High Range Ph Test Kit Issue

Hi. I was wondering if any of you could recommend a High Range pH test kit (and possibly a pH test kit) other than the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. The issue I'm having is that the color the High Range pH test gives me is impossible to interpret. It's not close to any of the colors on the back of the booklet. Occasionally, I have the same problem with the pH test from the same kit. I use both because the pH test measures pH levels up to 7.6 and the High Range pH test measure pH levels down to 7.4 and mine seems to stay in the 7.4-7.6 range, normally. Usually, the color for the High Range one seems like it might be 7.4, below 7.4, or 8.0. But I can't be sure of that because of the problems. For the one that's just called the pH test, it sometimes seems to say 7.4, often shows 7.6, and often shows a color in between the colors for 7.4 and 7.6.

 

What's your budget and how often do you test pH? It might be worth it to get a pH meter.

 

You can say with certainty then that your pH lies somewhere between 7.4 and 8.0. Being able to narrow it down to specific number between those two really does nothing for you. Any extra product to test your ph when you already know the range would be a waste of money IMO.

 

You can say with certainty then that your pH lies somewhere between 7.4 and 8.0. Being able to narrow it down to specific number between those two really does nothing for you. Any extra product to test your ph when you already know the range would be a waste of money IMO.

I just want to make sure it's not above 7.8, because I've heard that's the highest that's the highest that's safe for my guppies. Also, I want to make sure I'm not having any pH swings, since now that I think about it more, I think the color for the result of the High Range pH one has been a few different colors, just all indecipherable. And I think the highest it may have ever shown was 8, but if the color wasn't close to any of the ones on the chart, how can I know?

What's your budget and how often do you test pH? It might be worth it to get a pH meter.

On Monday or possibly sooner, (it's currently Friday night where I am) I'll probably be able to afford anything up to about $100, maybe more, maybe slightly less. Right now, I have, like, a dollar lol.

Oh, I forgot to mention that for water testing, I do all of the tests at once and I aI'm to do them once a day.

I test nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, High Range pH, pH, KH, and GH.

 

At a minimum, you want a pH meter that allows at least a 2-point calibration and automatic temperature compensation. It's nice when they include at least two different pH buffer packets because pH meters don't seem to come calibrated.

Examples include the Milwaukee PH55 and Hanna HI98107. Both are about $50 on eBay. I like the Hanna better because it has a clever renewable junction.

It's nice to have a glass beaker to scoop out a sample. You then set the meter in it for a few minutes until the reading stabilizes. The two dangers to pH meters are drying out during extended storage and dilution of the reference solution by leaving it in a sample too long.