Why does my chiller affect my pH? - Page 2

Billybeau1 · #26 10/15/2007, 10:37 PM

Hey, Boomer...... all of a sudden, we got a couple of Randy Juniors running around here.

Kinda refreshing..... isn't it.

Page 2....... eat your heart out BrianD

MCsaxmaster · #27 10/15/2007, 10:38 PM

Boomer · #28 10/15/2007, 11:03 PM

Chris is very good at what he does and yes a Randy Junior for sure

Chris is like a super geek

I asked him awhile back to spend more time here and now he is

I may have to pay more later

This is Chris

http://reefkeeping.com/authors/cj.php

Chris has written 4 of these
The Nutrient Dynamics of Coral Reefs:
Part I, Biogeochemical Cycles
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/cj/index.php

and the last one Part IV

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/cj/index.php

Billybeau1 · #29 10/15/2007, 11:17 PM

Very impressive. Even for a Michigan State dude.

Seriously, your input is refreshing Chris.

MCsaxmaster · #30 10/15/2007, 11:44 PM

Ha, jeez, thanks for the kind words guys

I'm pretty sure Boomer has forgotten more about chemistry than I know, I just happened to know a fair amount about the topics relevant to my research.

Yeah, that's my bio. I suppose I should update it--I've since gone to UNCW for my MS and will be ready to defend before too long. After that it's off somewhere for a PhD...knock-on-wood

Also, I should have some more parts to that series coming before too long. The spring and summer I was pretty well occupied with work for my thesis (and I still am...) so things have been puttering along pretty slowly on that front. Hopefully I'll be able to get some more written and get the rest of that out soon.

Oh, and Billy: impressive "for a Michigan State dude"...them's fightin' words

cj

bertoni · #31 10/15/2007, 11:53 PM

While we're on the subject, shouldn't pH compensation on the meter (assuming it's present) handle this shift?

Billybeau1 · #32 10/15/2007, 11:55 PM

Well, you know what they say in South Bend about Spartans ?

Nevermind..............................

MCsaxmaster · #33 10/16/2007, 12:05 AM

Quote:

While we're on the subject, shouldn't pH compensation on the meter (assuming it's present) handle this shift?

Huh-uh. Here we are not talking about changes in potential on the meter due to a change in temp. but an actual change in pH. As you change temp. the actual pH of the water changes. The reading you get from a pH meter will also change depending on temp at a given pH, but ATC can usually compensate pretty well for the artefacts involved in measuring.

Quote:

Originally posted by Billybeau1
Well, you know what they say in South Bend about Spartans ?

Nevermind..............................

Ha, what's that: "Hey, those guys from East Lansing are going to come beat us at home again."

cj

jdieck · #34 10/16/2007, 12:15 AM

IMO although the dissolution of CO2 due to the lower temperature may have an effect I doubt in this case it is causing what he is seeing.
The drop in PH takes about 45 minutes the increase is almost instantaneous so I doubt that whatever carbonic acid in the system can get converted that fast into bicarbonate/carbonate to increase the PH basically as soon as the chiller is off.
IMO this is a typical case of a ground loop affecting the reading.

Mr31415 · #35 10/17/2007, 05:38 AM

I agree with jdieck...

Look closely at the graph and annotations below:

MCsaxmaster · #36 10/17/2007, 09:17 AM

Try this: take a cup of water from the tank with the chiller off and measure pH away from the tank. Then, turn the chiller on, wait half an hour, dip out a cup of water and measure pH away from the tank. This will give us some idea as to whether you're seeing electrical interference or if there really is a drop in pH.