What Ph tester do you use?

[CookieRdReef]

I wanted to purchase a Ph checker for $50ish or less. I looked at a bunch on Amazon but they all have reviews questioning the accuracy, even the Hanna checkers. The Salifert test kits are a cheap option but they appear hard to read? Anybody love their tester or test kit or probes? I'm not looking to spend Apex $.

 

[Jekyl]

Salifert works just fine

 

[Opus]

Wish I could help but I haven't tested ph in 20 years. I do seem to read a lot of bad reviews of handheld testers. I personally would just go with a manual test.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I bought this a few years ago, rarely use it. But its there if/when I need it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Cheap pH testers are useless and a source of frustration if you wish to use it for anything useful.

I use a Milwaukee MW102 which is fast, stable and accurate.

 

[Doctorgori]

cheap yellow or red pH pens are sketchy …
I haven’t found any reliable love under $60
…BTW edit (most) with those diy references packets are garbage

 

[EricR]

Following since I wouldn't mind having a $50-ish dollar quick tester that I could trust (with reasonable accuracy).
Hanna egg checker seems to get pretty,,, uhhh,,, non-stellar reviews so thinking a dip probe meter type makes more sense for me.

I currently have Red Sea pH test kit but rarely use it since I don't do anything based on the results anyway.

 

[Reefahholic]

Milwaukee

 

[Doctorgori]

hate to sound definitive but I’d at least get something with swappable/replaceable pens/ electrodes. That usually means more $$$

 

[reefiniteasy]

I have a probe as part of my Hydros controller however, I also use the white Hanna checker. It’s great and both probe and checker match.

 

[Harold999]

A well ventilated room, surface agitation and a KH of ~9 is all you need regarding PH.
I don't test for PH (anymore).

 

[Jekyl]

A well ventilated room, surface agitation and a KH of ~9 is all you need regarding PH.
I don't test for PH (anymore).

This. I barely ever test Ph. No reason to spend big bucks on a digital test.

 

[EricR]

This. I barely ever test Ph. No reason to spend big bucks on a digital test.

Agreed -- especially with "ventilated room", "surface agitation", and alkalinity being way more important.

9 dKH alkalinity is higher than I'd actually prefer but I'm headed there anyway since I recently switched to Instant Ocean salt (CHEAPEST) and that mixes at 10.x dKH for me.

*I'm worried about getting too high alk with water changes but I don't do SPS so that's a different story, I guess.

 

[CookieRdReef]

I am considering adding kalkwasser to my ATO. I would like to monitor ph while dosing kalk even though I believe a large alk swing would likely happen before ph would raise to above a desirable range.

 

[Rollman]

Apex

 

[CookieRdReef]

The tank as of today 9 months old, needs a glass cleaning. Starting to add some acros recently. I would ideally like keep ph up or at least know what it is.

 

[threebuoys]

I'm using a pinpoint by American Marine. Just added it a month or so ago. Got discouraged by inconsistency of a hand held probe. The Pintpont probe remains in the water and constantly updates the reading.

More than $50 but less than $100. So far I've been satisfied.

 

[youcallmenny1]

I dose soda ash for my alkalinity needs and have literally never tested PH.