how accurate is apex

[johnj]

ok iv just setup my apex probes the other day after a nice guy from Neptune phoned me up and got me up and running through wifi because I was pulling my hair out !

iv had problems calibrating probe and just would not do on auto calibrate! guy from Neptune said do it manual so iv done this today

but my salt /dashboard is saying 44.7 ppt that's like 1.033 s/g cannot be true as tested with pen that's calibrated few weeks ago and its 1.025 or 34ppt

will this sort itself out in time ?

also my PH that went through auto calibration fine" is saying 7.72 ph when iv just looked on milwalkey pen and its 8.2 and 8.4 on seneye reef 8.15-8.30 on salifert test

whot should I trust!

 

[JCOLE]

Is this a new Apex system? Also, which model?

 

[Caseyoidae]

Rinse the probe with a little rodi or fresh water. Salt dries on the lens and throws it off.

 

[foxt]

I had similar results with the salinity probe, and early on decided to ditch it. There are others with similar experiences, although some people report that they are able to get consistent results.

The pH probes have been much more reliable for me, although I calibrate them about once a month and find that they typically last a little less than a year and then will no longer hold calibration.

Which values did you use for the calibration fluids?

 

[AcanthurusRex]

The salinity probe is extremely sensitive to air bubbles. You must ensure that there are no bubbles when it's calibrated and no bubbles can get to the probe while in use. I run the tank at 35ppm and just use the sump water for calibration.
In my experience, it seems to drift high with bubbles. Mine reads 39 right now so I know I didn't take care of the bubbles when I calibrated it; new probe the original failed after 2.5 years.

 

[johnj]

Is this a new Apex system? Also, which model?

its new 2016-up unit but uk so got the older power block

 

[johnj]

Rinse the probe with a little rodi or fresh water. Salt dries on the lens and throws it off.

never had it salt because was new setup out box"

 

[johnj]

I had similar results with the salinity probe, and early on decided to ditch it. There are others with similar experiences, although some people report that they are able to get consistent results.

The pH probes have been much more reliable for me, although I calibrate them about once a month and find that they typically last a little less than a year and then will no longer hold calibration.

Which values did you use for the calibration fluids?

yes the packets that come with the Apex ph7 and ph10

crazy how my seneye and ph pen and salifert tests are closer together the apex was £££ much more

 

[JCOLE]

its new 2016-up unit but uk so got the older power block

I dont have the salinity probe. I hear a lot of issues with the readings. Terrance with Neptune said that with his he just uses it as a base line. For example if your calibrated refractometer reads 35ppt and your calibrated salinity probe is showing 39ppt then just use that as a reference. When your apex is showing 39ppt then your refractometer will read 35ppt. If that makes since?

How did you calibrate your pH probe? I have the handheld and find it really easy and reliable to go through the handheld for calibration rather than through a computer or phone.

 

[johnj]

The salinity probe is extremely sensitive to air bubbles. You must ensure that there are no bubbles when it's calibrated and no bubbles can get to the probe while in use. I run the tank at 35ppm and just use the sump water for calibration.
In my experience, it seems to drift high with bubbles. Mine reads 39 right now so I know I didn't take care of the bubbles when I calibrated it; new probe the original failed after 2.5 years.

I did give gentle shakes when calibrating in salution " yes iv read about people calibrate with there tank water"

 

[NYG140]

I've noticed these probes are very sensitive to crosstalk, when you run the lines you'll want to run them away from any high voltage. Once I did that, everything came in dead on.

 

[Waters]

In my experience they aren't accurate at all....I just use them to watch for salinity swings which would indicate a problem (such as a failing ATO for example). If you check with a reliable refractometer you can then cross check it against your probe and use the information for what it is.

 

[johnj]

I dont have the salinity probe. I hear a lot of issues with the readings. Terrance with Neptune said that with his he just uses it as a base line. For example if your calibrated refractometer reads 35ppt and your calibrated salinity probe is showing 39ppt then just use that as a reference. When your apex is showing 39ppt then your refractometer will read 35ppt. If that makes since?

How did you calibrate your pH probe? I have the handheld and find it really easy and reliable to go through the handheld for calibration rather than through a computer or phone.

so just keep in your head when looking at your salinity on apex its so much out? but when its like 9ppt out! you really should not have to do that on £820 unit though bud really

I used the auto calibrate on ph probe" but may have not done 100% correct as 1st time doing marine tank" iv got to get some more apex 10 calibration salution to do again because spilt other on carpet

 

[foxt]

The pH 7 and 10's are the right solutions. When you calibrate, you do need to be careful to wait until the readings really do settle down, as in stop changing for long periods of time (I wait minutes). That, and look out for the cross talk between the wires that someone else mentioned, and also making sure that your probe isn't collecting air bubbles wherever you have placed it.

It is also really important that the pH probe always stays wet, even if you have it out of the water for only a short time.

 

[johnj]

I've noticed these probes are very sensitive to crosstalk, when you run the lines you'll want to run them away from any high voltage. Once I did that, everything came in dead on.

run my probe wires from probe holder across from front of sump to back of sump to side cabinet where all controllers are" wires only go over heater and return pump

 

[johnj]

The pH 7 and 10's are the right solutions. When you calibrate, you do need to be careful to wait until the readings really do settle down, as in stop changing for long periods of time (I wait minutes). That, and look out for the cross talk between the wires that someone else mentioned, and also making sure that your probe isn't collecting air bubbles wherever you have placed it.

It is also really important that the pH probe always stays wet, even if you have it out of the water for only a short time.

thanks for info"

few pics of probes and the wires over to back of sump" iv got to tidy those up" the media reactor is not in use as new setup and not much po4

 

[foxt]

I do see bubbles on your probes, so maybe you could try moving them to a different spot away from the turbulence that is causing that and see what happens after you recalibrate? I can't recall exactly now, but I seem to recall that bubbles on the probes can cause the reported values to be off.

 

[JCOLE]

so just keep in your head when looking at your salinity on apex its so much out? but when its like 9ppt out! you really should not have to do that on £820 unit though bud really

I used the auto calibrate on ph probe" but may have not done 100% correct as 1st time doing marine tank" iv got to get some more apex 10 calibration salution to do again because spilt other on carpet

I get what your saying about the cost. I dont have one so I am just passing what I have heard from others and Neptune.

When performing the manual calibration you will need to wait for the probe to settle for each of the 7 and 10 solutions. I set a timer for 5 minutes for each solution. The first minute a shake the probe in the solution to try and eliminate any bubbles. I let it sit for 5 minutes or so and make sure it settles and doesnt move from the settled number for a minute before moving on. I have 3 pH probes in use. 2 probes on 2 different Apex brains along with a pH probe in my calcium reactor(that one is calibrated to 4 and 7 solution). I haven't had any issues when calibrating this way and they stay very consistent.

 

[Rubblereefer]

I've noticed these probes are very sensitive to crosstalk, when you run the lines you'll want to run them away from any high voltage. Once I did that, everything came in dead on.

My experience too. My temp jumped around like crazy until I rerouted the probe wire away from all the others.

 

[johnj]

I get what your saying about the cost. I dont have one so I am just passing what I have heard from others and Neptune.

When performing the manual calibration you will need to wait for the probe to settle for each of the 7 and 10 solutions. I set a timer for 5 minutes for each solution. The first minute a shake the probe in the solution to try and eliminate any bubbles. I let it sit for 5 minutes or so and make sure it settles and doesnt move from the settled number for a minute before moving on. I have 3 pH probes in use. 2 probes on 2 different Apex brains along with a pH probe in my calcium reactor(that one is calibrated to 4 and 7 solution). I haven't had any issues when calibrating this way and they stay very consistent.

will try manual calibration on ph probe when get solution in morning" thanks for info