Loading ...Keith at afex2win.com has posted an unique idea regarding the utilization of your redox readings during a tank’s cycle.
If the redox measurement is a way to look at your tank’s ability to remove waste, than could it be also used to monitor your newly setup tank’s progress through a cycle? Keith has a theory..
that statement made me think about my currently cycling tank. i had recently calibrated my redox probe on my profilux controller, and it had an initial value of around 180mV. since optimal redox values fall within a range of 350-450mV (Delbeek/Sprung), it was obvious that my redox was “low”. then i began to think about what “low” really meant. thinking in terms of the above definition, it means that my aquarium is less able to eliminate wastes. this makes perfect sense when thinking about the nitrogen cycle.
since the proper bacteria for nitrification have yet to colonize my rocks and sandbed, my tank is doing a poor job of removing ammonia (the waste) from the water. as my cycle continues and my bacteria population rises, my tank will better eliminate wastes and my redox reading will increase. so theoretically I should be able to watch my cycle via my redox readings as they go from 180mV to around 300-350mV.
Hmm.. couldn’t agree more. In fact, we can take it one step further…
You can monitor how your tank is progressing with age. Is it able to remove more or less waste as it ages? With the addition of a deep sand bed, will you gain more measurement in redox?
Those would be great things to evaluate as we move forward with this hobby. In time, I will be more inclined to test this theory out. In time..
Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero!
Interesting idea Vlad. I’ll be keeping a record of the ORP in my newly setup tank, so maybe we can use that as one example to validate / test this out.
Also we have to calibrate the ORP probe. It wasn’t calibrated right out of the box.
Good post – makes me think again about redox. I think I may have to add mine on to the aquacontroller. Not to mention, I just experienced RTN in 2 colonies, would be (or, would have been, rather) very interesting to see if anything happening in ORP record… dammit.
I’m use to record my ORP for about 4 years. And I must admit that when I’ll check some problem into tank, my ORP goes down.
Yes, monitoring the new display tank it’s a good idea in my humble opinion.
Anyway a friend of mine is used to check the ORP also in a new water ready for the change, do you think it is a good idea?
Danilo
http://www.DaniReef.com
For water change water? I don’t think it will have a major impact on the system. As long as he is not changing over 50% of his water.
Small water changes are always better than larger ones.
Yes Vlad, you’ve right but I try to explain better.
When we prepare the salt water for the change, we don’t know exactly when the water is perfectly ready. Right? So my friend check this moment with ORP probe… When the water has a god ORP value (I don’t know the value) he proceed to change the water, regardless if it’s small or big amount of water.
What do you think?
Danilo
http://www.DaniReef.com
Ok.
In theory, by looking at the ‘normal’ readings, a number of 300-350mV is ideal. So if you change water is showing you those numbers, then great. BUT, I don’t know if it can. I haven’t done the test myself.