Uv affecting my ph reading. ????
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rkpetersen
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It's likely an artifact of some kind. Running a UV sterilizer doesn't change pH.
Make sure your UV sterilizer cord doesn't run anywhere near your probe cords.
Make sure your UV sterilizer cord doesn't run anywhere near your probe cords.
LAReefer4Life
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RaymondNoodles
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Bringing back an old thread here. I recently ran into a similar issue using a PinPoint pH probe connected to my Hydros. When the UV light is on, the pH reads about .2 higher. It raises .2 immediately when turning it on and drops .2 immediately when turning it off. I moved the UV cords/ballast a few feet away from the pH probe and still had the issue. Then I put the pH probe in a cup of water and didn't have the issue, so the interference is coming through the water. I verified the UV bulb/wiring are dry, no exposed wires and I am not feeling any electrical shock when touching the tank water. I am wondering if a different pH probe/brand would also be affected.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Was the Pinpoint in battery or cord? Battery is known to reduce interference with the Pinpoint.
RaymondNoodles
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It has a cord that connects directly to the Hydros Control 4. This is the pH probe and controller I have:
Hydros Control 4 Starter Pack - Aquarium Controller System
The CoralVue HYDROS Control 4 Starter Pack gives you ultimate control of your aquarium through a powerful and robust aquarium controller system with unique and expandable capabilities. With the HYDROS Control 4, you can monitor important parameters such as temperature, pH, ORP, water levels, and...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
I found this battery powered pH probe but doesn't work with Hydros.
PINPOINT pH Monitor
Why does BRS recommend this? Pinpoint has been making quality monitoring equipment for years and is the only full-time pH monitor with the ability to give a .01 resolution. The Pinpoint pH monitor is extremely easy to use and can be counted on to deliver accurate, reliable results with minimal...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
I like being able to check the pH from the Hydros app. Any suggestions?
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Trying moving the cords for the pH meter and probe as far from other cords and lighting ballasts (if any) as possible.
RaymondNoodles
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I moved the UV ballast and cord 6 ft from the pH probe, and the problem persists. The pH probe is getting the interference through the water. Could this be harmful to the inhabitants?
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I do not think that happens with a UV, unless the UV grounds the water and that grounding turns on and off with the UV, which seems unlikely but I've never taken one apart to know. Maybe your controller has a ground? No chemical effect is instantaneous as you show in the graph. It is electrical interference in some fashion.
With a ground in the water, one can get something called a ground loop that can mess with pH measurements.
How to deal with Ground Loops
Have you ever had problems with process controls and electrical instrumentation? The source may be ground loops. What is this? A potentially detrimental lo...
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Just confirming an assumption of mine... the pH probe is not directly in the effluent stream of the UV, is it?
tjonw6981
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It has a cord that connects directly to the Hydros Control 4. This is the pH probe and controller I have:
Hydros Control 4 Starter Pack - Aquarium Controller System
The CoralVue HYDROS Control 4 Starter Pack gives you ultimate control of your aquarium through a powerful and robust aquarium controller system with unique and expandable capabilities. With the HYDROS Control 4, you can monitor important parameters such as temperature, pH, ORP, water levels, and...
I found this battery powered pH probe but doesn't work with Hydros.
PINPOINT pH Monitor
Why does BRS recommend this? Pinpoint has been making quality monitoring equipment for years and is the only full-time pH monitor with the ability to give a .01 resolution. The Pinpoint pH monitor is extremely easy to use and can be counted on to deliver accurate, reliable results with minimal...
I like being able to check the pH from the Hydros app. Any suggestions?
I've been dealing with this for a few weeks as well and haven't found a solution. I too have checked the bulb seal, rerouted ALL wires beneath tank and also recalibrated probes with no luck. One thing I did find was when testing the water with a multi meter it detected stray voltage. Ill take out the quartz sleeves tomorrow and check for cracks but thats the only thing I can think of at this point.
I was doing some testing earlier tonight to verify PH probe wiring which didnt help.I currently have CaRX PH probe cord coming out of the stand, in front of the cabinet and directly into the controller (3 ft away from UV) and I still have interference of some sort.
Below are two screen grabs of my PH readings - one with UV on and the other with UV off (10 seconds apart). The 5 day graph of the sump PH probe shows peaks when the UV is on. Its disappointing because I cannot trust the reading to control CO2 flow while UV is on.
Ill update the thread after I inspect the sleeves for cracks
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Curious.
You use a pH probe in the sump to control CO2 flow? To a CaCO3/CO2 reactor? It's not inside the reactor?
Is the tank grounded?
In the above experiment, how is the UV being turned on and off? Switch, or power to it?
You use a pH probe in the sump to control CO2 flow? To a CaCO3/CO2 reactor? It's not inside the reactor?
Is the tank grounded?
In the above experiment, how is the UV being turned on and off? Switch, or power to it?
RaymondNoodles
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The pH probe is in the same compartment of the sump as the UV pump (skimmer compartment), but I notice the same erratic pH jump even when I place the pH probe in the DT). Two days ago I installed a new pH probe ($20 cheapo from Amazon but had decent reviews) which reports similar pH rises when the UV turns on. I emailed Lifegard aquatics and explained the issue 3 days ago but haven't heard back yet.
tjonw6981
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I have a PH probe in the sump which just reads overall PH and a seperate PH Probe inside the reactor chamber which controls the CO2 solenoid. Both show erratic readings when the UV turns on and are on opposite sides of the tank. No other equipment seems to have an effect on PH readings
UV is controlled via controller > Power bar, no switch.
Tank is not grounded but I suppose I could give that a whirl.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Moving cords away from each other can reduce electrical interference.
