Cleaning ORP probes?

[Slickdonkey]

Hey Boomer,

Can you comment on calibrating and/or cleaning ORP probes?

Usually I hear people recommend doing it monthly. However, if I recall, the manual for my Aquacontroller III says you don't need to recalibrate the probe and that it should be good for the life of the probe.

What is the recommended cleaning method and how often should it be done? I've heard of people soaking it in vinegar for a few hours, or even a bleach and water mixture.

The reason I ask is that my ORP has drifted from 380 up to 440 over the coarse of the last week, with no ozone running. That doesn't seem likely.

Also I seem to remember you recommended against using a toothbrush to clean the probe. Quite the opposite of what this guy is saying.

Thanks!

 

[Boomer]

I will redue you answer tomorrow. I had a whole flippin page for and then CRASH...the PC

 

[Slickdonkey]

DAMN YOU BILL GATES!

Ok, thanks Boomer.

 

[Boomer]

To be shorter this time. That link you gave is fine/par toothbrush. The issue behind the toothbrush is scratching the platinum or seals. Mike Ross is a guy I know and he is the Director of Research and Development for Sensorex. I even brought him to our RC chem forum to talk to Randy and Habib. They were crying for help as OPR is a nasty subject, Randy hates it Mike designs ORP probes, so what does he know anyway And it is Mike that says NO toothbrushes. A Q-tip is better for those probes it can be easily used on. I once told Mike ( on the phone) that some guy he knows, selling Sensorex ORP probes, wrote up his own cleaning instruction using a toothbrush. Mike flipped out......."good-bye Boom, I have to go call this guy..now"

There are std cleaning solutions also.

http://www.lavallab.com/water-analysis/ph-orp-solutions.htm

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/872/cid/147

ORP good for live, not even How often to clean that depends, at least 1 / m or 1 /wk is a good idea. The latest craze now in the ORP world are self cleaning ORP systems and probes Why ? Cause they need to be clean often. Some like the one I had and sent to Randy, $250, has flushing ref junction, which means a new ref. solution every time you use it if you want.

You will find allot at Mikes company
http://www.sensorex.com


You can not actually calibrate an ORP probe it is more like testing them to see where they are. Sensorex also has that stuff.

Read this. Allot depend on what type of ORP you have,i.e., pin, band, etc..
http://www.sensorex.com/support/instructions/download/ORPElectrodeInstruct.pdf

 

[class clown]

Anyone try the cleaning solutions boomer mentions above? if yes, thoughts?

 

[DonW]

Ive always used a little bleach and water the bleach kills the growing stuff.

Don

 

[Slickdonkey]

I have used the stuff from Aquatic ecosystems Boomer linked to. Works fine but so does the bleach (which is cheaper).