Apex temp probe has gone bezerk!

Js.Aqua.Project · Nov 15, 2017

I have had the Apex (2016) on my tank for about 15-16 months now and over the last 24 hours my temp probe has gone crazy.

What the Apex is doing:

It currently thinks my tank is at about 22°F . (Tank is ~78°F)
It is jumping around, which caused my lights to turn on and off a lot.

What I have already done/tried:

Unplug/replug probe
Inspect plug for corrosion/debris (found some corrosion and clean it off)
Inspect port for corrosion/debris (found residue from corrosion on plug, blew it out)
Restart Apex
Disable/Re-Enable probe
Eliminate override temperature for lights (for now)
Use heater manually (for now)

So what do you guys recommend I try?

Js.Aqua.Project · Nov 15, 2017

TheHarold · Nov 15, 2017

I recommend a new probe as this one seems to be shorting or have a bad connection

rtparty · Nov 15, 2017

New probe. Not a bad idea to replace them yearly

Js.Aqua.Project · Nov 15, 2017

Well I guess that is just what I will have to do, thanks guys.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2017

A copy and paste of an older comment of mine:

FWIW, my temperature probes are not made by Neptune, but I had many that were claimed to be for long term immersion go bad over the years, and water penetration was the apparent problem. Both stainless steel probes and plastic coated.
I solved the problem be sending the probe half way down a 4-6 foot length of air line tubing, connecting the open ends to each other with a twist tie, and sending the closed "middle" down into the water with the open ends above the water line.

This way no water ever directly contacted the probe and none ever failed after that.

The response time was certainly reduced, but there's no need at all for fast response time in a reef application.

Js.Aqua.Project · Nov 15, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
A copy and paste of an older comment of mine:

FWIW, my temperature probes are not made by Neptune, but I had many that were claimed to be for long term immersion go bad over the years, and water penetration was the apparent problem. Both stainless steel probes and plastic coated.
I solved the problem be sending the probe half way down a 4-6 foot length of air line tubing, connecting the open ends to each other with a twist tie, and sending the closed "middle" down into the water with the open ends above the water line.

This way no water ever directly contacted the probe and none ever failed after that.

The response time was certainly reduced, but there's no need at all for fast response time in a reef application.

That sounds like the perfect solution for the problem. I will try that when my new probe comes in. Thanks Randy!