My Pond PH seems to be creeping up lately, so I am wondering if it is truly rising or is my meter out of calibration. So this weeks purchase was $20 of calibration solutions PH 4, 7, and 10 so I can calibrate my meter. The calibration solution is a lab controlled liquid that is buffered from ph swings so it stays at the PH level you are trying to calibrate to. The solution will vary by batch, age, and by temperature, so it is a good practice to use a couple of them to test with initially. PH 7 is the most commonly purchased but some meters require 2 solutions to calibrate a high and low range properly.
To use the solutions, put a small amount in a container deep enough to insert your meter’s probe. 1 or 2 ounces is all that is required. Some meters have a calibration mode which must be activated while others merely have a set screw to turn. Read your manual for actual calibration procedures. If using two solutions to calibrate be sure to clean the probe between tests to avoid cross contamination of the calibrations solutions.
Do shop around on EBAY and Amazon if you need the solution. It varies in price widely by volume and source. I would avoid buying used solution.
Note: I used Algaefix in my pond this week to reduce the green water. It seemed to lower the PH once most of the algae was cleared. So I still have the question; Does Algae increase PH or does high PH cause more Algae.
UPDATE: After receiving my calibration solutions I found that my meter was off by .5 so my ph reading has been within reasonable limits. Now that the night time temps have cooled off so has my PH. It is only 7.0 in the morning.
