pH probe broken...recommend other than pinpoint?

[ShirleyM]

I also noticed during cleaning that our pinpoint pH probe has water in it...I never noticed that before. It was reading properly this morning and I put it in the FO tank while cleaning the reef...maybe the trigger nailed it...don't know.

Anyhow, it won't calibrate and it isn't reading properly.
Jason (PA) carries a cheaper brand as well as Pinpoint - Milwaukee Instruments Smart pH Tester, for $49.00 as opposed to the Pinpoint at $80.00.

Any opinions?
Thanks again,
Shirley

[erasmu]

I don't know anything about the Milwaukee instrument, but I sure like my Pinpoint. Can't you get a replacement probe for about the same money as the other unit? Have you searched online for replacement probes? I only paid $85 for my monitor with probe and AC adapter. The probe alone can't be $80.

[ShirleyM]

The probe + monitor is $80. It doesn't include an AC adapter...
I guess I figured the probe always included the monitor and it was all one unit.
Thanks,
Shirley

[Hommeworks]

Shirley,

I use the Hanna pH tester. https://www705.vwh1.net/hanna4/produ...sters/phep.htm

I also use their Salintest for testing the salinity of my seawater. So far so good.

[bill-e]

You can buy either the Pinpoint probe or the Neptune probe from Jason, my recollection is that the Pinpoint probe is a littlle cheaper. Both are less than 50 bucks.

The probes have a gel dielectric in them., not water

Be careful cleaning them. If they get caked up with coralline soak them in white vinegar for a few min then brush gently with the toothbrush.

Also, I've found that I get more stable readings using a battery vise the ac adapter. AC adapter tends to pick up noise.

[Homer]

A few months ago, I purchased a ph tester from:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/aquatic1v1/search.icl

for about $18. You need to also get calibration fluid and storage seal for an additional $20.

It works great for my weekly checks.

Homer

[ShirleyM]

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to try to calibrate the probe again. I've only used it with batteries, btw. Maybe it always had liquid in it and I only just now noticed it...
last night it, for no reason, read the tank as 8.0 which is reasonable, whereas after much unsuccessful calibration, it was reading it at 7.5, so I gave up and assumed it was broken.

Yes, I had --gently-- cleaned it with a toothbrush for the first time. I didn't soak it in vinegar - thanks for that suggestion!

I only see them listed at Jason's as whole units for $79.00.
I'll see if this is in fact broken, and I'll see about getting just the probe part if it is.

I checked out Hanna and sent an email for pricing...theirs had some nice features. Homer, I couldn't find an $18 one at the site you listed.

THANKS!
Shirley

[bill-e]

Here's the link to the probes on Premium Aquatics.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch..._Code=Pinpoint

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Aquaprobes

Also, check to see that the low bat indicator isnt on. You will not get good readings with the low bat warning.

[ShirleyM]

Thanks, Bill!
I just hadn't scrolled down far enough to see that I could buy just the probe (duh-h-h)
I will try to calibrate it again today. The bat low light is not on, but I'll put in a new bat anyway. It's pretty old.
I have plenty cal. packets - 4/7 and 10.

Thanks again,
Shirley

[bill-e]

One more thing, make sure you let the meter settle out before adjusting it or moving on to the next step. It can take a couple of minutes for the reading to stabilize.

[ShirleyM]

Thanks for all the info/suggestions!
I tried to recalibrate it again...it just won't do it like it used to. I can get it to match 7.0, but then 9.8 is the closest to 10, then I get it to match 10, and I get 7.4 or something like that. I'm going very slowly, temp is right, and I'm rinsing like I always do inbetween the 7.00 and the 10.00 fluids.

The fluid in the probe is, I believe, a little less than it was yesterday. Is it supposed to roll around? It's about 1/4 - 1/3 full of fluid. Yesterday I THINK it was about 1/2 filled.

Thanks!
Shirley

[bill-e]

how old is the probe? And yes, it should only be 1/3rd to 1/2 full

How many times did u go back and forth between 7 and 10?

[ShirleyM]

Hi Bill,
It's somewhere between 2 and 3 yrs old, closer to 3.
I went back forth more times than I've ever had to before, and it never did get right. Then, when I'd put it back in the other solution, 7 for instance, it'd be way off whereas before it'd be just a little off and eventually match both within .01
??
Thanks,
Shirley

[bill-e]

heheh, that explains it. You should change your probe every year or so. I'd say you've gotten your money's worth out of that one.

[ShirleyM]

Whoa-o-o-...I had no clue!
Thanks, Bill!
Shirley