Apex Conductivity Reading is way off !!

[gpwdr]

I have had nothing but trouble with this probe, buyers beware, this is junk.
The biggest problem is lack of information from Neptune.

 

[Sabellafella]

I have had nothing but trouble with this probe, buyers beware, this is junk.
The biggest problem is lack of information from Neptune.

You know, from the beginning of my days using their condx probe, i wasnt a fan either. Spent my days searching for the potential issues, and not one person seems to have a good explanation to why its so iffy. I have over 4 probes 2 of witch are from neptune apex, and they all act similar to eachother. Now, what ive found, is during calibration, just stick the probe in. Dont put it on its side or whatnot, and calibrate it like that. Swoosh it around, and give it atleast 5 minutes before you procede to complete(just make sure the fluid is the same temp as.your tank at all times) Then place it straight down into your tank, all it takes is 1 tiny bubble to alter your reading. After a while, the air will leave out the side holes. Also need some gentle flow around the probe and you should be good. 33.3 to 35.0 isnt a substantial gap for me to worry. So wether it reads 33 or 35, i can careless. As long as its not wondering its fine for me. If i put my eye up to my refract and took a reading now, then looked at the same sample 2 minutes from now, itll be completely different. People usually cross check this reading with a refractmeter. Majority of those people calibrate their refractmeter without the knowledge of how much of a difference temperature compensation actually makes. This is not just with neptune apex, this is with every condx probe. W.e information they gave out is prob just to explain their products. We have to take it upon ourselves to figure this out. Whats the issue? Ill be honored to help

 

[gpwdr]

Thanks Sabellafella,
I have the new Apex 2016.
What do I set the Temperature Compensation at?
Does the calibration fluid have to be the same temperature as what the temperature probe is reading?
Gene

 

[Sabellafella]

Thanks Sabellafella,
I have the new Apex 2016.
What do I set the Temperature Compensation at?
Does the calibration fluid have to be the same temperature as what the temperature probe is reading?
Gene

Well for the apex probe, compensation is usually set with a second temp probe in the same port withen the pm2 but its totally not necessary unless you have the probe programmed as a failsafe, or your tank temp flux alot daily. The apex compensation basically keeps the condx reading from wondering WHILE the temp is wondering. I think i set mine at 2.2 but again not necessary =). Yes keep the calibration fluid up to par with your tank temp at all times, make sure the probe is completely dry before you calibrate. Also while your calibrating, keep the probe in the fluid for atleast 5 minutes. Usually the standard protocol is to complete when the "number" stops moving, but keep it in for a long enuff period after the number stops just to be sure. You can swoosh the probe around a couple times just to get water pushed around the probe, hopefully dislodging any air bubbles that could potentially be stuck in the tip. Basically, you want the temperature to be stable the whole entire time through calibration.

 

[Sabellafella]

When your done just rinse it off, dunk the tip in your tank a few times , and stick it in your probe holder. After about an hour or so, youll be fine. Heres a chart i pulled off google. Wether the probe is spot on accurate, atleast accurate enuff to what my refract checks out. Its usually imo not that big of a deal, from 33.5 to 35.0 is only from 1.0252 to 1.0264. You can barely see this with a refract unless the refract is getting cold or warm while viewing/holding it. The condxt is always consistant for me, and dont see it being much of a problem if mine went from 33.5 to 34.0 yanno? I use my probe basically to tell me if i forgot to topoff my topoff, or if my skimmer is going nuts. Usually both times i spotted an issue, resulted in both of those scenarios

 

[raultsu]

i gave up on mine. its still in the sump but i dont really use the readings

 

[raultsu]

so i figured id give this probe another try and re calibrate. I had a package of calibration solution and got it to read 35ppt. as soon as i put it back in the sump i get a reading of 25 ppt.

 

[dragon99]

Did you have the calibration fluid floating in your sump to make sure the temp was the same? That will make a difference.

I've got my temp compensation at 2.2 and my probe is accurate against my refractometer and Milwaukee digital. Probably worth contacting Neptune support to have them help.

 

[raultsu]

Did you have the calibration fluid floating in your sump to make sure the temp was the same? That will make a difference.

I've got my temp compensation at 2.2 and my probe is accurate against my refractometer and Milwaukee digital. Probably worth contacting Neptune support to have them help.

yeah i did. i followed the brs video. i tested my tank water with a calibrated refractometer and the Milwaukee digital as well

 

[jsbull]

Their conductivity system is my biggest Apex purchase regret. It's awful. I spent extra money calibrating it, and it'll read 22 for weeks, then one day, it seems to read correctly. That goes for a while, then it's off again.

Very frustrating.

 

[Sabellafella]

so i figured id give this probe another try and re calibrate. I had a package of calibration solution and got it to read 35ppt. as soon as i put it back in the sump i get a reading of 25 ppt.

Next time you stop by here bring it over, ill cross check it with my equipment. Anyway, try dunking it, leave it till the reading stops. Then re dunk it again, and see if it goes up. If i starts moving up, then repeat untill the reading stops completely. Also check the inside the probe between the ball and inners. I always get brittles and colonista snails messing around with my reading

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

Just give up. Neptune's probe and other brands will do that to the point you'll waste so much time on it and go crazy. I don't believe their application should be included in our tanks. But I guess they have to make money somehow.