How do I make probe cleaning solution?

[Val Shebeko]

How do I make probe cleaning solution ?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Are you talking about a pH probe? If so, soak in vinegar overnight, rinse and re-calibrate.

 

[Val Shebeko]

Are you talking about a pH probe? If so, soak in vinegar overnight, rinse and re-calibrate.

Straight up vinegar, overnight ? tslking about ph, orp, and salinity probes.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Yep, straight vinegar (typically 5% household vinegar) overnight will do it. If not, you've got probe problems that cleaning won't fix.

 

[Val Shebeko]

Yep, straight vinegar (typically 5% household vinegar) overnight will do it. If not, you've got probe problems that cleaning won't fix.

Seem harsh . So what‘s in commercial probe cleaning solutions ?

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you don't like vinegar overnight, you can go with 5% HCl for five to ten minutes....but handle with care.

As far a commercial cleaners, not sure what's in them. In chemistry, because we are measuring pH of various compounds, the cleaning is acid soak / base soak / organic soak (ether or carbon tet.). But because our probes are simply seeing saltwater, the acid soak should suffice.

 

[Val Shebeko]

Ah, that;s part of what I read on google today. and the vinegar will not harm the other probes, the orp or the salinity ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Seem harsh . So what‘s in commercial probe cleaning solutions ?

Vinegar is not harsh at all. The methods recommended below use bleach or much stronger acids than vinegar.

Just don't physically rub on the probe.

This has more:

How to Store, Clean, and Recondition pH Electrodes from Cole-Parmer

Taking care of your pH electrodes will ensure proper functioning, as well as enhance their longevity. Read more in this informative article from Cole-Parmer.

www.coleparmer.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The other two probes are less delicate than a pH probe. Vinegar cannot hurt them either.

 

[choooch]

Does a dirty ph probe malfunction or does it skew reading, high or low?

Can I calibrate a dirty probe and have it read accurately/correctly?

My logic is, it's going to be dirty more than it's clean. And I'm lazy.

When I remove items from my sump to clean, most just have a light film, even stuff I haven't cleaned in many many months.