ORP - does low value matter

[VintageReefer]

What do you gain from visualizing this balance, that can’t be dealt with/accounted for through other means?

Keep parameters in line

have some form of oxygen added - air pump, scrubber, skimmer, etc

Dechlorinate your water

Seems like if we already do what we can to keep a healthy tank, this is just a redundant item to follow, providing little actual value or information.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

What do you gain from visualizing this balance, that can’t be dealt with/accounted for through other means?

Keep parameters in line

have some form of oxygen added - air pump, scrubber, skimmer, etc

Dechlorinate your water

Seems like if we already do what we can to keep a healthy tank, this is just a redundant item to follow, providing little actual value or information.

Well, for me, watching the trends and looking for extreme variances is what I would consider valuable.

For instance, if my ORP suddenly drops when I've done nothing to cause it, it means something is going on... dead fish, additive overdose, skimmer not functioning, over feeding, etc. etc.

Think of ORP like a smoke detector for water quality.

Why not use it?

 

[slingfox]

I don’t see any value in orp and any money spent figuring it out is a waste.

Tank looks great. Move on lol

ORP is very useful to track in any tank that runs ozone for water clarity.

 

[VintageReefer]

Well, for me, watching the trends and looking for extreme variances is what I would consider valuable.

For instance, if my ORP suddenly drops when I've done nothing to cause it, it means something is going on... dead fish, additive overdose, skimmer not functioning, over feeding, etc. etc.

Think of ORP like a smoke detector for water quality.

Why not use it?

I sometimes come across the wrong way over the Internet. If you find value in it, and are educated on this topic, then I appreciate your input, feedback, experience and am seeking that out. I’m not trying to persuade anyone out of tracking orp

I know little about it, have read Randy’s articles, and self concluded - not essential and possibly not even helpful. That was just my interpretation. I do value real examples like you stated above.

I can see how some people would like to see the trends but for me…I don’t think it would benefit me. Probably would drive me crazy. I actually do have a new orp
Probe and my alk dosing system does support that probe. I have yet to connect it and don’t think I will.

My clean up crew will devour a 4” tang my morning. I don’t really dose anything, that risks overdosing. I don’t use a skimmer. If I over feed, my clean up crew gets it and my scrubber grows a tad faster that week. For me orp is a background process, that I don’t need to move to my radar. For others, I leaned a bit more about it and can see why they would be interested

 

[VintageReefer]

ORP is very useful to track in any tank that runs ozone for water clarity.

This sounds like a compelling reason to monitor it

 

[kilnakorr]

Mine really only swings (significant drops below) when stop my return for feed cycke and/or dose my ChaetoGro.

I have a feeling that between the new probe and calibration soultion that you'll have even higher than 181. But I'm curious! :)

It might be another number after I calibrste it again.
Seems to have stabilized around the 181 mark.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Think of ORP like a smoke detector for water quality.

Why not use it?

I had an ORP probe in my tank for many years.. never once did I act on a result from it. Consequently, i removed it and never used it again.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It might be another number after I calibrste it again.
Seems to have stabilized around the 181 mark.

That's a plausible value. :)

 

[kilnakorr]

I had an ORP probe in my tank for many years.. never once did I act on a result from it. Consequently, i removed it and never used it again.

Same here. But as I'm setting up ozone I needed som input on my readings, as I like the extra security to monitor and shut it off if readings get to high.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Does ORP usually swing doing the day/night like PH does? The old probe pretty much never moved more than 1 or 2 points.

ORP has an inverter relationship with PH so ORP is normally lower during the day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Same here. But as I'm setting up ozone I needed som input on my readings, as I like the extra security to monitor and shut it off if readings get to high.

Yes, using an ORP probe is critical when using ozone. I do not recommend setting a mV target without considering the starting ORP. No matter what the starting ORP is, a small rise in ORP when using ozone (say, 20 mV) should provide all the necessary advantages of ozone. Certainly, if you have the capability, setting a high limit ozone shut off is a fine plan.

I never used any sort of limit as my tank did not rise excessively using the ozone system I used.

 

[kilnakorr]

Yes, using an ORP probe is critical when using ozone. I do not recommend setting a mV target without considering the starting ORP. No matter what the starting ORP is, a small rise in ORP when using ozone (say, 20 mV) should provide all the necessary advantages of ozone. Certainly, if you have the capability, setting a high limit ozone shut off is a fine plan.

I never used any sort of limit as my tank did not rise excessively using the ozone system I used.

My plan exactly.
But since everything is new I'd like to set a dhut off at +20mv just untill I get to know the system, flow etc.

By the way; since treated water must have a much higher ORP exiting the reactor, a second probe here reacting to a sudden drop in ORP could help shut off the ozon in case of leakage, couldn't it?