Help me calibrate my PH probe?
- Thread starter badbread
- Start date
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
If I was running a reactor I absolutely would use two pH probes, one for making sure the reactor is at proper pH and another in the tank to make sure I'm not dripping too rapidly (i.e. low tank pH)
Vincerama2
Supporting Member
Well yes. For a CA reactor I will drip it's effluent into a cup or other container (that will also have more media in it OR some chaeto to help eat some CO2) and the ph of that cup will be what I use to adjust the reactor (since there is no probe port on el-cheapo reactors).
I am also dripping Kalk so that should help neutralize some of the acidity of the effluent.
My protein skimmer actually has a John Guest port to allow a CA Rx effluent line to be connected to it, the idea being that the bubbling will help "blow off" excess CO2. Interestingly, I hear skimmers work better with HIGHER ph, so the port might not be a good idea. I had thought of attaching the kalk output to that port, but I think it would crust up.
V
I am also dripping Kalk so that should help neutralize some of the acidity of the effluent.
My protein skimmer actually has a John Guest port to allow a CA Rx effluent line to be connected to it, the idea being that the bubbling will help "blow off" excess CO2. Interestingly, I hear skimmers work better with HIGHER ph, so the port might not be a good idea. I had thought of attaching the kalk output to that port, but I think it would crust up.
V
Vincerama2
Supporting Member
[quote author=Thales link=topic=5802.msg72904#msg72904 date=1231195715]
Yep! I just added that because thread like this often end with someone doing something weird, so I figured we should cover the bases.
Vince - you test the effluent pre cup with media right?
[/quote]
I've not hooked it up yet. Now that you mentioned it, I'll test it in the cup WITHOUT the media, then let it overflow into another container with media. So the effluent I test will be "pure" from the reactor.
V
Yep! I just added that because thread like this often end with someone doing something weird, so I figured we should cover the bases.
Vince - you test the effluent pre cup with media right?
[/quote]
I've not hooked it up yet. Now that you mentioned it, I'll test it in the cup WITHOUT the media, then let it overflow into another container with media. So the effluent I test will be "pure" from the reactor.
V
badbread
Guest
So I re-calibrated last night using the 7 and 10 solution. I floated the packets in the tank water for about 2 hours, tore a tiny slit just big enough for the probe to fit into, and locked it in when it didn't drift for 20 seconds. I then rinsed the probe and tested in both solutions and they were both just about on the button (within .02).
So according to the probe now my PH dips into the 7.6 range at night and gets up to what it is now, in the 8.03 range.
Latest stats can be found here:
http://badtank.no-ip.org
or here without the webcams:
http://badbread.net/webcam/tankstats.html
So according to the probe now my PH dips into the 7.6 range at night and gets up to what it is now, in the 8.03 range.
Latest stats can be found here:
http://badtank.no-ip.org
or here without the webcams:
http://badbread.net/webcam/tankstats.html
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Webcams too? Oooh! That's a nice touch.. I think AT&T (or whatever the company is called now) DSL would skin me alive if I streamed cameras 24 hours a day 
So what cameras do you use? I'm thinking of doing something like that for my tanks, if anything so I can see what my fish are doing throughout the day when I'm not in front of the tank. Was thinking some wireless webcams or something since I really don't want to run USB cables all the way downstairs, ethernet is one thing, but other than that? Nuh uh.
So what cameras do you use? I'm thinking of doing something like that for my tanks, if anything so I can see what my fish are doing throughout the day when I'm not in front of the tank. Was thinking some wireless webcams or something since I really don't want to run USB cables all the way downstairs, ethernet is one thing, but other than that? Nuh uh.
badbread
Guest
I have the Comcast Blast package (fastest one they offer and work pays for it!) and it only streams when someone is connected. On the more popular days, when I message my friends and family that the dogs are on the "puppycam" it only uses about 2-4GB.
The 28 gallon camera is a logitech 9000 ($100+) or something like that and the other one is a logitech 5500(~$50). They are both USB. My place is so small that my tanks are pretty much next to my laptop and then router. The logitech 9000 has auto white balance, auto focus, auto brightness which is cool and all but it doesn't make that big of a difference. The 5500 doesn't have any of those features and has less megapixels.
Interestingly enough, I set both camera's to run at less than 275kbps and my wireless network just could not handle it wireless..ly.. It was very choppy and always buffering. I have a really nice wireless access point and still it had a hard time. Once I hardwired the laptop in the buffering issues went away. The most people ever connected at once was in the 30-40 range when I did a little first time zoa fragging for the people over at nano-reef live over the webcam and of the people I asked the quality was great even with the 2 camera's.
Check out the app "Active Web cam", it's a solid, cheap, much better than the other ones app that will stream for you and fairly easy to use. I tired a myriad of software out before settling with this one, it was the best bang for the buck and the best quality.
The 28 gallon camera is a logitech 9000 ($100+) or something like that and the other one is a logitech 5500(~$50). They are both USB. My place is so small that my tanks are pretty much next to my laptop and then router. The logitech 9000 has auto white balance, auto focus, auto brightness which is cool and all but it doesn't make that big of a difference. The 5500 doesn't have any of those features and has less megapixels.
Interestingly enough, I set both camera's to run at less than 275kbps and my wireless network just could not handle it wireless..ly.. It was very choppy and always buffering. I have a really nice wireless access point and still it had a hard time. Once I hardwired the laptop in the buffering issues went away. The most people ever connected at once was in the 30-40 range when I did a little first time zoa fragging for the people over at nano-reef live over the webcam and of the people I asked the quality was great even with the 2 camera's.
Check out the app "Active Web cam", it's a solid, cheap, much better than the other ones app that will stream for you and fairly easy to use. I tired a myriad of software out before settling with this one, it was the best bang for the buck and the best quality.
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
Hmm interesting, I have an old logitech webcam (USB) however it's not long enough to reach my computer by a long shot. I know what you mean about wireless though, it's not ready for main stream yet, there's too much gunk in the way to keep it flowing smoothly at "54Mbps" hell my laptop in the living room with a corner and wall in the way can make that drop like crazy.
Hmmm maybe I need to rethink this whole webcam on the tank idea, perhaps a router to plug USB into that can go via ethernet to my system
Hmmm maybe I need to rethink this whole webcam on the tank idea, perhaps a router to plug USB into that can go via ethernet to my system