ACII Calibration

[jtesdall]

I finally got to calibrating my new PH probe tonight on my "New to me" ACII.

Problem: I was worried my ACII wasn't working, after calibration the PH in my 90 reef that is cycling was 6.5 and my other newly calibrated meter was reading 7.5 (I know this is low, but I am cycling the tank). I pulled the probe and put it back in 7.0 solution and it read 7.0.

Anyway, I determined that if I disconnect the ORP probe the PH reading goes to 7.5 like it should. I am assuming the ORP probe is bad and must be leaking energy. Would this be correct?

 

[matt the fiddler]

try splitting them apart from each other.. I think they interfere with readings on each other.

If I remember- I had my orp in teh main tank, and the ph in the sump..



you don't have a ground loop with a serial do you?

 

[jtesdall]

Whoops, I thought I mentioned that. They are on opposite ends of the tank, about three feet. I think the manual says at least 6 inches. My main tank is upstairs and my sump is in the basement, so putting them in separate tanks won't be possible for me.

Also, the serial cable is disconnected. It effects my PH probe slightly so I am keeping it disconnected until I get one. $40 is a big pill to swallow for a little connector.

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10732955#post10732955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtesdall
Whoops, I thought I mentioned that. They are on opposite ends of the tank, about three feet. I think the manual says at least 6 inches. My main tank is upstairs and my sump is in the basement, so putting them in separate tanks won't be possible for me.

Also, the serial cable is disconnected. It effects my PH probe slightly so I am keeping it disconnected until I get one. $40 is a big pill to swallow for a little connector.

I am out of town this week, but I will make you a good deal on a serial isolator. I have two.

The ORP probe is likely leaking current as you expected. I personally wouldnt bother with replacing it unless you intend to run a ozone generator.

 

[jtesdall]

Thanks Billy, you have PM.

I am thinking I would like to replace it. I don't want to run ozone as it is dangerous and sounds like it just isn't worth it. I have never messed with ORP, but it sounds like it can be a good index of how well your tank can deal with nutrients. I just got this from a few RC articles I read.

Here is a quote from an article by Bob Fenner:
"Redox is eminently important as an indicator not only of a systems capacity for cycling waste, but indeed of chemically supporting fish, plant and invertebrate life."

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10733070#post10733070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtesdall
Thanks Billy, you have PM.

I am thinking I would like to replace it. I don't want to run ozone as it is dangerous and sounds like it just isn't worth it. I have never messed with ORP, but it sounds like it can be a good index of how well your tank can deal with nutrients. I just got this from a few RC articles I read.

Here is a quote from an article by Bob Fenner:
"Redox is eminently important as an indicator not only of a systems capacity for cycling waste, but indeed of chemically supporting fish, plant and invertebrate life."

I guess I tend to rely on overskimming and water changes to be sure my tank is capable of these things.

 

[jtesdall]

I agree. It would be nice though to have another indicator that we are doing things right. The fish and coral health is the biggest indicator. I guess it comes down to I like to have new toys to play with. This seems to be a neat one with some more chemistry to learn along with it.

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10733918#post10733918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtesdall
I agree. It would be nice though to have another indicator that we are doing things right. The fish and coral health is the biggest indicator. I guess it comes down to I like to have new toys to play with. This seems to be a neat one with some more chemistry to learn along with it.

Good point. God knows I am all about the toys.

I will ship that isolator to you once I get back home from Nevada.

 

[waverz]

Joe, i think you should try and make an isolator, or find something else to isolate the signal. I don't see how they can really be $40. I'm to cheap to buy one, I'de pay an extra $20 but if i spend $40 for a connector i can't help but feel like i am getting ripped off. What really errks me off is Neptune knows this is an issue for most people who run serial cables 24/7 why don't they include them with the unit? It's kinda like buying a new car and having to pay extra for headlights.

 

[jtesdall]

I completely agree! I guess maybe it isn't a problem for the ACIII and ethernet. But back when they had the ACII it should have been part of the cable package. I thought about trying to make one and I saw the post you made at Neptune and decided against it.

I am lucky though, Billy made me a great deal on one.

 

[waverz]

Thats cool, i just gave up on using my ACII for ph because i don;'t want to have to buy one of those things and i am to lazy to always have to plug and unplug the cable every time i want to check my stats.

 

[jtesdall]

No PH on the website for you then. ;0

 

[Coralfreak]

Personally I'd skip spending the money on an ORP probe, they aren't really that accurate. What you will find is will take about 3 days for the reading to settle in, after a few more days the probe will get to dirty and give you a false high reading, you clean it and it starts over again.

I really think, unless you plan on running Ozone, your money could be spent on something else, JMO. Ozone is not as dangerous as you may think. The ozone generators in the hobby don't produce enough ozone to cause any serious damage. Don't get me wrong, if you put a 200mg/hr generator on a 10 gallon tank, then yes, bad things will happen But with a little common sense they can be used safely.

 

[waverz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10736634#post10736634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtesdall
No PH on the website for you then. ;0

ok ok!! ill start unplugging the thing, or just buy the isolator.