Lab grade ph probe, worth the extra $?

[horseplay]

Saw the BRS video but like to hear from you.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I don't own one yet but from what I hear they stay calibrated a lot long and just the overall make of em holds up longer. Obviously I don't know from personally experience but from what I read.

 

[Mark...]

Good question, thinking of adding a PM 1 and ph probe.

 

[iTzJu]

IME, nope.

i buy cheap probes off ebay for mine and they last the recommended yearly change interval. my current one is going to its second i believe lol. i do not stress PH anyway, unless i am getting insanely low readings.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's the poop on pH probes....for our use, the ebay/inexpensive ones are just fine. Here's what you need to do:


Always keep it wet.
Do NOT ever submerse the top part of the probe.
Calibrate with pH 7 and pH 10 standards.
If it gets eratic, soak in vinegar overnight, rinse and recalibrate.
If you maintain proper alk and calc levels, don't worry too much about pH.

 

[iTzJu]

If it gets eratic, soak in vinegar overnight, rinse and recalibrate.

Paul, thats something i never knew.. this is when i usually change mine out is when it goes bonkers. does this really work? wouldn't the acidity of the vinegar damage the probe?!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Paul, thats something i never knew.. this is when i usually change mine out is when it goes bonkers. does this really work? wouldn't the acidity of the vinegar damage the probe?!

Nope! No damage done with soaking in vinegar. This is a weak acid which will clean out any calcifications that have occured on the probe. Just make sure you rinse the probe well before recalibration.

 

[horseplay]

Thanks guys, very helpful. Have not checked ph ever so it's not an essential piece of equipment for me. So the $12 eBay probe sounds good.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Sounds good to me. Paul do u have a link to one that can work with an apex?

 

[iTzJu]

Sounds good to me. Paul do u have a link to one that can work with an apex?

any probe with a BNC connect works with the apex.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

any probe with a BNC connect works with the apex.

Cool, thanks man!