PH Controller/Monitor & Grounding Probe

[ASpec]

I've read a couple people state when running a [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] controller or [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] monitor that you should have a grounding probe installed since stray voltage will cause the [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] to read low.

I've looked around the forum and while I've found some good threads regarding grounding probes I have yet to find any specifc information regarding the use of one when using a [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] controller or monitor.

I'm asking because I just setup my [acronym:7b37a55948="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:7b37a55948] tank, today I added the SMS122 controller. My [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] out of the tap is around 7.8, I set the controller to 7.0. My [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] has since dropped to 6.5... so I'm starting to wonder if my [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] controller is reading low due to "stray" voltage?

Any thoughts on this?

I don't have my [acronym:7b37a55948="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:7b37a55948]/[acronym:7b37a55948="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:7b37a55948] test kit yet (should be here Monday/Tuesday) so I could not tell you my [acronym:7b37a55948="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:7b37a55948] level right now. My [acronym:7b37a55948="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:7b37a55948] test kit does not read below 7 (It's a high range test kit, ordered a low range kit already).

Thanks!

[greenmaji]

Did you calibrate your controller?
What brand is it?
I personaly doubt its the "stray voltage problem"
I remember people encourging grounding probes in case of an electrical problem with submerged electrical equipment, like a powerhead or heater breaking.. not are alot of people using them now.

[Xzap]

As green asked, the first thing we need to know is did you calibrate the pH probe first ?
I hear of a lot of people using them right outta the box and you can't do that.

Dave

[ASpec]

Thanks for the response. Yes, I did calibrate the controller. It's a Milwaukee SMS122 controller. I'm using a Milwaukee MA957 [acronym:c948458fca="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:c948458fca] regulator with the controller and a [acronym:c948458fca="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:c948458fca] reactor.

The tank is empty, no fish/no plants so I am not endangering anything... just curious why my [acronym:c948458fca="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c948458fca] is reading so low. I plan to add plants this week to begin the cycle.

Any other ideas?

[greenmaji]

what are you reading the [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] with? the readout on the controller? a [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] testkit?
is is the controller opening the silinoid valve when the [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] is reading under 7.0?
if your [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] is 6.5 and the controller isnt letting any more [acronym:f099361265="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f099361265] into the tank..
Maybe your [acronym:f099361265="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:f099361265] reading will clear things up for us.. If your [acronym:f099361265="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:f099361265] is under 3 you might be needing to do more water changes to keep the [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] from droping qickly. or buffering the water with baking soda.

Im thinking it might be the [acronym:f099361265="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:f099361265] or.. your tank got a good dose of [acronym:f099361265="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f099361265] and your controller is just waiting for the [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] to come back up to dose more [acronym:f099361265="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:f099361265] again, and its not happening without a water change or some aggitation of the water surfase.

there is a good chance that your controller will be closer to being able to giving a correct [acronym:f099361265="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:f099361265] reading then a testkit.
just some thoughts...

[ASpec]

I'm also interested in seeing what my [acronym:c6787f29e8="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] is.

The [acronym:c6787f29e8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] has dropped down to 6.0 today. I'm getting that [acronym:c6787f29e8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] level off the meter, since I only have a high range [acronym:c6787f29e8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] test kit at the moment. Hopefully my [acronym:c6787f29e8="General Hardness"]GH[/acronym:c6787f29e8]/[acronym:c6787f29e8="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] and new [acronym:c6787f29e8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] test kits will arrive early this week.

I guess you could be correct in the fact the inital dose of [acronym:c6787f29e8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:c6787f29e8] when the controller had the silinoid open (the [acronym:c6787f29e8="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:c6787f29e8] was above 7) has been able to stay within the water. Nothing to obsorbe that [acronym:c6787f29e8="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:c6787f29e8], no turbulance on the water surface, no air stone, and a glass top.

Thanks for the advice!

[greenmaji]

Im asuming the controller is working and it hasn't kicked back on from your responce.
If you had plants in the tank they would be absorbing the [acronym:4cc0044695="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:4cc0044695] bringing the [acronym:4cc0044695="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:4cc0044695] back up..
I would wait and test the [acronym:4cc0044695="Carbonate Hardness"]KH[/acronym:4cc0044695] before moving forward though.

no problem :P

[Brenden]

I use a [acronym:87a5d2b8b0="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:87a5d2b8b0] monitor and do not have a ground probe. I have checked it ([acronym:87a5d2b8b0="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]ph[/acronym:87a5d2b8b0])several times with kits and it matches the monitors results.