Milwaukee Instruments is a company who’s name is synonymous with pH monitoring and control. Long before pH measurement was incorporated into do-it-all controllers, Milwaukee Instruments was already the leader in critical measurement of pH.
After temperature and salinity, pH is the most important parameters in a saltwater aquarium. The ‘potential of hydrogen’ or pH governs all of the chemical and biological interactions in aquariums from photosynthesis and respiration, to calcification and much more.
Despite this paramount importance of pH in our aquarium water, many reefers simply rely on having a high carbonate hardness or KH to expect a high pH in the aquarium. However, many factors can affect the pH of the aquarium water even with a high KH – although a high pH has a direct, positive effect on coral growth we reefers don’t give this parameter nearly the attention it deserves.
Just like we all replaced our hydrometers with refractometers, and then we upgraded our brine refractometers for true seawater versions, pH is the next parameter that deserves a critical upgrade in testing equipment. This is where Milwaukee Instruments’ DL Black Box Controller comes in.
If you’re serious about measuring pH in your aquarium, the Black Box Controller is the only device who’s sole function is to give a precise and accurate reading of your aquarium pH. The DL Black Box comes in a few models, ranging from the DL 120 that simply monitors pH, the DL 122 which is pH and incremental dosing control, and the DL 125 with both pH and ORP control.
Having a dedicated pH monitor/controller is much more effective to both keep an eye on what your pH is doing throughout the day, and activating functions which help to keep your pH nice and high. One of the neat features of Milwaukee Instruments’ Black Box Controllers is that they perform a periodic diagnosis of the pH probe, determining its current state and adjusting the pH level accordingly, giving an even more precise measurement than what is possible when pH is simply built-in to an all in one device.
Also, with a single function device like the Black Box pH controller, it’s much easier to control one parameter and not get lost in navigation menus for a laundry list of features. We look forward to learning more about and trying out Milwaukee Instruments’ dedicated pH controllers and monitors in the future and we hope it also leads to more aquarists paying much more attention to the very important role of pH in our reef tanks. [Milwaukee Instruments]
