Salinity Probes that work with the Apex

[Soueify]

Got it yesterday! Connected well (with a little push) and calibrated right away without any error and quickly.

However,

With the Neptune original calibration solution it gave a solid 35 ppt reading, but then 39 ppt after calibration was done and I put it in the tank ..hmmm

Used the trusty TM hydrometer and my sg is 1.0263 at 26.2C which should give me right around 35.1 or .2 ppt if I'm correct

So I calibrated it again using tank water this time and now shows 34.8... good enough for me!

I will keep you guys updated on how it goes on the long run, and please do tell me if you have any explanation for the jump in the first time! Also feel free to tag or DM me in case I take too long :D

 

[reefmaster70]

Got it yesterday! Connected well (with a little push) and calibrated right away without any error and quickly.

However,

With the Neptune original calibration solution it gave a solid 35 ppt reading, but then 39 ppt after calibration was done and I put it in the tank ..hmmm

Used the trusty TM hydrometer and my sg is 1.0263 at 26.2C which should give me right around 35.1 or .2 ppt if I'm correct

So I calibrated it again using tank water this time and now shows 34.8... good enough for me!

I will keep you guys updated on how it goes on the long run, and please do tell me if you have any explanation for the jump in the first time! Also feel free to tag or DM me in case I take too lon :)

Keep us posted how it works for you.....mine tends to need recalibration every several months, as it likes to drift low. Otherwise it works well.

 

[Soueify]

Keep us posted how it works for you.....mine tends to need recalibration every several months, as it likes to drift low. Otherwise it works well.

This is the link:

I just found this on AliExpress:
Conductivity sensor with mini Din 4 PIN Salinity probe for Reef Aquarium Marine water customize
https://a.aliexpress.com/_c3caPkon
But it seems its out of stock again :/

 

[banik]

I keep checking for an in stock option... Seems surprising we don't see more.

 

[Soueify]

Sad news guys, after many attemps to calibrate, it does not stay on cue and gives a wrong reading, with the error being variable even.

In the end i spoke to the supplier and they agreed to refund it. They were quite decent actually, shame it did not work :/ so back to square 1 i guess...

 

[m_attt]

Sad news guys, after many attemps to calibrate, it does not stay on cue and gives a wrong reading, with the error being variable even.

In the end i spoke to the supplier and they agreed to refund it. They were quite decent actually, shame it did not work :/ so back to square 1 i guess...

Same experience as me that I posted on the previous page

 

[MnFish1]

Bite the bullet and buy the apex version. OR - because they are all so unreliable - just use another method

 

[esquare]

I see where people are having issues with their salinity probes so I thought I would post an update on mine https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251...il_item.4.6be1f19clmycWA&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa that I've had running for over 2 years and it's still accurate. I used the technique posted much earlier in this thread to change the connector without a problem.

 

[esquare]

Here it the point in my tank thread that I document how i did it.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/not-my-first-tank-but-my-first-build-thread.985483/post-12429656
Again, I just used the method posted earlier in this thread.

 

[MnFish1]

I don't know if this has been mentioned in the last 19 pages - why do you need a constant salinity reading? (assuming you have the proper controls on your ATO) - Salinity wont just change in a tank - without addition of more minerals or more water.

 

[Soueify]

I don't know if this has been mentioned in the last 19 pages - why do you need a constant salinity reading? (assuming you have the proper controls on your ATO) - Salinity wont just change in a tank - without addition of more minerals or more water.

Well I hear you there, but given a system with such inherent value and years of work and emotional connection, having this constant watchdog reading can give you a warning when poop hits the fan and prevent potential disasters.

For example, I travel a lot and rely heavily on automation to catch the ball if it drops (ATO malfunction, dosing malfunction, float malfunction, RO system malfunction, human error by spouse or kids ).

Also with time my salinity does drift down with all the skimmate removal ( I skim wet) so I need to keep an eye on that and dose to counter it.

Again, imagine all that while being away for some time

 

[Reef Jedi]

Well I hear you there, but given a system with such inherent value and years of work and emotional connection, having this constant watchdog reading can give you a warning when poop hits the fan and prevent potential disasters.

For example, I travel a lot and rely heavily on automation to catch the ball if it drops (ATO malfunction, dosing malfunction, float malfunction, RO system malfunction, human error by spouse or kids ).

Also with time my salinity does drift down with all the skimmate removal ( I skim wet) so I need to keep an eye on that and dose to counter it.

Again, imagine all that while being away for some time

This is exactly me and my situation too. It’s a nice watchdog to have.

 

[MnFish1]

This is exactly me and my situation too. It’s a nice watchdog to have.

So many have stated how inaccurate it is, there are other ways to monitor this part of your tank's health that don't cost hundreds of dollars. If one is travelling often - I think they are lucky that they have not had a crash while they were away - and the easiest solution is to have a person test the salinity - I would imagine most people would have someone looking at the tank. After multiple issues with 'automation' - there are very very few I would rely on - salinity being one of the lowest - to Judge the health of my tank when not home. This is just my opinion - of course everyone should do what they are comfortable with.

 

[MnFish1]

Well I hear you there, but given a system with such inherent value and years of work and emotional connection, having this constant watchdog reading can give you a warning when poop hits the fan and prevent potential disasters.

For example, I travel a lot and rely heavily on automation to catch the ball if it drops (ATO malfunction, dosing malfunction, float malfunction, RO system malfunction, human error by spouse or kids ).

Also with time my salinity does drift down with all the skimmate removal ( I skim wet) so I need to keep an eye on that and dose to counter it.

Again, imagine all that while being away for some time

I can't disagree - the comment related to what happens when the 'watchdog' fails.

 

[Reef Jedi]

So many have stated how inaccurate it is, there are other ways to monitor this part of your tank's health that don't cost hundreds of dollars. If one is travelling often - I think they are lucky that they have not had a crash while they were away - and the easiest solution is to have a person test the salinity - I would imagine most people would have someone looking at the tank. After multiple issues with 'automation' - there are very very few I would rely on - salinity being one of the lowest - to Judge the health of my tank when not home. This is just my opinion - of course everyone should do what they are comfortable with.

My salinity probe is inaccurate too and it’s consistently wrong. But since it’s stable at that reading it’s still a good indicator coupled with the other sensors and indicators I have. Between all of them it absolutely gives me good insight on what’s going on in the tank. In my application it works well as a monitor. I work a lot and it’s not possible to always test or see it my self. So having everything automated is what allows me to have a reef again. With out it, I would just have algae lol