ORP low, any issue?

[Fishfinder]

I recently got a ORP probe. It is reading lower than I thought. I am not really concerned about it. More just looking for information as to why it could be low and if it need to be corrected. Currently it is 277. What are your thoughts?

 

[Reeferdood]

IMHO when we watch orp we are looking for trends. There could be a few factors that are giving you a lower reading than you would expect.
Are you sure it is calibrated and is it accurate? What is the orp reading you would expect and why?
Tell us about your tank and parameters....

 

[Fishfinder]

First I will say that my knowledge of ORP is very small and I do not fully understand it. That is why I am not panicked by the reading, and will probably not attempt to change it unless people convince my I should. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of my reading.

I didn't think ORP probes had to be calibrated. They adjusted over time. I thought an average ORP was in the 350-450 range? I don't know a lot about it, but I understand it as a constant transferring of electrons occurring in the aquarium, creating charged particles. Oxidizers and reducers. I thought that reducers were things like organics that could lead to decreased O2. So a low ORP number would indicate that that there are not enough oxidizers in the aquarium to compete with the number of reducers? A high ORP would be too many oxidizers?
Is that correct? Like I said very limited and possibly incorrect understanding

 

[Fishfinder]

As far as my tank goes....
350gal
LED light, skimmer, fuge, dosing
Temp: 78.5
Salinity: 35ppt
Ph: 7.7
Alk: 7.0
Cal: 420
Mag: 1350
NO3: 1
PO4: 0.01

 

[Mark Gray]

First I will say that my knowledge of ORP is very small and I do not fully understand it. That is why I am not panicked by the reading, and will probably not attempt to change it unless people convince my I should. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of my reading.

I didn't think ORP probes had to be calibrated. They adjusted over time. I thought an average ORP was in the 350-450 range? I don't know a lot about it, but I understand it as a constant transferring of electrons occurring in the aquarium, creating charged particles. Oxidizers and reducers. I thought that reducers were things like organics that could lead to decreased O2. So a low ORP number would indicate that that there are not enough oxidizers in the aquarium to compete with the number of reducers? A high ORP would be too many oxidizers?
Is that correct? Like I said very limited and possibly incorrect understanding

I have 2 ORP probes in 2 seprate systems, One is new one is old the old one is arounf 340 50 390 the new one has not hit 300 yet aqlways above 200 but has not ever hit 300, but it is coming up. I am also no expert on ORP but I have read a little and should be above 200 and below 450

 

[Fishfinder]

Ok thanks for the info, mine is trending downward. But above 200 still puts me in a "normal" range

 

[wangspeed]

Ok thanks for the info, mine is trending downward. But above 200 still puts me in a "normal" range

How long have you had it? Takes like a week for them to break in.

 

[Fishfinder]

Right at a week

 

[Clownfishy]

Mine took about 2 weeks to raise to 290. Currently sitting at 300

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have no idea what is causing it, but I wouldn't worry about it.

I discuss what ORP is and how to think about it in this article:

ORP and the Reef Aquarium - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rhf/feature/index.htm

 

[Mark Gray]

I have no idea what is causing it, but I wouldn't worry about it.

I discuss what ORP is and how to think about it in this article:

ORP and the Reef Aquarium - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-12/rhf/feature/index.htm

Wow I had no Idea I am going to have to try and understand this better. Thanks for posting the articles

 

[Mark Gray]

I recently got a ORP probe. It is reading lower than I thought. I am not really concerned about it. More just looking for information as to why it could be low and if it need to be corrected. Currently it is 277. What are your thoughts?

Just curious if your ORP is coming up at all I am out of town till next week but I can see mine on the internet, and my new tank has now climbed to 325 I am still working on trying to understand the articles Randy posted Good Luck

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wow I had no Idea I am going to have to try and understand this better. Thanks for posting the articles

You're welcome.
Happy Reefing.

 

[Fishfinder]

Just curious if your ORP is coming up at all I am out of town till next week but I can see mine on the internet, and my new tank has now climbed to 325 I am still working on trying to understand the articles Randy posted Good Luck

No still the same as it has been, 275-285 daily swing

 

[Mark Gray]

Mine climbed a lot when I was away not 100% why but here it is

 

[Fishfinder]

Mine is still 278, no changes

 

[Fishfinder]

It is what it is, not gonna try to change it

 

[kodo28]

I have also a low ORP...tank is 3 months old..Started with dead rock which are starting to have coraline algea and tank is bare botton,
6 tangs and some sps frags doing well and No3: 0.2 Po4: 0.01

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have also a low ORP...tank is 3 months old..Started with dead rock which are starting to have coraline algea and tank is bare botton,
6 tangs and some sps frags doing well and No3: 0.2 Po4: 0.01
]

I wouldn't be concerned about it.

 

[Livinlocal]

I don’t completely understand ORP yet, but what I can tell you is that I notice mine fluctuates based on the time of day and lights on/off, along with the addition I trace elements.

I don’t try and change my ORP, I just observe it.

I’ve noticed that when my lights turn in; the ORP slowly drops. And vise versa, when the lights go off; my ORP raises.

I also add aquavitro fuel once every couple weeks, and I notice that my ORP substantially drops for a few hours after adding it into my sump.

I’m not sure what to think of it, and don’t reallt put much thought into it, but wanted to share my experience. I’m not sure what the large spikes are though, I think that’s what I shut my system off to put my hands in the tank.