Re: Slow pH probes

[PB1212BBA at aol_com]

In a message dated 12/4/2002 5:51:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Owner-KillieTalk at AKA_Org writes:


> Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2002 13:49:09 -0800
> From: Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>
> Subject: Re: Ph Meter
> 
> killiman wrote:
> > Go to Wal Greens and get some new batterys for it.
> 
> :-) Wish it was that easy. Don't see that as my problem, tho.
> 
> They just used the wrong kind of porous glass for the probe, and it takes 
> forever to displace old solution and read new, when there is much 
> difference 
> between their pH. IMHO, portable pocket probes should be faster, if less 
> accurate, or they just aren't as useful as a portable measurement. Maybe 
> that's just me, and others don't mind waiting for 15-30 seconds for the 
> reading to stabilize.
> 
> If you only have a few tanks, the liquid pH test kit for Spa and Pools at 
> Home Depot is cheap and probably quick enough. When you have 100+ tanks, 
> the 
> time adds up fast with a slow probe.
> 
> Wright
> 

Sorry for the long delay in responding to this, I have been unable to get 
online for the last couple months. Before trashing that pH probe, try 
cleaning it with an old but clean toothbrush and a fluoride containing 
toothpaste. The pseudo-science behind this is that a bio- and/or mineral film 
will develop on the glass and interfere with the response time of the probe, 
especially if the probe is stored dry (evaporation of water leaves salts 
behind). The fluoride in the toothpaste is not a strong enough concentration 
to etch the glass of the probe, but will cut through the film. We have 
treated quite a few fairly expensive probes (Orion) this way with no harm 
done. If the probe doesn't improve after this treatment, it is truly bad, but 
you might get renewed life from a probe you thought was already gone.
Richard Arline,
Hollywood, Florida


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