Reading water tests results accurately

[skarloeysmom]

I got one of those Aquarium Pharm. Master Test kits and I have a question about reading the results. They have the color cards to match to your water test but I noticed that if you put the tube right up against the card you get a different result than if hold the tube just slightly away from the card so the light can shine through it. Also there's a difference if you use natural or artificial light to read results. Can someone tell me the correct way to read water test results?

[amanichen]

Use natural light, and most kits will want you to hold it around 6cm away from the color chart.

If you haven't read many test kits, you can take a pH test vial, fill it with tank water, and put the indicator in as you normally would.

Then breathe into the end of the vial, cap it off, and shake. That'll give you a very acidic test, and you'll be able to get a better idea of what color on the chart corresponds to what color in the vial.

[skarloeysmom]

Thanks so much! The directions just said to hold it up to the white area on the color matching card but it really makes a difference if you put it right up against it or hold it away from the card. Thanks again for the info!