I use both. Low for Fresh, High for Salt. Sorry no extras here lol. It is a very interesting thing to point out. Even more interesting that the high range would give a lower result than the max low range test. I tested my Marine with the low range once. Had me freaked for a minute. "What the heck happened to my PH...... Oh I'm just a little slow" lol
Gozer_1 is offline  
Old December 28th, 2007  
Fish Keeper
 
It's probably a case of the solutions being less accurate at the extremes of their range. I usually split the difference -- if the low kit says 7.6, and the high says 7.4, I note 7.5 in my log and be done with it.
jsalemi is offline  
Old April 14th, 2008  
Fish Keeper
 
Great thread... I use API, with the low pH, I get the 7.6 blue. It isn't darker blue, just that nice pretty blue. When I use the High pH, I get a light purple. Not the dingy orange/brown and not the 8.4 purple. So,,, what is my pH? This doesn't happen a lot, but it is hard to know what is going on. My normal is the High range test 8.0. It is time for wc that's why I'm testing pH etc... Thanks for any ideas... oh I'm on well water with water softener unit and the pH is always 7.8 with the High range test.
kra-z-fishmumm is offline  
Old April 14th, 2008  
Fish Master
 
I have one of the newer sets and yes it does have the high range ph.. my mils ph was at 7.6 and I ended up checking and found out hers was at 7.8... I naturally check mine w/ the high range to save time in my cichlid tanks... my ph stays at 8.0
Angela_96 is offline  
Old April 17th, 2008  
Fish Addict
 
what if your Ph is over 7.6, how can i lower it if i don't have the pharmaceuticals?
pinky93 is offline  
Old April 25th, 2008  
Fish Addict
 
I also get 7.6 with the low range and 7.4 with the high range, nice to know I'm not the only one. Makes me wonder which one to use. Seems like my other tank that has live plants has a pH of 7.8. Do plants change the pH of the water?
LetDiceFly is offline  
Old May 19th, 2008  
Fish Lore Newbie
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LetDiceFly View Post
I also get 7.6 with the low range and 7.4 with the high range, nice to know I'm not the only one. Makes me wonder which one to use. Seems like my other tank that has live plants has a pH of 7.8. Do plants change the pH of the water?
I get the same result as well with the API kit.

Funny thing is that I have a Mardel live pH in the tank and it reads what looks like 7.0.

As a newbie this is all very confusing. I've been considering switching to the 5-in-1 or 6-in-1 strips but I don't know how good those are either. Last thing I need is a third test that comes out different.
RaleighDavid is offline  
Old December 16th, 2009  
Fish Bum
 
This was a good read for me.
mitchgmace is offline  
Old December 16th, 2009  
Fish Master
 
yeah, me too. thanks for bumping it. I just today got that 7.6/7.4 test people kept talking about. lol...
Meenu is offline  
Old December 17th, 2009  
Fish Bum
 
Yeah you master kit should have the high and low ph tests.
mitchgmace is offline  
Old March 30th, 2010  
Fish Addict
 
mine turns darker than the chart if its higher
wonton55912 is offline  
Old December 27th, 2010  
Fish Bum
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Isabella View Post
If you're using API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) normal pH test, and it reads 7.6 (dark blue) on the color chart, it can mean 2 things: (1) that your pH is simply 7.6, or (2) that your pH is higher than 7.6. API's normal pH test is designed to measure pH up to 7.6 only, so if your pH is higher than 7.6, it will still show as 7.6 on your color chart, as this is the highest value on that color chart.

To double check if you pH is indeed at 7.6, or if it is higher than that, get API's high range pH test. It measures pH up to 8.8. This way you'll know for sure what your pH is. Many people mistakenly think their pH is 7.6 while in reality it is much higher.

API's normal pH test measures pH from 6.0 to 7.6, and its high range pH test measures pH from 7.4 to 8.8.
Thank you! You answered my question! i did both with my new kit i got today (first master kit been using strips) i have 7.4 readings for high Ph in all 3 of my tanks
hollie526 is offline  
Old February 21st, 2011  
Moderator
 
MzMolly's question has been moved here:

trouble discerning the color
Lucy is online now  
Old September 27th, 2011  
Fish Bum
 
you can get a neutral regulator,,one level teaspoon once or twice a month will keep your ph at 7.0 there are some for higher and lower ph.that will take out all the gess work I would put a bet down with anyone ,that any given time my ph is on lock down.Its made by seachem,,
Killaworm is offline  
Old September 28th, 2011  
Moderator
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Killaworm View Post
you can get a neutral regulator,,one level teaspoon once or twice a month will keep your ph at 7.0 there are some for higher and lower ph.that will take out all the gess work I would put a bet down with anyone ,that any given time my ph is on lock down.Its made by seachem,,
This is not the place for this discussion.

Please check dates before posting.

The OP was posting this as an FYI for anyone having issues using the API master kit.
Lucy is online now  
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