Clean your PH Probe

[nickjj]

The last couple of weeks I have been dealing with low PH around 7.9. I figured since it has been cooler outside the windows to the house have been closed, the low PH was from CO2 build up. It did rise a little throughout the day but was always on the low side even with the window cracked open a little.

It turned out to be a clear slime buildup on the glass portion of the probe. Didn't really notice it at first but once I cleaned it the ph immediately went back up to 8.15.

Problem solved.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Is there any good, best or wrong way to clean off a pH probe?

 

[KCombs]

there was some chatter on one of the old mailing list or newsgroups on restoring/renewing/cleaning damaged/erratic pH probes ... it was so long ago, I can't recall where I saw this; but apparently it can be done; to a point, so long as the electrode didn't totally dry out....

I'll try to research it and re-post if I find it

 

[nickjj]

In my situation I just used a Q-tip and wiped the slime off of the glass bulb.
Gave the outer casing a good wipe down with a paper towel and then rinsed it in the tank water.

The slime looked like the same slime that could have come off my large Umbrella coral that got stuck on the probe.

 

[bertoni]

Cleaning in a vinegar solution probably is good enough for many situations. 10:1 water to vinegar should be okay.

 

[disc1]

Cleaning in a vinegar solution probably is good enough for many situations. 10:1 water to vinegar should be okay.

+1 to this. If it is really grungy an overnight soak in the same solution wouldn't be out of order although it might kill a probe that was already on its last leg anyway.

 

[fishguy597]

After doing that I always like to calibrate it to make sure every thing is ok. I'm pretty sure Neptune recommends it if I remember correctly.

 

[disc1]

After doing that I always like to calibrate it to make sure every thing is ok. I'm pretty sure Neptune recommends it if I remember correctly.

Yes you should definitely recalibrate after cleaning a probe. Always.

 

[bigfish14]

Great advice. I have had my pH probe for a few months now and I never thought to clean it. I will do that tomorrow during my dedicated tank day. Does this apply to other probes as well? Such as a temp probe?

 

[disc1]

I've never worried with the temp probe, but a conductivity probe should probably be cleaned and recalibrated once in a while as well.

 

[rbarker33]

suprised nobody has mentioned Windex or Simple Green. A few sprays on the pH probe and a few swabs of a q-tip or paper towel and no need to leave the probe overnight soaking.

 

[blanden.adam]

One thing to be sure of when cleaning off a pH probe though is that you "dab" the probe when cleaning it rather than "stroking" a paper towel or something down it's length to clean or dry it off. This causes an electric potential to build up on the outside of the probe, which interferes with it's ability to detect voltages differences between it's internal reference electrode and the external electrode, which it uses to calculate pH. It took 3 graduate students, a $300 pH and conductivity probe, and several calls to customer service to figure that one out

Also, any dilute acid solution should work fine (vinegar being the easiest to access). Dissolves off the built up salt and other gunk, and doesn't add nitrogen compounds to your tank!

 

[Jay4Robin]

I get the slime/snot on my PH probes every few days.
I just shake them off in the tank and they read perfect;y afterwards.

Why does this keep happening?

Is it a bacteria?
Or do the fish blow there noses on it:idea:?

 

[disc1]

It's bacteria. Move your probe to a spot with a little more flow if you can and it won't happen as bad.

 

[Jay4Robin]

The are both in high flow areas.
One in my calcium reactor chamber and one in my overflow box.

 

[AcroporAddict]

I get the slime/snot on my PH probes every few days.
I just shake them off in the tank and they read perfect;y afterwards.

Why does this keep happening?

Is it a bacteria?
Or do the fish blow there noses on it:idea:?

Maybe a little box of fishie Kleenex next to the tank?:lol2:

 

[bertoni]

I'd guess bacteria. I'm skeptical about the fish theory.

 

[Jay4Robin]

I'd guess bacteria. I'm skeptical about the fish theory.

I set up a hidden cam just in case

 

[tmz]

I just use a vinegar soak for 10 minutes ;rinse with tank water; swipe it lightly with a q tip ; put it back in the tank and recalibrate it later in the day or next cay after it settles in.

 

[tecapparatus]

Agree with a number of these suggestions, dabbing, mild acid solution (vinegar or 0.1N HCl) and calibration. Also remember when not using a probe it is best practice for the lifespan of the probe to store the probe in a 3M KCl soln. Additionally, the typical lifespan of a probe can be as short as one year. Sadly, in my lab we recently blew through two $400 Mettler Teledo ATC pH probes. Scary part is that Mettler sent two consecutively that were broken. This became a huge pain in the butt in a GMP environment.