tronica Density probe

[INCISOR]

Have had one running on mys system for 4 months but overnight suddenly gone haywire with readins ranging from 999.8 to 1450 have tried to calibrate it several times after cleaning with the supplied probe cleaner but just will not calibrate (although says calibration ok) and if i try and calibrate it to much messes up all ok the other stored programs and have to reset the unit and re enter all my programes

Any ideas or is it a return job ??

thanks

Simon

[Dave_P]

Have you tried pulling off the outer sheath and then cleaning the residue by the rings?

I find mine accumulates Rowaphos particles and it goes a wacky.

Dave

[INCISOR]

yes i took the oputer sheath off and had a thorough but gentles clean around where the metal rings are am still waiting for ian from itc to give me a call - been 2 weeks now !!!

Simon

[wavey]

Use a scouring pad and then leave in the calibration fluid for 24 hours before carrying out calibration and let me know via PM what happens.

[INCISOR]

will give it a bsh and let you know

Thanks

Simon

[INCISOR]

have pm'd you re results

Simon

[Marshy1]

Mine has been doing the same for the last two days, have taken it back to the lfs and awaiting a replacement.

[Robbyg]

I had this problem also and did a post about a way that worked to solve it for me. Here is a reprint of the post

__________________________
I had the same problem you are having. My first density probe started showing the problem after 4 months of Ozone use and the replacement probe started after 3 months. I was not sure what was causing the problem for a long time but some other AQ users posted about Ozone so I started to see if that was really the problem. What I found out was that with No Ozone the probe worked ok, Ozone On and within 2 days the probe went haywire.

I am still in the experimental stage with fixing this problem but my fix seems to be working.

Whatever the Ozone does to the probe it cannot be easily cleaned off, what I did was to gently clean the probe with some 600 grit metal sandpaper and rinse with Ro Water. I rubbed the metal Bands and the Plastic in between them for about 2-3 minutes, being careful not too flex the probe, just a smooth up and down motion with a rinse of Ro every 30 seconds or so.

After that I let it air dry for about an hour and then submerged it into a cup of salt water that had not been exposed to ozone. I left the probe in that water for 4 days. The readings for the first 2 days is still bouncing up and down but at the end of the second day it stabilizes completely and you get a flat line on your salinity graph, at that point I calibrated the probe and it read perfectly.

Now you have to make a choice. Either you put the probe into your Tank and as far away from the Ozone in the sump as possible or you need to protect the Probe from the Ozone.
The first option is a 2 minute fix, but it depends on your ability to mount the probe in an aesthetic way in the Tank and, that you have enough cable length to do it.
In my case I could not stand the way the probe looked in the tank so I decided to experiment with shielding the probe from the Ozone.

This is what I came up with and it has worked very well for the last 2.5 weeks. I have had steady readings and an added bonus is that no rust is gathering on the probe because that GAC is absorbing the heavy metals as well as Ozone. The probe stays perfectly clean and because I used opaque plastic no light hits the probe so nothing can grow on it and nothing crawls into it. It may not need cleaning for months, but time will tell.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/96341SalinityProbeCvr.jpg


I got two plastic tubes, you can use PVC pipe or whatever, just make sure that you have at least a 1/4" between them so you can load in the Carbon. I drilled about 16 small holes in each pipe so water can flow right through but not so many holes that the Carbon gets used up quickly. Then I inserted the tubes into each other and LIGHTLY packed the in between layer with Carbon granules that are larger than the holes. Don't pack it too tight or water cannot flow readily to the probe.

So far it has been working 100%, I will report back and let you know as time passes. BTW I am working on a larger probe holder so that I can put all my probes into something like this, except for ORP which would not read properly. I really like the fact that it eliminates most of the slime growth and I think it might be a big benefit for my pH probe. Anything to cut back on calibration is a plus

Update: The Carbon lasted 3 weeks then needed replacing.

[INCISOR]

many thanks Robby G for that reply - im not using ozone though and have left the probe in calibration solution for the past 3 days and reading are still all over the place still waiting for the man from ITC to give me a call been 3 weeks since cheers

Simon

update - man at ITC has got it all sorted

[INCISOR]

thought it was sorted but still not !!! - ian / wavey can you check your PM box pls and let me know whats going on

Thanks

Simon

[Robbyg]

Just an update, I found an even better way of cleaning the probe. After a rub with 600 grit sand paper I give the probe a 30 minute dunk in Red Sea probe cleaning solution, then rinse off and it works perfectly.
No longer a need to wait a few days to calibrate.