- Messages
- 166
- Location
- Laurel, MD
So based on the number of discussions on the accuracy of conductivity rather than pH in a low pH tank, I purchased an inexpensive conductivity meter and recieved it today and started checking water. I got some odd results that I was hoping you all could help with:
- plain tap sits at 230ish microsiemens, and 7.4 - 7.8pH
- tap trickled through peat and aged is 210ish microsiemens, and solidly 6.0 or below pH (only have drops to test pH)
- tank water that is appx 1/3 peat filtered, 2/3 tap is around 210-215 microsiemens
- tank water that is all peat filtered, appx 50% PWC's every few days is over *500 microsiemens*!!
- tap filtered through carbon fridge filter 210 microsiemens
So what is the deal? I would have thought the peat filtered tap would have been much lower in ms than the tap... according to my meter, it still falls within what it considers "hard water"? I certainly would not have expected it to be more than double the tap water value once it had aged in one of my tanks!
So what am I missing here? Is my peat filtration process not nearly as efficient as I thought it was? What could be affecting the tank with the over 500 microsiemens water? What is the ideal range of microsiemens for most apistos?
thanks!
- plain tap sits at 230ish microsiemens, and 7.4 - 7.8pH
- tap trickled through peat and aged is 210ish microsiemens, and solidly 6.0 or below pH (only have drops to test pH)
- tank water that is appx 1/3 peat filtered, 2/3 tap is around 210-215 microsiemens
- tank water that is all peat filtered, appx 50% PWC's every few days is over *500 microsiemens*!!
- tap filtered through carbon fridge filter 210 microsiemens
So what is the deal? I would have thought the peat filtered tap would have been much lower in ms than the tap... according to my meter, it still falls within what it considers "hard water"? I certainly would not have expected it to be more than double the tap water value once it had aged in one of my tanks!
So what am I missing here? Is my peat filtration process not nearly as efficient as I thought it was? What could be affecting the tank with the over 500 microsiemens water? What is the ideal range of microsiemens for most apistos?
thanks!