Pinpoint PH Probe??

[JeffFoster]

I have one - when its in the main tank (under lights), it reads say.. 3.43 and when I move it to the sump, a few seconds later, it reads .1 less (around 3.33)... which is correct? Doesnt seem right that it would do that.

Thanks - sorry bout first post question - been a while and the email address that I had for my old account is gone

Jeff

 

[Entacmaea]

Hmmm. Have you calibrated the probe with the appropriate reference liquids? I doubt your pH is actually 3.4.... or anywhere close to that, it should be upwards of 8 (between 8.2 and 8.4 for a reef)...

 

[Entacmaea]

Forgive my manners. Welcome to RDO!

 

[reefturkey]

I would calibrate it and then see if it reads the same.

 

[JeffFoster]

Thanks

Im out of fluid, but I just got it and cal'ed it about 2 weeks ago. Its pretty consistant - in the main tank, one reading, in the sump, .1 less.

Jeff

 

[Entacmaea]

That is odd... something must be amiss, because right now your water has about the same acidity as Diet Coke- not so good for critters. You can try putting the probe in some household bleach, and you should get a reading around 13. If it is not close to that, something is wrong with the probe, or it is mis-calibrated...

 

[JeffFoster]

Lights off for about an hour now - 8.22 ph

It seems to be the light that changes the probe readings. If I move the probe into the main tank when the light is on, it instantly goes to +.1ish what it was in the sump.

 

[Entacmaea]

OK, I'm confused. Your prior post stated your pH was 3.33, which alarmed me. Glad to see it is up toward 8...

 

[Anonymous]

>...It seems to be the light that changes the probe readings.

You can kill that hypothesis by using a cup to hold the sump water with the probe inside, then move the cut to the top where the light is.

If you want another hypothesis, I will say it is the temperature difference.

I would not worry about the 0,1 pH difference in your case too much, but if you want a specific number, most statistician will just take the average of the two number.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Could it be some sort of interferrance from the ballast that makes it go nuts? Possibly a magnetic thing or somthing.

 

[Fastmarc]

The 3.33 and 3.34 is a typo error, right?

 

[Anonymous]

If his pH was actually in that 3-4 range, his threads would most likely be concentrating on why his tank was dead.

Something's goofy with his pH meter, though.