PH - Testing HELP

[BFRRC]

Hello,
I bought a test kit that at the time did not know was out of date. The PH was reading 7 - 7.5 (test strips) So I called the LFS and they suggested that I buffer it. So 3 day buffering with 1 tsp. and then test. (7.5) I did an other 3 days of this. No change... So I read all the lables again. This time I saw the date in the box ont the test strips. Nov. 1999.... I asked my friend and he told me to stop doseing and to get a new kit.

Ok - I am getting a new kit and stopped buffering... What brands are good and were in the Portland OR area can I get one. Could you give a phone # as well. I have called everyone in the phone book and the yellowpages.com

Any help would be great.

[tdwyatt]

Just order a Saifert kit for Mg, Alkalinity, Calcium and pH, those are the ones that will really get you where you want to be. Check out Marine Depot or Premium Aquatics for the test kits, or shop for a pH meter like the PinPoint, about $90 US on the net.

Ordering these kits from one of the e-suppliers can be second day air shipped for less total than you'll pay in LFS stores, and you won't have to deal with bogus info like blindly using buffer from OOD kits. Any decent shop should have considered the conditions of the tank first (like ask enough questions about issues to be in doubt of the results at 7 pH)


HTH