Frustration with pH Monitors

S

Spar

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My pH monitors are driving me nuts. I have 2 Pinpoint and 1 Milwaukee, plus a handheld Milwaukee unit (PH53). I calibrated both the Pinpoint to 7 and 4 pH packet solutions. One pinpoint is reading 8.4, the other 8.25, and the Milwaukee reads 7.8 in my tank. The handheld Milwaukee also reads 7.8.

Is there a known solution that I can build to test these things out with? I mean other than the 4, 7, and 10 packets?

I used to do a trick with baking soda that if you mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water real well it will peak at around 8.2 pH without going higher. But hoping for other options.

I would test with a liquid testkit but those things are only accurate to the .2 pH, so not really going to tell me which is correct.

Seems like I have another post from a year ago with this same concern, but can't find it... will do some searching in the mean time.
 
Cliff,

Not sure how old is the probe, but you may want to rely on the newest probe as your pH. I know over time, my old pH probe would flux all the time.

Another possiblity is, depending where you are dripping kalk, the pH will be higher in one place then other places in the sump.
 
none are older than a year. replaced them all after my frustration a year ago...

i test the pH at the beginning of the sump which is away from the Kalk dripping. good point to look out for though.

The effluent from my Calcium reactor reads 6.3 with one of my Milwaukee and 6.6 with the other... driving me nuts.

But at least I know my pH in the tank is somewhere between 7.6 and 8.6 :x
 
I noticed that my pinpoint would start reading low when the battery was about to die. This was sometimes before the low battery signal came on.
 
I think a ballpark reading is good after calibrating with fluids on a regular basis. Although there is a flucuation... As long as the main display is between 8.0 to 8.4..... I think you livestock will do just fine.

In my tank the pH fluctuates from 8.1 to 8.2 in one day. You will be fine if it is off slightly.
 
@Spar wrote:
My pH monitors are driving me nuts. I have 2 Pinpoint and 1 Milwaukee said:
Have you tried taking new packets of calibration fluid, say the Ph 7 and just stick the probes in the solution. The one that is reading Ph 7 is the one I would trust. Make sure though if you take a probe out of the water you clean it and shake off the excess water before sticking it in the packet of calibration fluid. I would probably use a new packet for each probe, just to make sure the Ph was not changed by water contaminating the calibration fluid.
Click to expand...
 
Cliff... are your probes anywhere near your lighting?? I've noticed a slight flux with lighting turned on or closer to them.

Also are the ends submerged?? I think the probe heads should not be submerged.

Also when you do your test.. maybe take them into the kitchen away from your equipment.
 
when i do mine i go from the 7.01 to the 4.01 back to the 7.01 and then again to the 4.01 back to 7.01 and then last to the 10.01 each time i wash the tip off in RO then a little of the solution im about to use at that time. Last time i did my Milwaukee ph monitor i totally forgot about the screw on the back you use for the 4 or 10 :roll: really screwed with my head LOL...i think the most important part is to make sure you go back at least 2-3 times from the 7 to 4 and make sure you wash off with the type your about to use before you stick it in the pouch/cap or whatever your using to hold the calibration solution and dont forget to let it sit and adjust..ive also noticed that if you stand the probe up and not touch it that you can get a 0.01-.0.02 + or - on the reading as opposed to holding it.
 
looks like the winning answer was calibrating it away from the lights.

have 3 units reading 8.3 and the handheld reading 8.1.

odd that you can still calibrate near the lights just isn't technically correct.

oh well, appears to be fixed for now.

thanks all!
 
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