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Author Topic: pH Testing Solution viability  (Read 4736 times)

Offline NellyP03

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #30 on: April 06, 2020, 02:29:13 am »
I'd go for the cheaper pH strips route rather than use digital meters. https://www.optimainstitute.com/water/ph-strips.html Had a few disappointments with those back in the day, better to trust what your eye detects when you pin the strip against the color chart. But strips have an expiration date too as I know of, it mostly has to do with when you open them. But you can use them for more than brewing, so there shouldn't be issues with the final use terms, I guess.

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #31 on: April 06, 2020, 05:09:29 am »
I'd go for the cheaper pH strips route rather than use digital meters. https://www.optimainstitute.com/water/ph-strips.html Had a few disappointments with those back in the day, better to trust what your eye detects when you pin the strip against the color chart. But strips have an expiration date too as I know of, it mostly has to do with when you open them. But you can use them for more than brewing, so there shouldn't be issues with the final use terms, I guess.

The paper pH strips aren't a whole lot better than a wild guess in my experience.  Hard to see much difference between tan and tan and tan.
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Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #32 on: April 06, 2020, 05:45:21 am »
I'd go for the cheaper pH strips route rather than use digital meters. https://www.optimainstitute.com/water/ph-strips.html Had a few disappointments with those back in the day, better to trust what your eye detects when you pin the strip against the color chart. But strips have an expiration date too as I know of, it mostly has to do with when you open them. But you can use them for more than brewing, so there shouldn't be issues with the final use terms, I guess.

The paper pH strips aren't a whole lot better than a wild guess in my experience.  Hard to see much difference between tan and tan and tan.

I agree.  The paper strips aren’t very accurate and there are so many good choices out there for a much more accurate pH measurement.
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Offline NellyP03

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #33 on: April 06, 2020, 08:06:28 am »
Can't contradict cause I'm no expert, didn't try all options, but I would take this route due to costs, honestly.

narvin

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #34 on: April 06, 2020, 08:17:47 am »
in my experience, even the pricey strips were close to useless.  Using BrunWater gets me within 0.2 of my target pH, which is more accurate than they were.

Offline denny

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #35 on: April 06, 2020, 08:22:21 am »
Can't contradict cause I'm no expert, didn't try all options, but I would take this route due to costs, honestly.

Low cost isn't worth it if the results are worthless
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Offline goose

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #36 on: April 06, 2020, 08:41:11 am »
IMHO, pH test strips aren't worth the paper they are printed on (pun intended).  You can most likely find a reasonably priced pH meter online and you will appreciate the benefits of using one.
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Offline ynotbrusum

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Re: pH Testing Solution viability
« Reply #37 on: April 06, 2020, 09:27:31 am »
Years agoI bought the strips, used them a couple times and never again - I couldn’t tell the subtle shade differences to make them meaningful in practice.  Water calculators have sufficed, even though I have a pH meter now (and rarely ever use it).
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