Is a pH test pen worth investing?

[Heuer]

Hi folks,

Just to check how many of you are using a pH test pen as compare to test kit. I m quite tired of guessing the pH range from the color chart (and may not be accurate).

Is the pH test pen a good investment and how much does it cost? and also where can i get it?

thanks

[tankahn]

Make sure you don't go for the cheap ones abt $40 types. They are not waterproof as circuits damaged if wet. Also need re-calibration a lot which defeats the whole purpose of convenience. I am now back to test strips.

[eric_kclee]

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On 8/22/2003 12:24:09 AM

Hi folks,

Just to check how many of you are using a pH test pen as compare to test kit. I m quite tired of guessing the pH range from the color chart (and may not be accurate).

Is the pH test pen a good investment and how much does it cost? and also where can i get it?

thanks
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My take is ...Not worth it. I believe we only need it most frequent when we need to establish a new tank. After the tank is stabilised, you hardly use it anymore. Anyway, PH test pen can be inaccurate too, if you don't send for re-cal after sometime.

I believe most of the sefu don't even bother to check after they establish the 'routine' just like they don't check their water nutrients level after they have established the regular dosage.

[PeterGwee]

Do you think that the hobbyist pH kit is up to scratch when setting up a new CO2 set for a tank? Light and CO2 are the main driving force for nutrient uptake...screw the balance between the 2 up and you are in for trouble. You decide?

[nbk3]

my personal opinion is that the PH measurement thing is not required , nor is other test kits .

Basically its that if u have Co2 injection , there must be coral chips in a high-flow area to buffer the water .

Simple as that , and if u observe plant growth to be slow or stunted , double check the list of what is needed and apply from there . Nutrients , lights , and if all the above are adequete, increase CO2 . Of course if u r dosing PMDD right to the 0.1ppm accuracy , then i think a Test kit is a must

as always , if u encounter problems like plant growth being slow or sudden bloom of algae , check the list of nutrients you are providing .

As PeterGwee always says "It is lack of something that gives problems and also algae" []

[eric_kclee]

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On 8/22/2003 12:56:41 AM

Do you think that the hobbyist pH kit is up to scratch when setting up a new CO2 set for a tank?
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Peter, do you mean that most test kits are not accurate? can you elaborate please?

[geoffrey]

I did fine with my titration kits. And I don't even use it often.

[CT]

Sorry to ask what is titration kits?

And also does the ph pen's calibration goes off very often?

mi considering of buying one. Which brand is better?

[geoffrey]

Titration test kits are those that you need to mix several reagents together, count the drops and look at colour changes for your result.

[CT]

But if I am wrong for titration test, the test for pH is of 0.5 interval? Or is there any other brand that can measure to a interval of 0.2 for an example?

[naturetan]

Not sure whether you still can find Aquarium Pharmaceutical(AP)? It measure within 0.2 range of interval. Not sure for SERA. Their GH/KH test kit is also worth buying. Reasonably cheap and accurate.

Refer to their website: http://www.aquariumpharm.com/aqtest.html

[tawauboy]

there are 2 ranges available.
wide range has 0.5 resolution.
narrow range has 0.2 resolution and measure from 6.0 to 7.2.

[eric_kclee]

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On 8/22/2003 1:11:59 PM

Not sure whether you still can find Aquarium Pharmaceutical(AP)? It measure within 0.2 range of interval
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Can find AP very easily. but some Jack up the price like double, the price is like riding on planted tank wave.

It usually cost <$7 but many place sell >$13.....

BigBoy aquarium is the sole distributor in Singapore.

[MikeKoh]

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On 8/22/2003 1:03:23 AM

my personal opinion is that the PH measurement thing is not required , nor is other test kits .

Basically its that if u have Co2 injection , there must be coral chips in a high-flow area to buffer the water .

Simple as that , and if u observe plant growth to be slow or stunted , double check the list of what is needed and apply from there . Nutrients , lights , and if all the above are adequete, increase CO2 . Of course if u r dosing PMDD right to the 0.1ppm accuracy , then i think a Test kit is a must

as always , if u encounter problems like plant growth being slow or sudden bloom of algae , check the list of nutrients you are providing .

As PeterGwee always says "It is lack of something that gives problems and also algae" []
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I use PH test pen to test for the amount of CO2 in the water. I dont use coral so I use Baking Soda to stabilise the KH...so I need KH tester every time I change water...and increase my KH to 3. I am using 5bps for my 6 feet tank.... but believe me...very difficult to count 1 to 5 in 1 second. So I use PH test to make sure it is about 6.6 to 6.8. This suggest optimised CO2 content. Too much... the plants will 'melt' and fish will die. Too little, algae to break in. I am using sump tank... so ammonia and nitrite are taken care off...so I only measure them before I do weekly water change. I only measure nitrate more often as I give live-feed and if not carefull, nitrate may cause algae boom again.

All these tests gives me light what is going on in my water and helps me not to shoot in the dark. Water management is a science...and it is quite fun.

When you buy all these tests.....know what is it you want to test for.

[eric_kclee]

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On 8/23/2003 10:56:48 PM

I use PH test pen to test for the amount of CO2 in the water. I am using 5bps for my 6 feet tank.... but believe me...very difficult to count 1 to 5 in 1 second. So I use PH test to make sure it is about 6.6 to 6.8.
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Yah you are right, forgot about the counting part...impossible to count 5bps.

However, it still doesn't justify to buy a test pen (...for poor guy like me. But if you are loaded, this arguement doesn't apply to you.)

Tell us! after establish your BPS, how often do you use your test pen. Then the party concerned can judge themself whether worth to buy or not.

My experience...
Frequent testing during the startup (for ~2mth). Then hardly or never use anymore. True for others?

This type of usage pattern only justify a test kits.

[checkerboard]

I havent tested my parameters for many months. just follow my usual routine.

nothing should go drastically wrong once a routine is establisbed.
maybe a bit of adjustment here and there, but should not concern big issues like pH and kH... usually, maybe fertilize a bit more now and then according to health of plants.

So in my opinion, don't need a test pen lar, spend the money on something else. But perhaps it is just me, i am lazy to test, but why test when it should be more or less the same?

[bttay]

I think it depends on how you want your hobby to be. If you just want to have a nice tank to watch once it gets stable then I think there is no need to have a pH pen. But if you are like me who wants to learn almost everything about the water chemistry, then it might be worthy. Furthermore, if you keep valuable fish that are sensitive to water pH. You may need one. Whenever, I transfer discus from one place to another (especially into planted tank that is acidic), I not only check water temperature but pH as well and try to match them before throwing the fish in.

For counting CO2. If you can't count exactly how many bubbles a second, count how many bubbles in ten seconds or 30 seconds or even one minute and then divide the numbers.

[MikeKoh]

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On 8/23/2003 11:29:10 PM

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On 8/23/2003 10:56:48 PM

I use PH test pen to test for the amount of CO2 in the water. I am using 5bps for my 6 feet tank.... but believe me...very difficult to count 1 to 5 in 1 second. So I use PH test to make sure it is about 6.6 to 6.8.
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Yah you are right, forgot about the counting part...impossible to count 5bps.

However, it still doesn't justify to buy a test pen (...for poor guy like me. But if you are loaded, this arguement doesn't apply to you.)

Tell us! after establish your BPS, how often do you use your test pen. Then the party concerned can judge themself whether worth to buy or not.

My experience...
Frequent testing during the startup (for ~2mth). Then hardly or never use anymore. True for others?

This type of usage pattern only justify a test kits.
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I used to have 6feet, 2x4 feet, 1 pond, 2x2feet. That explains why a PH test plan is cheaper for me. I am trying to achieve PH at 6.6 with KH at 3.

[Allen_1971]

I think most of you got it right... OK let me start by saying I have a PH test pen. then let me go on to say its one of the least used things i have. Sure its nice once in a while to get an accurate ph measurement, but after running my tank for the last few years, I go quite happily with my KH tester, and counting the number of bubbles per second. Sure its really cool to own one, but heck you don't really need one.

So my take is - if you got some spare money, save up a bit, buy your GF/Wife a nice prezzie... Then again thats just me... I'll probably buy some silly other gadget which I don't need the next time it strikes my fancy... the regrets come a few days later.

[Heuer]

Hi folks,

Thanks for all the advice!!![:0]

I will just stick to my test kit instead of a test pen. Its always a need and want question. will spend my $ on something else then.

Cheers!!