Neptune System PH calibration

[Bob CImon]

I have calibrated my Apex PH probe in 5 different solution packs of 7 and 10 and after calibration its is showing 7.92 and I used two different test kits and both show 8.2. This is a brand new reef tank filled with RODI water and Red Sea Coral Pro salt. I had the same problem with my last reef tank which was up 8 years and the Apex was never correct so I just used it as a reference. Anyone have the same issue or a way to fix it?

 

[tmcca]

I may get killed for this, lol. Apex probes stink. Don't ever rely on them period. Use a Milwaukee probe and I guarantee it will fix issue. Make sure you're calibrating though 77 degrees. Doesnt apex have a temperature setting when you calibrate? I forgot. When I had an Apex none of the probes worked! I thought it was me. I got a milwaukee probe and fixed issue. The conductivity probes never worked for Apex and I tried another one. Something is weird with Apex calibration or something. I switched to GHL and there probes way better and conductivity is very accurate. I glad I switched.

 

[winxp_man]

Between the Hanna and icp testing my apex prob works real close to icp, and the Hanna checker was the same.

Now what I did find is that UV powder cords, and high intensity devices can mess with the probe wires. Even though there is shielding it does not make a diff. I now run any prob wire in different routes to the sump. It’s possible this is why I get good readings. No more interference from the UV system.


Had this issue with my Tunze Osmolator 3 ato. Changed the location of the Tunze wiring and no more issues. UV was interfering and causing my the sensor unit to fill too much or not enough.

Just some info to think about incase you have a UV that is near the probe lines.

 

[Bob CImon]

I may get killed for this, lol. Apex probes stink. Don't ever rely on them period. Use a Milwaukee probe and I guarantee it will fix issue. Make sure you're calibrating though 77 degrees. Doesnt apex have a temperature setting when you calibrate? I forgot. When I had an Apex none of the probes worked! I thought it was me. I got a milwaukee probe and fixed issue. The conductivity probes never worked for Apex and I tried another one. Something is weird with Apex calibration or something. I switched to GHL and there probes way better and conductivity is very accurate. I glad I switched.

I switched to a Milwaukee Probe and it fixed the problem. Thanks for the insite..

 

[BryanM]

I never had luck calibrating that apex probe either. It almost never would complete the 10 solution calibration.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I found that using the fusion or local to perform ph calibration always ended with the cal being off slightly when verifying the cal against the standards. If I use the display unit to perform ph calibration, the cal matches the verification exactly (or within .01). With that, I stopped using the calibration task in fusion. Maybe they’ve fixed that over the years with a firmware update….I don’t know.

If you don’t have the display unit, is the actual displayed number really that important? I mean, unless it’s WAY off, just know that your number needs to be corrected in your head a little.

 

[zbrusko]

I may get killed for this, lol. Apex probes stink. Don't ever rely on them period. Use a Milwaukee probe and I guarantee it will fix issue. Make sure you're calibrating though 77 degrees. Doesnt apex have a temperature setting when you calibrate? I forgot. When I had an Apex none of the probes worked! I thought it was me. I got a milwaukee probe and fixed issue. The conductivity probes never worked for Apex and I tried another one. Something is weird with Apex calibration or something. I switched to GHL and there probes way better and conductivity is very accurate. I glad I switched.

I switched to a Milwaukee Probe and it fixed the problem. Thanks for the insite..

Do you have a link for the one you’re using? Does it connect directly to apex with same connector? Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not a fan of pH test kits since they cannot be easily checked for accuracy, and may not be designed for seawater.

 

[zbrusko]

I’m not a fan of pH test kits since they cannot be easily checked for accuracy, and may not be designed for seawater.

I feel like I’ve never gotten a result I felt confident in. Probably doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t imagine pH being in a danger zone without several other indicators.

 

[Tangdora]

Are you calibrating using the fusion app or apex.local.

 

[zbrusko]

Are you calibrating using the fusion app or apex.local.

I did manual calibration, apex.local, with pH calibration fluid at tank temp. I’m getting pH daily range from 8.45 to 8.65. I think this is about .4 high.

I then did auto calibration with pH fluid at room temp. Same results.

I ordered a new probe (old one is only 1yr old) & new calibration fluid (old stuff expires next month). I know it’s not a big deal since I have no issues and many folks don’t even bother testing pH, but I figured I’d at a least try to get an accurate reading.

 

[tmcca]

Fair point. Now I’ve got to research GHL! Looks very interesting. Thx for the tip!

Do you have a link for the one you’re using? Does it connect directly to apex with same connector? Thanks.

Milwaukee MA911 is the PH Probe. Yes it uses standard BNC connector. You can use any ph probe that uses BNC. I like Milwaukee though.

 

[Bob CImon]

Do you have a link for the one you’re using? Does it connect directly to apex with same connector? Thanks.

https://milwaukeeinstruments.com/milwaukee-ma911b-2-industrial-grade-double-junction-ph-electrode-with-extended-cable/?searchid=0&search_query=ph+probe911b%2F2

 

[zbrusko]

Do you have a link for the one you’re using? Does it connect directly to apex with same connector? Thanks.

https://milwaukeeinstruments.com/milwaukee-ma911b-2-industrial-grade-double-junction-ph-electrode-with-extended-cable/?searchid=0&search_query=ph+probe911b%2F2

Thats the one I got. Much better. Thanks.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Are you calibrating using the fusion app or apex.local.

Can you explain how conducting a calibration process via cthe cloud or locally changes the calibration process? Im not understanding. Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did manual calibration, apex.local, with pH calibration fluid at tank temp. I’m getting pH daily range from 8.45 to 8.65. I think this is about .4 high.

I then did auto calibration with pH fluid at room temp. Same results.

I ordered a new probe (old one is only 1yr old) & new calibration fluid (old stuff expires next month). I know it’s not a big deal since I have no issues and many folks don’t even bother testing pH, but I figured I’d at a least try to get an accurate reading.

Old pH 10 fluids can drop in pH and can lead to pH readings higher than reality after calibration.

 

[zbrusko]

That may have been my issue.

 

[Tangdora]

Can you explain how conducting a calibration process via cthe cloud or locally changes the calibration process? Im not understanding. Thanks.

When you calibrate using fusion app. The apex unit has to send the current value reading to your router, then the fusion server and then back to your phone or labtop. This increases signal latency and response. Your phone can be showing 1 value that you think is correct and stable when you hit next during the calibration when in fact the unit has since changed to another value leading to your calibration being off. When you connect to apex via local. Signal is communicated from the apex to your router right back to your device. The signal does not leave your home network.

Easiest way to see this in real time is to simply open the app on your phone and connect to local with another device. Your probes current values will appear in local first and and 30-60 later you will see the value that was in local appear in fusion

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Can you explain how conducting a calibration process via cthe cloud or locally changes the calibration process? Im not understanding. Thanks.

When you calibrate using fusion app. The apex unit has to send the current value reading to your router, then the fusion server and then back to your phone or labtop. This increases signal latency and response. Your phone can be showing 1 value that you think is correct and stable when you hit next during the calibration when in fact the unit has since changed to another value leading to your calibration being off. When you connect to apex via local. Signal is communicated from the apex to your router right back to your device. The signal does not leave your home network.

Easiest way to see this in real time is to simply open the app on your phone and connect to local with another device. Your probes current values will appear in local first and and 30-60 later you will see the value that was in local appear in fusion

Does this apply to the “automatic”calibration or just the manual? In the automatic calibration, fusion decides when the right measurement and settling has occurred. I presumed it is doing that at the base module, not the app, so it wouldn’t matter when the app displayed it through this lag. Or am I still misunderstanding?

 

[Project1004]

I’ve learned that the best way to calibrate the Apex probe is by physical display unit.

I have used both apex.local as well as apex cloud/fusion until very recently searching for best options.

I’ve always used 2 pH probes to watch the TREND of my tanks stability. And with many attempts in the past, I find it to be best way to do so.

Long story short, I had to calibrate the Apex and Alkatronic’ pH probe yesterday and I used the display unit to do so.

I had taken 5mins per solution. (7.0/10.)
So it took almost 30mins to do both not including Alkatronic.

I do t know if my pH is really this high? But seems to agree btw Apex and the alkatronics.

Apex