I dont have the money to go out and buy a ph meter so i was just wondering if it would be better to use my tap water witch is usually between 7.8 and 8.0 or should i just use distilled water from the store. Im not sure if this helps but i will be using tiger bloom eventually and i know that drops your ph.
Those aquarium ph testers will get u by until u get a digital meter...go to walmart or local pet store..maybe 6-10 bucks (idk)
7.8-8 is high and the tiger bloom may drop it but every other watering it'll be the high ph water, you'd be better off investing in a tester even the strip ones
You'll need calibration/storage solution too if it's a gel-tip meter. edit: as often as a $20 meter needs to be calibrated, get yourself a quart bottle