ORP rising - anything to be concerned about?

[Biokabe]

Like many people, I monitor ORP through my Apex despite not really believing that ORP is telling me much of value. I don't pay much attention to it other than noticing what the "typical" numbers have been. Over the past few months, my average ORP has averaged around 220 mV. In the last week, that's risen to an average of 279 mV, and is currently sitting above 300 mV. I have recently started using Rowaphos to (successfully) bring down phosphates - could this simply be ORP rising as phosphates are removed from the water column? Is there anything for me to be concerned with rising ORP numbers?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

In the absence of dosing oxidizers such as ozone, ORP is never too high. The ORP may have risen for many reasons, including reduced organics as they bind, release of ferric iron from the GFO, and coincidence. :)

 

[Biokabe]

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. Whenever a parameter changes beyond normal fluctuations, though, I always like to be sure. No ozone dosing here, from what I've read it seems like a lot of money for not a lot of benefit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, I have no current plans to use ozone in my tank. :)