ph probes

[sawlty dog]

I'm in need of a new ph probe and was wondering if there's any experience with Chinese-made ph probes. They seem to be about 1/4 the price on eBay, so if they are of comparable quality I'm inclined to get one for under $10, rather than $40-$50 for Neptunes.

 

[DgenR8]

I don't see how the quality could be comparable, but I'm open to hearing from anyone with real experience. So far, I've only used Pinpoint.

 

[mlivvy]

Purchased a cheap ebay one to use on my RKL when I had it. I had no problems with it. I never tested how accurate it is but I did notice fluctuations of the ph going up or down and thats what I cared about. If your looking for accuracy i'd say get a pinpoint or a BRS probe. If you just want a number around 8.0-8.4 that either goes up or down if there is a problem then the ebay ph probe will work fine. Initially do a ph test with a bottle or an lfs before using.

 

[AquamanE]

Purchased a cheap ebay one to use on my RKL when I had it. I had no problems with it. I never tested how accurate it is but I did notice fluctuations of the ph going up or down and thats what I cared about. If your looking for accuracy i'd say get a pinpoint or a BRS probe. If you just want a number around 8.0-8.4 that either goes up or down if there is a problem then the ebay ph probe will work fine. Initially do a ph test with a bottle or an lfs before using.

Mlivvy- i dont know anything about the chinese probes, but i will say that to test for accuracy a ph test with a bottle is not correct.

the way to test and calibrate ph probes in with ph control solutions. they sell 7, 10, and i think 4. you put the probe in this solution that you know the value of, and your probe should read that. if not it needs to be calibrated.

 

[DRThompson]

I have 4&10 control solutions and use a scientific probe if you want something to compare to

 

[mlivvy]

Mlivvy- i dont know anything about the chinese probes, but i will say that to test for accuracy a ph test with a bottle is not correct.

the way to test and calibrate ph probes in with ph control solutions. they sell 7, 10, and i think 4. you put the probe in this solution that you know the value of, and your probe should read that. if not it needs to be calibrated.

well if you wanna cheap it out (like me) then accuracy isn't really a concern so I recommended the bottle.

 

[marke]

I have 2 ph probes. One is Brs used in my ca reactor and controlled by my apex. The china one I use in my display. I did not get it on eBay. I paid $20. If calibrated like Aquaman mentioned it works fine. Yes it could be of by a small fraction. I calibrate them every 3 months or so to be sure. I use the 7 and 10 fluid not the 4. As these numbers are closer to our working seawater number. The only negative is china is putting USA mfg's out of business

 

[novahobbies]

I have a Milwaukee handheld that I am unhappy with. I think the calibration solution is bad...either that or my tank is so acidic that it's reading a 5.5 pH. I have two separate test kits that put the pH at 8.0, so that will do until I get a new bottle of calibration solution. I'm debating whether to get a permanent pH probe for now, or save and wait to get an apex in the future.

 

[AquamanE]

I have 4&10 control solutions and use a scientific probe if you want something to compare to

Dr- I agree with MarkE and so do the researchers on using 7 and 10 calibration fluid.

It narrows you standard deviation by using calibrations closer to the actual test sample.

LMK if you need the articles.

 

[AquamanE]

I have a Milwaukee handheld that I am unhappy with. I think the calibration solution is bad...either that or my tank is so acidic that it's reading a 5.5 pH. I have two separate test kits that put the pH at 8.0, so that will do until I get a new bottle of calibration solution. I'm debating whether to get a permanent pH probe for now, or save and wait to get an apex in the future.

Richard- Milwaukee ph meters have been around for a long time, and as far as i know is a good product. You must be doing something wrong to calibrate it.

That being said, i dont pay much attention to ph anyways. In an established tank its only a barometer for many different things, some of which you cant control. This is definitely not a number to chase. maybe just watch and monitor swings.

 

[DRThompson]

Dr- I agree with MarkE and so do the researchers on using 7 and 10 calibration fluid.

It narrows you standard deviation by using calibrations closer to the actual test sample.

LMK if you need the articles.

Actually have 7 also, I buy the individual packets off amazon so they are always fresh. Apex uses 7 and 10 to calibrate the probe so I don't use the 4 anymore

 

[SaltyGoat]

I used a pH probe off of *bay and used it in my calcium reactor to control the valve. I calibrated it with 4 and 7 pH solution since I would be using it in the reactor and not the aquarium. I used it for about a year when I had the reactor up and had no problems with it at all.
When I refilled the reactor (about every 4 months) I tested the probe and had to make minor adjustments (around .2 if I remember correctly). I had replaced a pinpoint probe that never worked correctly so I have no baseline to compare it to.

 

[dostjustin1]

Does any one change their probe on a time schedule? Say every 2 years?

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