nivekid

Here's my question. I already have a pH controller in my aquarium. It seems to work ok, emphasis on ok. Is a drop checker really much more accurate? Is it worth the extra cost and clutter? A simple question, but we'll see if there's a simple answer. Is there ever a simple answer.

Squawkbert

I'd use both if I were in your shoes.

A yellow drop checker is a sure sign that your pH controller needs some probe cleaning/calibration - whatever, or that you have a sticky solenoid or other problem.

Think of it as "belt and suspenders".

nivekid

A belt and suspenders huh. That sounds pretty good to me. I actually might wait a bit because I just got done cleaning and calibrating my controller. I couldn't believe it. It was .5 off! It read 7.5 in the 7.0 calibration fluid. I probably haven't had enough CO2 for quite a while. That could also explain why I've had algae for quite a while. Right now a belt and suspenders does sound pretty nice.

jmhart

I use both....redundancy redundancy redundancy.

Originally, I used only the drop checker, but when I acquired the pH contoller, the drop checker was useful in determining what pH to set my controller at.At it's heart, a pH controller uses the same concepts behind the pH vs KH table, which we've all read can be slightly inaccurate. That's why it was nice to have had my drop checker setup and working at the co2 level I wanted, pop in the pH probe, let it adjust, and then tell the pH controller to keep it at that pH.

Now, with both working, I can get an idea if it's time to recalibrate either of them.

nivekid

I never thought of that. Well, it looks like that will be my next purchase. Any recommendations on brand or style?

jmhart

$13 shipped from Asia off ebay.

ray-the-pilot

I use a drop checker with my CO2 controller. You can think of your controller as a thermostat and the checker as a thermometer. They verify each other. As long as the color in the checker hasn’t changed and the pH reading on your controller is the same you are under good control. I haven’t recalibrated my controller in months.

It doesn’t matter what brand you buy. I have the cheap Red Sea Checker in my aquarium.

Tex Gal

My favorite DC is the red sea one. It's nothing fancy, but it's easy to clean and change.

Left C

Plus the Red Sea model has a white center so that you can see the color better.

gibmaker

Just curious, if the drop checker is always accurate then why use a ph controller that needs recalibrating? It's just something else that needs maintenance IMO. I can see using one if you are trying to get to a specific ph and keep it there. It can save you co2, but how many times do you need to fill your tank to make the ph controller worth it? I don't use one and never had so I guess my opinions are all just hear say. If it aint broke don't fix it.