ORP Readings

[gcuss]

Greetings All,

So I'm now blessed or cursed with an ORP meter... I've done some reading on prior posts but seem to have come across conflicting thoughts...

I'm just curious what a decent (maybe not perfect) number would be? From my understanding it is relative to your Ph among other things.

Anyway, with a ph of 7.8 my ORP prior to the first water change in 4 days (I was out of town) was 342. I don't know if that's good or bad or irrelevant...

From JR's and others posts I've learned (well, skimmed the surface anyway) that the numbers do not tell the whole story, but I think having an idea of where you'd want to be would be a good start.

So.... Comments?

Thanks,

Grant

[MCA]

ORP can be used for several different purposes:

1: get an snapshot idea of where the filtration/aeration is handling the load from the fish and their food.

2: get a medium and long term view of how my system has been doing...and is likely to continue to do. To me this is just as important as the snapshot.

3: help adjust the dosing levels of oxidative chemicals such as PP. Using a calibrated ORP meter gives you a much better chance of achieving an ORP of 5990550mV for 4-8 hours than any calculated Xppm amounts that can not take into consideration the reality of your pond system.

The lower the pH, the higher the ORP values. The higher the DO levels the higher the ORP values.

There ain't nothing wrong with a value of 342mV...especially at a pH of 7.8. Many ponds will never achieve that level.

[gcuss]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCA ORP can be used for several different purposes: 1: get an snapshot idea of where the filtration/aeration is handling the load from the fish and their food. 2: get a medium and long term view of how my system has been doing...and is likely to continue to do. To me this is just as important as the snapshot. 3: help adjust the dosing levels of oxidative chemicals such as PP. Using a calibrated ORP meter gives you a much better chance of achieving an ORP of 5990550mV for 4-8 hours than any calculated Xppm amounts that can not take into consideration the reality of your pond system. The lower the pH, the higher the ORP values. The higher the DO levels the higher the ORP values. There ain't nothing wrong with a value of 342mV...especially at a pH of 7.8. Many ponds will never achieve that level.

Thank you very much for the help Mike. I've followed your lead and installed the probe in one of my skimmers. Just have to tidy up the run of the wire back to the unit. (I was a little anxious to use the meter). I ordered a small container of calibration fluid with the probe/meter. It's 230mv fluid but unfortunately it came in one 40ml bottle. Does it contaminate with each calibration? ie. do I need to put some in a smaller container each time and then dispose of the stuff I used?

And I guess I'm just getting lucky with my reading on the pond. I guess there's an advantage to having 6K gals and only having 5 small fish in it....

I'm a happy camper!

Thanks again,

Grant

[MCA]

I can't speak abou the ORP solution you are using. For my Pinpoint ORP meter I use packets of ORP cleaning/calibraiton fluid from the maker (American Marine). The solution is 400mV. I use a soft brush to physically clean the probe and then let it set in the solution for 30-60 minutes. Then I use a jeweler screwdriver to adjust the meter to read 400mV. It is usually off a few points each week. Definitely one of the best investments in the hobby I have made. That and putting in shower filters.

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCA I can't speak abou the ORP solution you are using. For my Pinpoint ORP meter I use packets of ORP cleaning/calibraiton fluid from the maker (American Marine). The solution is 400mV. I use a soft brush to physically clean the probe and then let it set in the solution for 30-60 minutes. Then I use a jeweler screwdriver to adjust the meter to read 400mV. It is usually off a few points each week. Definitely one of the best investments in the hobby I have made. That and putting in shower filters.

Mike

Now that you mentioned them, how are your shower filters doing for you. I can't remember what media you are using as I've read so many thread posts about the subject. I'm probably also getting yours mixed up with MikeMs showers but aren't you also using the trays from US Plastics?

Mike

[MCA]

Because our pond is semiraised, I decided to do two short showers using the Orbis Stackpack crates from US Plastics. Each shower has 50kg of BH media. I got one of the two showers running around 3 weeks ago. ORP went from 325 to 340+. I had to order a new 1/2 HP pump to supply both showers with water. I got the new pump this week. I plan to plumb it in on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if the second shower will further raise the ORP. I know that since the shower has been running, the fish have been jumping out of the pond for more food!!! They are wild!!!! And it was not as if we did not have aeration. There is a Dolphin AV150 on each of the two BDs, and an Airtech 120 on each of the two Nexus. From this VERY LIMITED esperience, I would recommend everyone consider a shower for their pond. I will do an update when I get both showers up and running.

Today we are going to the open house at Flat Rock Koi. For those that don't know, Flat Rock Koi (Flat Rock Koi) is the new dealership owned by Carl Forss (former Keirin Koi) and his wife Vicki Vaughan (well known koi health expert). Again, for those that have not heard, Carl and Vicki were married last November. We have some tosai (a Monotaro kohaku and showa, 2 Omosaka shiros, and a Kase doitsu ochiba) to pick up from QT. It will be a great weekend!!! You can send Carl a happy birthday message (tomorrow is his birthday) at Carl@flatrockkoi.com

[Lam Nguyen]

Hi MCA do you have a winter bypass for your showers for during the cold winter months? I am still debating on whether to install a bakki shower for my pond and if so then whether I will need a winter bypass that goes straight into the pond via a TPR. Anyways, your opinion is much appreciated.

[koiczar]

Thanks for the updated info Mike. I want to add a 4 tier unit with bottom chamber to my pond and run about 5k gal/hr over it to SUPPLEMENT my existing system. Once established, I will convert my other system to a K1moving bed to static to feed the waterfall. My fish load has increased quite a bit over the last year and I am barely keeping up with the load. Only feeding once a day at the present time and want to be able to go to a auto feeder. Last year the growth of the fish really suffered from my not feeding enough. Don't want that to happen again over the next 4-5 months.

Mike

[MCA]

Our showers are on the skimmer circuit. They definitely have a winter bypass. I will not need them in the cold months as the Nexus on each BD can handle the pond. Also we do not want to chill the water....even in the relatively mild Atlanta winter.