Thoughts on Hanna pHep+ Meter?

[Brandon McHenry]

Hi all! Just wondering what people think of the Hanna pHep+ Portable pH checker. I have one that I just recently calibrated with the 7 and 10 buffer solutions and I’m getting readings on the lower end of acceptable for my reef. At the end of the dark cycle I’m getting around 7.7 and based on the accuracy of this instrument I’m deciding how likely it is that my pH is dipping that much at night. Any experience with this pH meter would be greatly appreciated!

 

[susan ingram]

Hi all! Just wondering what people think of the Hanna pHep+ Portable pH checker. I have one that I just recently calibrated with the 7 and 10 buffer solutions and I’m getting readings on the lower end of acceptable for my reef. At the end of the dark cycle I’m getting around 7.7 and based on the accuracy of this instrument I’m deciding how likely it is that my pH is dipping that much at night. Any experience with this pH meter would be greatly appreciated!

I've never used one, but here is a bump for you.

 

[sikorskys]

At the end of the dark cycle I’m getting around 7.7

That's fine. Sub optimal, but totally possible. Mine is 7.5 sometimes.

 

[K7BMG]

Is it stable?
If so it should be just fine.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

According to the Hanna meter it is bottoming out at 7.7-7.8 but goes up to 8.2-8.3 at the end of the light cycle. I’m not by any means chasing pH but I don’t like the sub-optimal levels at the lower end so I’m just trying to figure out the accuracy of this meter. I know I have a CO2 issue so I’m also checking the performance of my scrubber as well.

 

[sikorskys]

Leave it alone. Seriously.

Sub optimal doesn't mean "bad". It's just not the best.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi all! Just wondering what people think of the Hanna pHep+ Portable pH checker. I have one that I just recently calibrated with the 7 and 10 buffer solutions and I’m getting readings on the lower end of acceptable for my reef. At the end of the dark cycle I’m getting around 7.7 and based on the accuracy of this instrument I’m deciding how likely it is that my pH is dipping that much at night. Any experience with this pH meter would be greatly appreciated!

I personally would not want my reef getting down to pH 7.7 (aragonite can slowly dissolve at that pH).

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I personally would not want my reef getting down to pH 7.7 (aragonite can slowly dissolve at that pH).

I agree, which is why I would like to know exactly how much to rely on the Hanna meter. I won’t be doing anything crazy to mitigate the pH, just a simple CO2 scrubber and some kalk in my topoff, nothing I haven’t done in the past. So what are your thoughts on this meter (if calibrated correctly etc)? Is it trustworthy?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree, which is why I would like to know exactly how much to rely on the Hanna meter. I won’t be doing anything crazy to mitigate the pH, just a simple CO2 scrubber and some kalk in my topoff, nothing I haven’t done in the past. So what are your thoughts on this meter (if calibrated correctly etc)? Is it trustworthy?

Any pH meter that is calibrated correctly (2 or more point calibration spanning the pH of interest) and reads the calibration fluids properly after calibration (and for which you used accurate pH calibration fluids) is almost certainly giving values close enough for reefers.

I would add to always measure in a cup away from the tank, if possible, when you see an unusual reading to avoid interferences of various sorts and to avoid ground loops (a potential issue in reef tanks).

 

[K7BMG]

I average 7.97 to 8.2 over a 24 hour period.

There are a lot of factors that can and will keep a PH high or low.
I am sure the Hanna is reading correctly.

Thing is how is the tank doing?

Most of the corrections to bring PH change have side effects that are less than desirable.

Do you have a fuge and lighting running off hours to the DT?
this could be a huge benefit to keep PH up through the night and burn up some of that Co2

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Any pH meter that is calibrated correctly (2 or more point calibration spanning the pH of interest) and reads the calibration fluids properly after calibration (and for which you used accurate pH calibration fluids) is almost certainly giving values close enough for reefers.

I would add to always measure in a cup away from the tank, if possible, when you see an unusual reading to avoid interferences of various sorts and to avoid ground loops (a potential issue in reef tanks).

Awesome thanks for the tip on the interference. I’m more comfortable that I’m measuring an accurate number now.

I average 7.97 to 8.2 over a 24 hour period.

There are a lot of factors that can and will keep a PH high or low.
I am sure the Hanna is reading correctly.

Thing is how is the tank doing?

Most of the corrections to bring PH change have side effects that are less than desirable.

Do you have a fuge and lighting running off hours to the DT?
this could be a huge benefit to keep PH up through the night and burn up some of that Co2

That is true. The tank is doing fine, things are healthy but growth on my acros is very slow. I have an IM Nuvo 40 which is an AIO so no fuge. On my last SPS tank I ran kalk, a CO2 scrubber and a reverse fuge and got great results. In a newer house with less surface area for gas exchange and no fuge ive always had trouble keeping the pH where I’d prefer it.