Who monitors their ORP readings?

[DevonM]

I just wanted to take a quick poll to see who monitors their ORP readings and what they run normally?

My tank, since I have started up the fuge, has been running 395 during the majority of the day and then in the morning it's up to 415. Pretty stable for the most part (I think).

I've found that monitoring this reading has been one of the best ways for me to see how my system is responding to tank husbandry (water changes, filtering, feeding, etc.).

[charlie]

No I don't, but maybe I should start?????

[DevonM]

No I don't, but maybe I should start?????

It helps you see changes in your water before you see it in your corals. I just watch for consistency. If it's way off then I know that something is wrong in the tank, like a fish died or my filters in need of being changed. I just think it help you spot potential problems before they affect your fish/corals.

[charlie]

I will look into that Devon, thanx!!!!

[Sarmo]

i don't either. i thought about it for a while when i was considering ozone. then i decided that ozone was a little to much so i bagged it.
how does the addition of carbon effect the ORP?


rob

[DevonM]

I couldn't tell you with any certainty. I just know that when I do a water change or clean filters I can see the reading go up. It makes me happy, a little pat on the back to show improvement.

When I first started with the ORP monitor (4-5 months ago) my tank was around 325 which is on the low end. I think keeping your readings around 400 and steady are optimal. Mine would stick at 325 during the day and at night with would go up to around 350. I think the larger the swing the greater the stress on your tank. Yesterday I was running 396 and this morning I was a 419.

[Sarmo]

so what do you think made your ORP go up to the levels it's at now?

[DevonM]

so what do you think made your ORP go up to the levels it's at now?

Better tank husbandry. I had some rubble in my sump that was collecting debris. I cleaned it all out and that made a pretty big difference. I also started to skim a little wetter. Could all be in my mind too .

[pstroh]

Stupid question, what does ORP stand for?

[charlie]

A simple google search renders this:

Reduction potential - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[pstroh]

Thanks.

[lostcreekreefer]

Hey Devon...I've been watching my ORP over the last 6 weeks with the addition of a monitor/controller to my set-up. I believe I've had some allopathic warfare (per KevinP email) going on in my tank between leathers. I did not realize that one coral I had was a leather (Figi Yellow leather), so it turns out I had 4 different leathers in the tank at once, not just the 3 I talked about in another thread (duh)... a bad move we've all heard & KevinP reiterated. I got rid of 1 leather (the do not like fresh water it would seem), am moving another one to a quarantine tank I've set up, so that should help with that little issue.

The leather warfare motivated me to run carbon (I am now) and to do some (more...any) water changes, so I have come up with a system that allows me to do 50 gallons at a time which is pretty handy. Previously I was doing 35 gallons in 7 buckets; it was a RPITA and rarely got accomplished. Maybe had happened 3X in 14 months? maybe...

SO...Ive done 2 - 50 gallon water changes in 2 weeks, sort of a weekend thing, skipped a week end in between them (so 2 in a 14 day period).

The point of all of this is that my ORP has gone from 325 +/- 10 to where it is now resting at 420 +/- 10 after the water change I did on Sunday. The 50 gallons is equal to the volume in my sump less the refugium. The first time I cleaned out 14 months worth of accumulated detritus from the sump which got me a 75-80 point boost, the rest came after the second water change. I am planning on doing this monthly at this point, as hopefully I have diluted out any problems with the leathers. I had a M cap do a bleaching event, KevinP commented on the warfare being a possible cause, also a change in lighting (increased intensity) can contribute (not here, same lights for 3 months), or a change in water clarity brought about by large water changes. I will admit I could see a difference in the water clarity after the first change, not so much with the 2nd water change. I also switched to Reef Crystals salt.

Higher ORP with better water quality.

I had a couple of folks contact me privately about the APEX or monitoring ORP...is anybody else monitoring ORP at this point?

[DevonM]

Good to hear that you are seeing positive results with your increased maintenance. I've noticed that my ORP has dropped a little over the past couple of weeks, down to 365 +/- 10. I think it's time to clean out my sump. How often are you planning on doing a 50 gallon water change? With mine automated I change out 50 gallons every two weeks. I also use Reef Crystals because I make 50 gallons of saltwater at a time and their 200 gallon boxes comes with 4 - 50 gallon mixes conveniently .

[lostcreekreefer]

I think it's time to clean out my sump. How often are you planning on doing a 50 gallon water change?

I was really surprised how much stuff was in the sump. I mean it looked like a lot of detritus, when it was actually A LOT OF DETRITUS.

I think I'll be on a once a month schedule. It is pretty fast with the rain water containers I found at Quality supply

[Sarmo]

i haven't made the big purchase yet but i can sure see how having those numbers would motivate you to do tank maintenance....... something i need for sure.

Devon- how do you do automatic water changes????

[lostcreekreefer]

Devon- how do you do automatic water changes????

ditto on Sarmo's question, Devon...

[DevonM]

I drilled a hole at the top of my sump and run a constant water level beneath that hole with an Auto Top Off unit. From the drilled hole I've run a 3/4 " hose down to a drain in my basement. In my basement I have a 90 gal. tank that I make saltwater in and have a pump to push the water upstairs. I used a digital light timer to turn "on" and "off" the pump twice a week. I slowly pump 12.5 gallons over the course of 3 hours into my tank and the excess overflows down into the basement drain.

[charlie]

I would love to see some pics of that. I don't know if I could use that exact application, but it would be nice to see it work!!! Has it ever malfunctioned?

[DevonM]

Has it ever malfunctioned?

Not yet. Seems to work pretty well for my application. This system is the other reason I use a battery backup on my pumps. If the power goes off, all of the head water in the tank will most likely go over the overflow in the sump. Then when the power comes back on the pumps could suck the one compartment on my sump dry until the ATO kicks up enough RO water to make up the difference. With the volume of water I have it wouldn't really change the salinity but I would still rather it not happen. It's a give and take world.

[charlie]

If you could get some pics Devon, I am sure all of us would appreciate it!