pH meter question

[lawnerd]

I just got a milwaukee pH meter. Can I leave the probe in the tank water all the time? Or is it better to remove the probe after each reading?

 

[exnisstech]

Not sure if its right or wrong but I leave my Milwaukee in as a continuous monitor. The probe is supposed to be kept wet anyway so I figure leave it in.
This is my first experience with a pH meter so I may be totally wrong.

 

[lawnerd]

Not sure if its right or wrong but I leave my Milwaukee in as a continuous monitor. The probe is supposed to be kept wet anyway so I figure leave it in.
This is my first experience with a pH meter so I may be totally wrong.

Thanks!

I used a pH meter in grad school. But there I would use it to check the pH of a solution and put it back in a storage solution which I think might be saturated KCl. I did see the instructions said to keep it wet and it included a suction cupped probe holder which made me think it could be left in tank, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to ruin the probe.

Do you leave the until ON all the time or do you switch it ON and OFF at each reading?

 

[lawnerd]

Thanks!

I used a pH meter in grad school. But there I would use it to check the pH of a solution and put it back in a storage solution which I think might be saturated KCl. I did see the instructions said to keep it wet and it included a suction cupped probe holder which made me think it could be left in tank, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t want to ruin the probe.

Do you leave the until ON all the time or do you switch it ON and OFF at each reading?

Unit not until. Yikes fatfingers.

 

[exnisstech]

I can remember when I bought it but it's been months. I haven't turned it off since I installed it.
This is the one I have

EDIT I just stuck the probe in a piece of styrofoam so it would float

 

[lawnerd]

I can remember when I bought it but it's been months. I haven't turned it off since I installed it.
This is the one I have

Thanks again! That is the same model I have.

 

[56longroof]

I have the same one. I leave it in all the time. No issues other than cleaning and occasionally I recalibrate it.

 

[lawnerd]

I have the same one. I leave it in all the time. No issues other than cleaning and occasionally I ecalibrate it

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You can leave it in, but try to keep it in an unlit area. Algae growing in it will distort the readings.

 

[lawnerd]

Thank you Randy, great advice.

 

[Reef.]

Are you guys finding it accurate?

 

[exnisstech]

Are you guys finding it accurate?

TBH I'm out of hanna pH reagent and have nothing else to compare it to. I was dropping down to 7.6 at night and peaking at 7.9 and 8.0 on a good day. I tossed a skimmer in the sump a couple of weeks ago for aeration and now my low is 8.0 and I'm peaking at 8.3 and my alk consumption is on the rise so I think its accurate or at least accurate enough to watch for trends.