Ph test kit

[the_dougie]

I bought a Ph test kit to see if my water was too alkaline or acidic. (my one remaining ghost shrimp out of 5 is inactive and looks like it's dying). So i dipped in the test strip into the water, and compared it with the comparison chart. acidic freshwater shows on this chart as light orange, then alkaline freshwater shows as a dark red, with varying oranges and browns in the middle.
Acidic saltwater shows on the chart as a dull orange-brown, and alkaline saltwater shows as a dark, dark pink, with oranges in the middle.

My reading showed in the beginning to do deep red, then turned into a very light pink...It's water with no more than a tablespoon of aquarium salt in it (5.5gal) Im so confused what do I do?

 

[Cearbhaill]

Dip the strip and wait whatever amount of time the package directions say.
Then match the color in natural light and tell us what the corresponding number is.

 

[the_dougie]

k i think its a reddish color so it's too alkaline...

 

[AquaDummy]

It's water with no more than a tablespoon of aquarium salt in it (5.5gal) Im so confused what do I do?

I could be completely off base here but isn't 1 Tablespoon of salt too much for a 5.5g? I thought a good ratio was 1 teaspoon per 5 gals? Like I said this is all new to me so hopefully someone in the "know" will be able to clarify. I'm not sure it would matter or not?

 

[the_dougie]

oh i dont know. i added one tablespoon for the 5 gals at the beginning but ive done plenty of water changes with little salt in the new water. im sure the salt content is fine.

 

[Cearbhaill]

k i think its a reddish color so it's too alkaline...

The corresponding number?

 

[the_dougie]

not sure exactly, possibly in high 7s low 8s. im fixin it, and my survivor shrimpy looks much better