I'm going to regulate CO2 through a Milwaukee ph controller, but don't want the probe in my tank. What would be my best option to integrate the probe somewhere in the cabinet? Does anybody know of an adapter? Or should I go ahead and build a sump?
I did it with a 1/2" threaded T and a swivel like this in the filter outlet tube..
Look for a UK supplier of the HUMMEL HSK-K-EX SWIVEL ZT NPT 1/2" /6-12MM-IP68
It contains a 12 mm rubber seal and the probe is 12 mm, turn the nut hand tight and it wont leak.. This is an old pic later i installed a union coupling.
Between valve and T. With this coupling it is way easy to take the probe out with T and all, clean it and reinstall it, that way it's also easy to peek into the hole to see if the probe is deep enough in and if it's turned in the correct position. The probe end has 4 slids, obviously the opening should be in line with the flow direction.
I have no idea what the active stands for.. You should have one rated IP68 which is 100% waterproof.. These are mainly used for cable entry into watertanks etc.
Mine doesn't have an O-ring, but a 12mm rubber sleeve (The middle in the pic) and those teeth around it (left)... The sleeve fits snugly and tight over the probe and it slides all the way into the swivel, just one turn of the nut and it is water tight with the pumps pressure. Absolutely no force needed.
View attachment 104738
If an o-ring will work, dunno i guess so.. But i think it might need to be fastened a bit more tight and the probe is just thin plastic.. Don't crack it..
btw fyi if you ever need a new probe.. See this
http://www.banggood.com/PH-Electrod...trol-Meter-Sensor-p-912723.html?rmmds=myorder
Using them already for 2 years without any issues on the Milwaukee from above pic.. Seeing the price, even if the had issues after a year it's still a lauch to replace them once a year if needed.. But they work perfectly and come with a refill.
Mine was also very hard to come by, regular hardware stores indeed do not have this is stock, to little demand.. I also was kinda lukey with phoning around to find a wholesale Hummel dealer, who after some moaning and groaning was willing to pinch an eye and sell me only 2 of these couplings.
Just to throw in another perspective.
I've used 3 different pH controllers over the years, if I think about all the money I've spent on them and extra probes etc it's probably close to £1000. I have stopped using them because I've come to the conclusion that they offer very little benefit other than acting as a safety measure so your pH doesn't drop too low and you gas your fish.
In my opinion, CO2 really isn't the fine art that it's made out to be. Lighting and flow are fare more important. Not enough light, your plants won't even use the CO2. Not enough flow, and they won't get to use it either. Plants will do fine even without the '1 point pH drop' an hour before lights on, so expensive equipment such as pH controllers are very unnecessary.
Yes, you need to get your CO2 right initially, and this is where the controller is most useful. But once CO2 levels are set, you have to pay it very little attention. A £5 pH probe off ebay will do exactly the same job and isn't really required.
Ultimately, you need as much CO2 in your tank before it makes the inhabitants uncomfortable, so your fish will be the best indicators of how much CO2 you need (along with a drop checker of course).
My point is you can achieve exactly the same results without over complicating things, and I think that you, like me, will come to this conclusion eventually.
I know what it's like when you get an idea in your head, you don't care how much it costs or how complicated it is, as long as it achieves the objective. But often the realisation kicks in later on that actually this may not have been the best course of action and you could have saved yourself a lot of hassle/time/money if you'd kept things simple.
Good luck to you though whatever you decide to do.