Buying a new Apex Salinity Probe vs not

[Ziggy17]

So just seeing what others are doing. My salinity probe is likely dead after 4 years. In Canada a new one is $300 and there doesn’t appear to be a less expensive brand that doesn’t require wiring changes. I’ve also been reading of the instability of the probe even when working.

My question is… are others (apex users or non) not using a real time salinity checker with success? If so, how often are you checking it to make sure nothing has strayed too far off desired salinity level?
I do have a TM glass hydrometer that I check WCs with, and my salinity is near rock solid with my ATO.

 

[Fish Fan]

I can't speak to Apex, I'm not cool enough for Apex stuff

But my tanks all have an ATO that keeps my salinity pretty much spot on. I'm sure you have an ATO too, and I'll bet your Apex is monitoring it. So if your Apex can confirm that your ATO is functioning correctly, you can be fairly well assured your salinity is remaining stable. Then, you could maybe double check maybe every few days to weekly, it's quick and easy with a refractometer or salinity probe.

I hope that helps, I'm sure the real Apex crowd will be by soon enough.

Good luck!

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

IMO not worth it if you have an ATO. I have never had a salinity issue with wild swings. I have to periodically bring it up slightly, but that's based off refractometer measurements. The salinity probes are also notorious for never being correct and gives false readings - not to mention they are very expensive for what you get.

 

[becon776]

Let’s just say it depends. You’ve got a tank full of Milleopora and $$$ tenuis?? Yeah we dint want salinity fluctuations more that .5 In a day. I’m on board with you in frustration with the conductivity probe but when it goes nuts I just recheck with refractometer and breath a sigh of relief.

 

[reefmaster70]

There are probe options out there, you just gotta look. I purchased a couple from Ali Express for $91ea. They took about 4 weeks to get here, but they work perfectly with my Apex EL.

 

[Ziggy17]

There are probe options out there, you just gotta look. I purchased a couple from Ali Express for $91ea. They took about 4 weeks to get here, but they work perfectly with my Apex EL.

I ordered one as well. $86. It was delivered today but I’m out of town so I’ll post once I get it plugged in.

I think I may just invest in a more accurate ATO than the Red Sea I have now.

 

[Fish Fan]

Friends, for those of you who are cool enough for Apex gadgets, I'm wondering how often you find an issue with salinity? I assume anyone who runs Apex gear has at least a rudimentary ATO. My ATO's keep my tanks salinity quite stable, do you guys really ever see a problem that your Apex probe found first before any other testing or visual observation?

Asking for a friend

 

[mmorrison55]

I will say that my salinity does not fluctuate greatly with my ATO, but I do find the apex probe handy to show me trends.

Case in point… my Milwaukee digital refractometer reports salinity in psu, ppt, and SG. Since my apex probe reports ppt to the decimal I can see when it starts creeping up and I need to add more rodi than what my ato is doing.

Granted, if I only had my Milwaukee, it would eventually tell me when I hit 36 or 37 ppt and needed to adjust, but with the apex, it’s easier to see it trending upwards.

 

[Ziggy17]

yes sir.

 

[bubbgee]

I got a hydrometer, refractometer and a Hannah salinity probe. I didn’t bother buying the salinity probe for my apex after reading through several complaints about accuracy. A refractometer should be enough monitoring once a week.