Hydros pH probe creep

[xxoczukxx]

Ive had a ph probe running on my hydros for a bit over a month now. When I first installed it i calibrated with 7.01 and 10 ph solutions. It started out around 8-8.2 with daily fluctuations around there.

I noticed the pH would start to creep and was reaching up to 8.6 within like 3-4 weeks. I thought maybe rising temps as its been HOT here were affecting it but even having the AC running all day didnt change anything so I recalibrated the probe and it brought the pH back down to 8.2 readings again.

Well its been less than a week since recalibration and my highs are already reaching 8.5 pH at the end of the day. Has anyone run into issues with these pinpoint probes losing calibration this quickly? Is this a common issue or should I replace the probe entirely?

 

[n2585722]

Ive had a ph probe running on my hydros for a bit over a month now. When I first installed it i calibrated with 7.01 and 10 ph solutions. It started out around 8-8.2 with daily fluctuations around there.

I noticed the pH would start to creep and was reaching up to 8.6 within like 3-4 weeks. I thought maybe rising temps as its been HOT here were affecting it but even having the AC running all day didnt change anything so I recalibrated the probe and it brought the pH back down to 8.2 readings again.

Well its been less than a week since recalibration and my highs are already reaching 8.5 pH at the end of the day. Has anyone run into issues with these pinpoint probes losing calibration this quickly? Is this a common issue or should I replace the probe entirely?

Is it where light can get to it? If so try cleaning it like you would between calibration solutions and see if that changes the reading.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Hmmm I can’t speak to Hydros but I get similar stuff with my Apex. I don’t trust the salinity or ph probe. They always seem to drift fairly quickly. I believe it’s the nature of these probes. They are not great quality.

 

[xxoczukxx]

Is it where light can get to it? If so try cleaning it like you would between calibration solutions and see if that changes the reading.

I tried cleaning it but it didnt change. Ended up having to recalibrate and it went back to 8.2….. ill just let it go and see how far it actually drifts… if it caps at 8.6 ill just treat that as a normal reading for now

 

[BryanM]

Mine is pretty dang steady.

The increase is due to removing the GFO (hopefully permanently)..

 

[allof fish]

Ive had a ph probe running on my hydros for a bit over a month now. When I first installed it i calibrated with 7.01 and 10 ph solutions. It started out around 8-8.2 with daily fluctuations around there.

I noticed the pH would start to creep and was reaching up to 8.6 within like 3-4 weeks. I thought maybe rising temps as its been HOT here were affecting it but even having the AC running all day didnt change anything so I recalibrated the probe and it brought the pH back down to 8.2 readings again.

Well its been less than a week since recalibration and my highs are already reaching 8.5 pH at the end of the day. Has anyone run into issues with these pinpoint probes losing calibration this quickly? Is this a common issue or should I replace the probe entirely?

Similar issue I’ve had recently with apex. Had probe running good for 10 months. Move it into new tank and it’s been all over. Yes I kept it wet. Calibrated it twice. Cleaned it ect ect. It responds to chance like vinegar but definitely isn’t accurate. The standard single junction just don’t last forever. Was showing my highest ph at 2-3 am and lowest at like 5pm, impossible. Ordered a new one from brs yesterday.

 

[xxoczukxx]

Similar issue I’ve had recently with apex. Had probe running good for 10 months. Move it into new tank and it’s been all over. Yes I kept it wet. Calibrated it twice. Cleaned it ect ect. It responds to chance like vinegar but definitely isn’t accurate. The standard single junction just don’t last forever. Was showing my highest ph at 2-3 am and lowest at like 5pm, impossible. Ordered a new one from brs yesterday.

This probe was stored for at least a year+ before being used but it was never dry, stored in the solution it came in. if I end up not happy with how its doing, I guess a new probe is only like $50-60 so not too bad (the worst part will be running the cables through all the cable management I've done)

So far though, besides the readings being like 0.20-0.30 too high, it does track the rise and fall of pH in the tank properly, with lows in the morning and highs in the day near the end of the photoperiod and maybe a 0.3-0.4 different between them

 

[Reef Jedi]

This was shared to me by another experienced reefer here on R2R. Don’t over pay for the same probe so I’m passing the torch on to you.

https://a.co/d/0avAKrnz

 

[allof fish]

This probe was stored for at least a year+ before being used but it was never dry, stored in the solution it came in. if I end up not happy with how its doing, I guess a new probe is only like $50-60 so not too bad (the worst part will be running the cables through all the cable management I've done)

So far though, besides the readings being like 0.20-0.30 too high, it does track the rise and fall of pH in the tank properly, with lows in the morning and highs in the day near the end of the photoperiod and maybe a 0.3-0.4 different between them

I went with the double junction since they last longer and are better quality. Mine was the opposite. It would also randomly jump up like .3-.4 then fall and do that again and again, so it’s definitely bad. I would try cleaning it and recalibrating it to give it a try.

 

[xxoczukxx]

cleaned and recalibrated everything today. Even made sure the probe's cable was not touching any power cables for other devices and the probe is still creeping higher and higher. close to 8.8 right now so I am just waiting on a new probe to arrive. Annoying but expected conclusion to this

 

[allof fish]

cleaned and recalibrated everything today. Even made sure the probe's cable was not touching any power cables for other devices and the probe is still creeping higher and higher. close to 8.8 right now so I am just waiting on a new probe to arrive. Annoying but expected conclusion to this

Yea those single junctions aren’t the best. Just got mine today. Going to see the difference in the next day. Old prove was starting to act a little more normal but every few hours there a random jump and then back down, so definitely wasn’t 100% right

 

[xxoczukxx]

Yea those single junctions aren’t the best. Just got mine today. Going to see the difference in the next day. Old prove was starting to act a little more normal but every few hours there a random jump and then back down, so definitely wasn’t 100% right

I was actually using a pinpoint double junction…

Installed the new probe and my ph is reading 8.7…..

I have new calibration solution coming tomorrow so we will recalibrate again…

I actually have no idea Whats driving my pH up if this is the actual number.

 

[allof fish]

I was actually using a pinpoint double junction…

Installed the new probe and my ph is reading 8.7…..

I have new calibration solution coming tomorrow so we will recalibrate again…

I actually have no idea Whats driving my pH up if this is the actual number.

I believe I figured out why mine would spike quickly and then fall. Since some equipment was in different spots in the new sump my alk doser was before my ph probe even though I thought it would mix fast enough and dissipate. I would get .03-.05 spikes then drop. I moved it and that has since gone. New probe more accurate. I would look at anything that can affect ph.

 

[xxoczukxx]

I believe I figured out why mine would spike quickly and then fall. Since some equipment was in different spots in the new sump my alk doser was before my ph probe even though I thought it would mix fast enough and dissipate. I would get .03-.05 spikes then drop. I moved it and that has since gone. New probe more accurate. I would look at anything that can affect ph.

my probe was originally in the same chamber as the dosing lines but I moved it to the first chamber of my sump where the reefmat is so it should be upstream of any dosing atm

 

[advaqua]

I run 2 pro lab quality PH probes. One on Hydros, and one on Milwaukee controller. Both have remained stable ( Hydros runs a bit lower) but they mirror each other for a the last 3 months. Stock probes are marginal at best in my opinion

 

[xxoczukxx]

After getting a different new batch of calibration solutions my probe reads at 8.45 at the high of the day. Will monitor but hopefully it wont drift from here