pH Probe Cleaning Solution?

[Mono]

I've seen directions on how to make a general pH probe cleaning solution:

"General Cleaning: Soak the electrode in 1:10 dilution of household laundry bleach in a 0.1 to 0.5% liquid detergent solution in hot water with vigorous stirring for 15 minutes. Place junction under warm, running tap water for 15 seconds. Drain/refill the reference chamber. Soak the electrode in storage solution for at least 10 minutes."
https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/how-to-store-clean-and-recondition-ph-electrodes
I get how to make 1:10 dilution of bleach BUT how would one make a 0.1 to 0.5% liquid detergent solution?

Is this a good general pH probe cleaning solution? Are there better ones?

 

[Boostable]

1/4 teaspoon for a cup of water for .5%

 

[Mono]

1/4 teaspoon for a cup of water for .5%

Great! Thanks for the tip. How do you figure that out?

 

[Boostable]

768 Teaspoons per gallon, 1% is 7.68 teaspoons, divide that by 16 cups per gallon is .48 teaspoons per cup, for 1%, So .5% would be .24 teaspoons per cup by volume.

 

[Mono]

768 Teaspoons per gallon, 1% is 7.68 teaspoons, divide that by 16 cups per gallon is .48 teaspoons per cup, for 1%, So .5% would be .24 teaspoons per cup by volume.

Thanks. I guess a "squirt" would also have worked.

 

[Boostable]

Lol yep

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recommend a straight vinegar soak overnight for cleaning probes used in a reef tank.

Bleach will remove organics, but not calcium carbonate deposits.

 

[blitzkragz]

I have wondered if soaking my apex ph/salinity/orp probes in citric acid overnight would damage them. Anyone know the answer to that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have wondered if soaking my apex ph/salinity/orp probes in citric acid overnight would damage them. Anyone know the answer to that?

It should not damage a pH probe.

 

[chrisjj625]

I recommend a straight vinegar soak overnight for cleaning probes used in a reef tank.

Bleach will remove organics, but not calcium carbonate deposits.

Will this require recalibration or simply put it back in and let it go?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Recalibration would be needed after cleaning a pH probe. :)

 

[TWYOUNG]

It should not damage a pH probe.

Is citric acid just as acceptable as bleach for cleaning ORP probes?

 

[d2mini]

All i have ever done is scrub lightly with a toothbrush right in my sump. :grinning-squinting-face:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is citric acid just as acceptable as bleach for cleaning ORP probes?

Acid removes calcium carbonate but not organics.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Acid removes calcium carbonate but not organics.

So you recommend a bleach solution for all probes instead of citric acid? If so, what concentration of bleach?

 

[Miami Reef]

I recommend a straight vinegar soak overnight for cleaning probes used in a reef tank.

Bleach will remove organics, but not calcium carbonate deposits.

Do you think a 1:10 muriatic solution can be used to clean probes safely as well? I’d feel better using muriatic acid than vinegar.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you think a 1:10 muriatic solution can be used to clean probes safely as well? I’d feel better using muriatic acid than vinegar.

That will work. More dilute is also OK.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So you recommend a bleach solution for all probes instead of citric acid? If so, what concentration of bleach?

How to clean it depends on what's gotten on it. Soaking in acid is usually adequate unless algae or bacteria are clearly on it.

here's a detailed cleaning procedure:

https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/how-to-store-clean-and-recondition-ph-electrodes

 

[TWYOUNG]

How to clean it depends on what's gotten on it. Soaking in acid is usually adequate unless algae or bacteria are clearly on it.

here's a detailed cleaning procedure:

https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/how-to-store-clean-and-recondition-ph-electrodes

For me it's mostly spirorbid worms so citric acid and a soft bristled toothbrush seems to work well.

 

[TWYOUNG]

How to clean it depends on what's gotten on it. Soaking in acid is usually adequate unless algae or bacteria are clearly on it.

here's a detailed cleaning procedure:

https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/how-to-store-clean-and-recondition-ph-electrodes

I especially like the description of how to separate bubbles out of the probe solution. I can only imagine my spouse when she sees me in the fish room holding a probe by the cord and spinning it over my head lol!