How often do people calibrate their pH probes?
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To answer your question, most folks probably do not calibrate them enough, myself included.
I don't think the probe being close to power cables would cause it to drift out of calibration. That could cause unstable, or constantly changing pH readings on the controller, a-la an electrical interference type effect.
What probably happens over time is the silver chloride in the probe gets used up, crud accumulates/grows on the probe surface itself, etc., which necessitates recalibration. That is my guess.
And to be very correct, you are not calibrating the pH probe itself, you are calibrating the pH controller to the functioning of the pH probe.
I don't think the probe being close to power cables would cause it to drift out of calibration. That could cause unstable, or constantly changing pH readings on the controller, a-la an electrical interference type effect.
What probably happens over time is the silver chloride in the probe gets used up, crud accumulates/grows on the probe surface itself, etc., which necessitates recalibration. That is my guess.
And to be very correct, you are not calibrating the pH probe itself, you are calibrating the pH controller to the functioning of the pH probe.
jtomasi
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Yea thats what I figured. Maybe it was the solution....not to make this too long of a story, but I got a Reef Angel about 6 months ago, calibrated it using the individual Milwaukee packets from MD and thought I would do it again yesterday since I had two extras....Maybe ill get more and do it again...
..also second guessing my Salifert test kit because its over a year old.
..also second guessing my Salifert test kit because its over a year old.
o2manyfish
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I find that pH needs calibration every 3-4 months. Condx is once a month. ORP is yearly.
My probes are in the overflow of the display tank. So they tend to get dirty. So they require frequent cleaning in Vinegar.
My ORP was way out of whack about 3 weeks ago. I put the probe in a shot gas full of vinegar to clean it, and half an hour later there were 5 dead pods that had been up inside the probe.
I have tiny little snails that are always getting up inside the Condx probe.
I also have pH probes in my Kalk Mixer and Calc Rx. Those have been running for about 10 months and I only calibrated the Calc Rx probe once.
Dave B
My probes are in the overflow of the display tank. So they tend to get dirty. So they require frequent cleaning in Vinegar.
My ORP was way out of whack about 3 weeks ago. I put the probe in a shot gas full of vinegar to clean it, and half an hour later there were 5 dead pods that had been up inside the probe.
I have tiny little snails that are always getting up inside the Condx probe.
I also have pH probes in my Kalk Mixer and Calc Rx. Those have been running for about 10 months and I only calibrated the Calc Rx probe once.
Dave B
