In my experience turn off all electronic devices in your liquid before making your readings. Preferably removing any heating devices so they are not emitting any residual energy. Your pH readings may stabilize.
The 5 in 1 meter does not read PH well in moving water, you have to get a little of the tank water in a cup then test it. Let it sit in water till it locks on to the PH and numbers don't move. Also, did you rinse it in a cup of distilled water before moving to the next calibration solution?
Hi Just a question, why did you calibrate it to 6.86? Wouldn’t it show you the correct readings if you don’t calibrate it to 6.86? I just don’t understand why does it have to be calibrated at specific numbers? Thank you.
The number that came up before calibration was not accurate. When you use the controlled sample (calibration liquid) the number is known so you get the clocking just right.
I bought a pH meter thinking it would be more accurate while also saving time. Not really, as it soon goes back out of whack, losing (a lot of) accuracy, so then needs to be re-calibrated, which is time consuming. And of course there's the ongoing cost of those solutions and distilled water, so might as well just buy the test kits.
Would the API set be the best test kit to get for a beginner, or would it be it a bit overpowered so to speak. The electronic device looks cool and a lot less hassle, but I have a set of electronic callipers, and after a short while the readings just went bonkers. So I don't have a lot of trust in such devices atm lol
Yeah I don't blame you not trusting some of those devices haha. Yes the API test kit is great and will have everything you need to test for except for hardness (but that is one of the lesser used tests prob). Any issues that arise are just speculation without water parameters so even for beginners the API kit is solid. It lasts a while too. (affiliate link: amzn.to/3xxCz7E)
@@TPASSAquatics Thanks for the reply and the head up re hardness. Was able to find some data from my water supplier online. fwiw pH = 7.6 Water hardness average is 20.3 mg/l calcium From what I can see it's a tad close to the parameters recommended for betta. May get some almond leaves etc.
@@pencilpauli9442 Nice - yeah the only reason why I've needed to test hardness was in an older tank I had inherited I ran into "Old tank syndrome". Basically if your hardness is too low, your pH can swing rapidly and isn't buffered and can really mess up your tank (which you'd know if you were testing your pH anyway). You could always infer it but that confirmed it for me and after adding some crushed coral, my pH stabilized. Now I just know to do my pH test every so often and if I start seeing that changing, I know to add more crushed coral to my tank.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEMONSTRATION, IT WAS SO HELPFUL
Glad it helped!
In my experience turn off all electronic devices in your liquid before making your readings. Preferably removing any heating devices so they are not emitting any residual energy. Your pH readings may stabilize.
The 5 in 1 meter does not read PH well in moving water, you have to get a little of the tank water in a cup then test it. Let it sit in water till it locks on to the PH and numbers don't move. Also, did you rinse it in a cup of distilled water before moving to the next calibration solution?
You need to agitate the probe a bit in the water to get an accurate reading. Then the reading will stabilize.
Hi
Just a question, why did you calibrate it to 6.86? Wouldn’t it show you the correct readings if you don’t calibrate it to 6.86?
I just don’t understand why does it have to be calibrated at specific numbers?
Thank you.
with time it wont be accurate anymore so you need to adjust it again
That's just the instructions, they have you calibrate it at several different pHs that are standardized and that's how it knows what your water is at.
The number that came up before calibration was not accurate. When you use the controlled sample (calibration liquid) the number is known so you get the clocking just right.
I bought a pH meter thinking it would be more accurate while also saving time. Not really, as it soon goes back out of whack, losing (a lot of) accuracy, so then needs to be re-calibrated, which is time consuming. And of course there's the ongoing cost of those solutions and distilled water, so might as well just buy the test kits.
Mine does not jump at all
fish like 6.8-7.8 - that vivosun meter seems way too all over the place, thanks for the video.
Would the API set be the best test kit to get for a beginner, or would it be it a bit overpowered so to speak.
The electronic device looks cool and a lot less hassle, but I have a set of electronic callipers, and after a short while the readings just went bonkers.
So I don't have a lot of trust in such devices atm lol
Yeah I don't blame you not trusting some of those devices haha. Yes the API test kit is great and will have everything you need to test for except for hardness (but that is one of the lesser used tests prob). Any issues that arise are just speculation without water parameters so even for beginners the API kit is solid. It lasts a while too. (affiliate link: amzn.to/3xxCz7E)
@@TPASSAquatics
Thanks for the reply and the head up re hardness.
Was able to find some data from my water supplier online.
fwiw pH = 7.6
Water hardness average is 20.3 mg/l calcium
From what I can see it's a tad close to the parameters recommended for betta.
May get some almond leaves etc.
@@pencilpauli9442 Nice - yeah the only reason why I've needed to test hardness was in an older tank I had inherited I ran into "Old tank syndrome". Basically if your hardness is too low, your pH can swing rapidly and isn't buffered and can really mess up your tank (which you'd know if you were testing your pH anyway). You could always infer it but that confirmed it for me and after adding some crushed coral, my pH stabilized. Now I just know to do my pH test every so often and if I start seeing that changing, I know to add more crushed coral to my tank.
You shouldn't recommended buying it 🤷🏻♂️ dancing results
Did you actually watch the video? Lol
Cheap Chinese product