Probe Holders

[mbaychuk]

Just getting ready to install my apex. Any one come up with a creative way to hang the ph orp and temp probes in the sump.

 

[ryshark]

I am in the same boat, I need to mount the probes on my new apex. One thing I have heard is to use a block of styrofoam and put the probes through that and just have it float in the sump.

 

[mbaychuk]

I was thinking of using a plastic bracket that I did not use for my 1 inch seaswirls, and attach 3 acrylic rods to it, then wire tie the probes or rubberband the probes to the rods.
The styrofoam idea sounds like a good solution, but when my nephew shipped me some rock from Fla. a 1 yr ago he packed it with styrofoam and till this day I still find some floating around once in awhile on top of the water, so Im hesitant to use it.

 

[aquamanic]

The problem I've had with the styrofoam is when the water level in the sump rises for some reason (turn off the pump for maintenance), the probe/float rises up with the water, the now excess probe wire falls behind the tank, then when the water level drops to its normal level, the probe/foam is left hanging high and dry.

 

[ryshark]

Hmm theres got to be some type of acrylic device which somebody makes that can hang on the ledge of the sump and then have holes in it for probes. Kind of like the way a tunze osmolator hangs in the sump...???

 

[Shock130]

Im sure you can think of something, maybe a frag tray? I will probably make something like that.

 

[Griffer]

I just let my pH, temp and ORP probes hang over the edge of the sump, fully submerged but in the water flow. They are separated by about a foot. Did I miss something saying this is a bad idea?

 

[RussM]

Hmm theres got to be some type of acrylic device which somebody makes that can hang on the ledge of the sump and then have holes in it for probes. Kind of like the way a tunze osmolator hangs in the sump...???

There are... many people DIY them, but they can be found for sale online. I've seen them on eBay. Also, www.socaltropicalfishoutlet.com sells ones made by a local shop.

 

[mnml]

I use these MagClips from Marine Depot. They work great and you can move them around fairly easy. I had to put a zip tie to prevent the probe from slipping through the bracket.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Zoo_Med_...ter_Accessories-Zoo_Med-MZ4111-FIHTHA-vi.html

 

[goochesfish]

I made a holder using egg crate, the pH and ORP probe fit through the holes but not the temp probe. The styrofoam also worked well for me.

 

[rsuplido]

I use these: http://www.marinedepot.com/Aqua_Log...ing_Probes-Aqua_Logic-AL3111-FITERPPO-vi.html

These might be better though:
http://www.marinedepot.com/Zoo_Med_...ter_Accessories-Zoo_Med-MZ4111-FIHTHA-vi.html

 

[mbaychuk]

Here is a pic of what I made I'll see how it works if not I'm going to try the mag clips good Idea
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/mbaychuk/acrylicbracket062.jpg

 

[mbaychuk]

Pic again

 

[RussM]

My DIY holder

My DIY holder

 

[Shock130]

magnets dont affect the probes any do they? I was thinking about making an acrylic holder, and using magnets to hold it onto the side of my sump.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Yeah, I was just thinking about how the magnets may affect the probes. Does anyone know?

 

[mnml]

I really like some of these DIY acrylic holders.

I haven't seen any ill effects from the ph and temp probes by the magnets so far. I test the ph chemically and it was quite close. Temp was pretty on par with a regular thermometer.

 

[mbaychuk]

Russm did you fabricate the probe holder or did you buy that from a vendor?

 

[Daniel Reef]

Russm's post is entitled "DIY Holder" so perhaps he built it himself. I have a Lifereef sump and it has a place to put probes. When I had my tank before, I used one hole to put my temperature probe, but I wonder if the new probes that I intend on buying in the future will fit in those holes (since I don't know how thick they are). If not, then I will try the magnets suggested.

P.S. - the holes in my sump are about the same size as the ones in the DIY probe holders shown in this thread. I wonder if that's a once size fits all probes hole.

 

[RussM]

Russm did you fabricate the probe holder or did you buy that from a vendor?

Made it myself It's rather over-engineered, but I was refining my acrylic fabrication skills at the time and used it as a project to try out some new techniques.