ph probe or test kit?

[triggakilla]

I'm using a dry -tab test kit for PH monitoring,ammonia, nitrite,and nitrate...salifert for alk and calcium... I don't like the PH test , i'm never sure of the color. What do you guys like for ph monitoring? pinpoint probe or...?

 

[Anonymous]

probes are far more accurate and prob'ly cheaper in the long run.if you go with test kits-liquid reagent kits are prob'ly more accurate,imho.

 

[reefland]

Get a pH probe. Much more accurate and you onlu need to fiddle with it every few months for calibration.

 

[Lynn]

I'm the black sheep in this group, the probe was a waste of money for me. I never trust the thing and end up using my kit. Athough the colors are are to read as well!
I calibrate it every 4 weeks (cuz I think it's out of calibration) this takes me ...it seems forever.
Lately I've just been using the test kit period.
You'd think if they can put people on the moon that they could come up with a more acurate method! :wink:

 

[reefland]

hmm. My pinpoint proble takes about 2 minutes to change the battery and calibrate. Even after a year it was right on, needed only .01 to .02 adjustment -- which in reality is insignificant as we only care about pH to the 10ths place anyway.

If you intend to use a calcium reactor in the future the pH probe is the only way to go.

 

[Philippe Dor]

Only buy the ones with 0,1 sensitivity and MANUAL calibration. The ones with automatic calibration can not be adjusted and are most of the time wrong. At some stage I had 3 with auto calibration and each one of them was showing a different reading for each tank measured. Later I got the manual one calibrated on a tank running with Seachem Reefbuilder and Reefbuffer, set it at 8.3 and only had to recalibrated it only twice a year and even then it never went wrong for almost 10 years! Best value for money. Phil.

 

[Bob Gardner]

I agree with other replies on getting a Pinpoint Meter but do not leave it in the water perminantly, just check with it each day or twice a day if you feel the need, this will make the battery last a long time. If you want to leave the probe in the water and the meter switched on all the time then you need to also purchase the small transformer to power it but I think that with all of these types of instrument (salinity probe etc) it's best to keep them away from constant exposure to salt and damp and just dip the probes at regular intervals to ensure that parameters in the tank are o'k.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

IME the big advantage of a probe is that I have a better idea how the pH changes through the day. A tank's pH is really a range and not a fixed value. Also, with a kit I would get complacent and not check it for long periods; with the probe I glance at it every morning and evening so if there is a problem I will be aware of it pretty quickly.

 

[reefland]

IME the big advantage of a probe is that I have a better idea how the pH changes through the day. A tank's pH is really a range and not a fixed value. Also, with a kit I would get complacent and not check it for long periods; with the probe I glance at it every morning and evening so if there is a problem I will be aware of it pretty quickly.

Exactly. It's not very expensive. I think its money well spent.

I suggest you only use batteries and not the transformer. To many people reported issues with the reading bouncing all over when plugged in. Dirty power seems to affect the probe. I use a battery. The unit is left on 24x7 and I get about 3.5 months out of the battery.

 

[Anonymous]

I suggest you only use batteries and not the transformer. To many people reported issues with the reading bouncing all over when plugged in. Dirty power seems to affect the probe. I use a battery. The unit is left on 24x7 and I get about 3.5 months out of the battery.

Ahh... that explains why I from time to time when I look to check mine and saw the pH jumping around quickly for about 30 seconds (from 3 to 6 to 8 to 10 and then finally settling back to where it should be)

 

[Bob Gardner]

Of course, if you don't mind spending a bit more I strongly recommend that you consider the purchase of a Neptune Controller. That's what I use now and with it you can always see your pH, temperature and ORP readings. You can also controll several pumps or power heads,your lights and heating. If you go that far you can also control CO2 into your Calcium reactor, and a chiller or/and fans. It's a lot of money but so is all the other stuff that you buy for the tank.
Bob

 

[Robf]

I agree with other replies on getting a Pinpoint Meter but do not leave it in the water perminantly, just check with it each day or twice a day if you feel the need, this will make the battery last a long time. If you want to leave the probe in the water and the meter switched on all the time then you need to also purchase the small transformer to power it but I think that with all of these types of instrument (salinity probe etc) it's best to keep them away from constant exposure to salt and damp and just dip the probes at regular intervals to ensure that parameters in the tank are o'k.

Bob

I thought that the probe was always supposedto be submerged, otherwise it will fail. Am I wrong here? I plan on getting a pinpoint pH meter very soon.

R.

 

[Bob Gardner]

Yes the probe must always be kept wet, thats how it is shipped to you but you don't have to leave it in the tank to achieve that. OTOH, I see no problem with leaving it in the tank as long as you keep the instrument case away from any possible water or salt drift. I used to keep my Pinpoint salinity meter under the tank stand in what I thought was a dry area but it still got contaminated and stopped working. Since then I have kept it in a drawer away from the tank and had no problems with it for a couple of years.
Hope this helps
Bob