6
General tips and information on the pH-electrode
6.1 Handling and storage
• Always handle the pH-electrode with care. Do not kink the electrode cable.
• Never allow a pH-electrode to dry out.
• Should you inadvertently allow an electrode to dry out, it may be possible to restore it to
working order by placing it in KCl solution for 24 hours.
• When pH-electrodes are to remain out of use for a prolonged period, fill the storage tube with
KCl solution (order no. 1448), place tube on tip of electrode and screw lid tight.
• Do not submerge the electrode completely under water. The electrode cap and cable connec-
tion must always be at least 1 cm above the surface of the water.
• Choose a spot in the aquarium which is as dark as possible to fix the electrode in position, so
as to prevent it from becoming covered in algae. Electrode tips coated with algae may have
a detrimental effect on measuring accuracy.
• Do not install electrode cables together with other electric cables over long distances. In this
way, you can prevent other electric circuits from influencing the measurement results.
• IMPORTANT: If the pH-electrode is not in the aquarium water, the device's readings and subse-
quent control actions will be incorrect - this may mean danger for your fish! You should there-
fore check the water level on a regular basis!
• If the electrode tip is dirty, the spherical measuring tip can be cleaned very carefully with a soft
cloth - the tip should only be dabbed, not rubbed! After cleaning, place in KCl solution for 12
hours. Then rinse and calibrate.
6.2 Service life of the pH-electrode:
All pH-electrodes are subject to wear and require replacement after a period of time. In continu-
ous use, their service life usually ranges between 12 and 24 months, with around 18 months re-
presenting the average. The level of wear varies according to water hardness, acid content of the
water, algae growth, general fouling, mechanical strain, care, etc.
6.3 pH calibrating solutions
The accuracy of the calibration depends to a decisive extent on the quality of the employed cali-
brating solutions. We recommend original Dennerle calibrating solutions.
Always use fresh calibrating solutions and calibrate the electrodes in separate, clean receptacles,
ideally in the Dennerle calibrating station. Discard used calibrating solutions. Do not carry out
calibration in the supply bottles - water on the pH-electrode may alter the calibrating solutions!
7
Measuring and setting the pH value
7.1 pH value in the aquarium
In normal operating mode, the display shows the current pH value measured in the aquarium
(= actual value).
7.2 Setting the desired pH value
Press "pH" button: The green LED next to the button will flash; the display shows the currently
programmed pH value.
• Enter the desired pH (set value) with the "+" and "–" buttons.
• If no button is pressed for 3 sec., the pH-Controller will adopt the entered value. The actual
value in the aquarium appears again on the display, the green LED switches to continuously
lit mode and the controller performs the corresponding control actions.
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