Cleaning

Clean the instrument after each extended deployment to remove deposits that may have accumulated.

Do not use an ultrasonic bath to clean your instruments! Ultrasonic vibrations can break the wire bonding inside the transducers.

Type Procedure Notes

General/biofouling

To clean the exterior, soak in a mild detergent, then scrub the instrument with a soft brush.

Avoid scratching the plastic (scratches make future cleaning more difficult).

Calcification,
encrustation

Soak in vinegar for six hours, then scrub the surface using a soft brush.

Soaking in vinegar for more than 24 hours may damage the O-ring and increase the chances of a leak.

Cleaning RBRquadrante

When dirty, carefully wipe the sensors with a soft cloth. To remove encrustation, soak in water until soft. It may take hours or days, depending on the severity.

Do not use abrasive cloths as scratched faces can affect calibration.
Do not use solvents or cleaners as these could affect optical properties of the window.

Cleaning RBRtridente

RBRtridente design makes it resilient to corrosion and thus allows for more rigorous handling than other fluorometers.

See the table above for cleaning procedures.