my pinpoint monitor saline will not stay on a number

vls4330 · 10/28/2009, 05:56 PM

when i put it in it says 55 then drops eventually all the way to 46 it takes about 5 min to do so . has anyone had this problem?

SaltFreek · 10/28/2009, 08:55 PM

Temperature compensation causes a gradual increase/decrease until it stabilizes. It should only take a minute or two, unless the temperature where you store your probe is a lot cooler/hotter than the tank temp. Make sure you calibrate it every few months with the 53ms fluid.

tmz · 10/29/2009, 12:43 AM

I leave the probe in the tank and turn it on and off for a reading as needed. Takes about 10 seconds to give a solid reading this way.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/29/2009, 06:21 AM

My concern with leaving the probe in the tank is fouling of the electrodes with organsims and/or deposited calcium carbonate with might lead to a falsely low reading.

tmz · 10/29/2009, 09:02 AM

Yes, I agree. I do swirl it off a little and brush it from time to time. Once had crazy readings through a bristle worm that got in there. When dry mine does take a while to settle down to a steady reading though.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/29/2009, 09:53 AM

Ok, sounds good.

I do agree, of course, that the time factor with the Pinpoint relates to temperature measurement and equilibration, which takes time. It takes longer with the Pinpoint than the Orion that I usually use (which costs much more). Once equilibrated it should not drift more than 1 mS/cm over time, and likely a lot less.

10/28/2009, 05:56 PM	#1
vls4330 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 56	my pinpoint monitor saline will not stay on a number when i put it in it says 55 then drops eventually all the way to 46 it takes about 5 min to do so . has anyone had this problem?

10/29/2009, 12:43 AM	#3
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I leave the probe in the tank and turn it on and off for a reading as needed. Takes about 10 seconds to give a solid reading this way. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

10/29/2009, 06:21 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	My concern with leaving the probe in the tank is fouling of the electrodes with organsims and/or deposited calcium carbonate with might lead to a falsely low reading. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/29/2009, 09:02 AM	#5
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Yes, I agree. I do swirl it off a little and brush it from time to time. Once had crazy readings through a bristle worm that got in there. When dry mine does take a while to settle down to a steady reading though. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

10/29/2009, 09:53 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Ok, sounds good. I do agree, of course, that the time factor with the Pinpoint relates to temperature measurement and equilibration, which takes time. It takes longer with the Pinpoint than the Orion that I usually use (which costs much more). Once equilibrated it should not drift more than 1 mS/cm over time, and likely a lot less. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/28/2009, 08:55 PM	#2
SaltFreek Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 200	Temperature compensation causes a gradual increase/decrease until it stabilizes. It should only take a minute or two, unless the temperature where you store your probe is a lot cooler/hotter than the tank temp. Make sure you calibrate it every few months with the 53ms fluid.