Salinity fluctuating during cycle

[Benny Morosco]

is it common that the salinity goes from 35 to 37 and back down to 35 during the cycle ? Or is because I have the Apex and it is monitored that I notice it more than when I did not have it! I might be the victim of too much information!! Lol

 

[Dystinction]

Are you noting this fluctuation from the Apex probe output only, or are you using a secondary 'check' (ie refractometer) ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Cycling has no detectable impact on salinity. Evaporation changing water levels does, or it is test error.

 

[Benny Morosco]

I am measuring with the probe on the apex and now I will measure with the refactor meter

 

[Dystinction]

That will be a good check.

You can also go into your Apex dashboard. Open up the Input Log. Select your salinity probe name to bring up the chart. Then on the right under the Compare drop down, you can select your power strip (amp).
If you are able to do this, do you see a correlation between power 'on' and an increase with your salinity probe?

I ask this, because I was unaware when I ran all my wires, and have the salinity probe running in parallel with my heater wires. My chart is a spot-on 'mimic' with the salinity increasing (probe reading) when the heaters power on.

 

[Benny Morosco]

Ok so this is weird I tested my water with reafactometer and it is 30 1.024 so this apex is brand new and i did all the steps to calibrate the probe can it be that much off right now my probe shows 36.8 and refact shows 30 can it be possible a 6.8 difference??

 

[Dystinction]

Unfortunately, yes it can.
Mine is off about the same as yours. I plan to mess with mine some more in the future, however, now....I don't trust it or use it. I test with a refractometer and a Milwaukee digital.

Do some looking around on this forum. You'll find a lot of stories, tips, and tricks.

 

[Benny Morosco]

That will be a good check.

You can also go into your Apex dashboard. Open up the Input Log. Select your salinity probe name to bring up the chart. Then on the right under the Compare drop down, you can select your power strip (amp).
If you are able to do this, do you see a correlation between power 'on' and an increase with your salinity probe?

I ask this, because I was unaware when I ran all my wires, and have the salinity probe running in parallel with my heater wires. My chart is a spot-on 'mimic' with the salinity increasing (probe reading) when the heaters power on.

here is that graph I don't see the dips...

 

[Benny Morosco]

Unfortunately, yes it can.
Mine is off about the same as yours. I plan to mess with mine some more in the future, however, now....I don't trust it or use it. I test with a refractometer and a Milwaukee digital.

Do some looking around on this forum. You'll find a lot of stories, tips, and tricks.

Well I will only test with the refact meter going forward and I will send an email to APEX so 36.8 is 1.024 on this probe..lol

 

[Dystinction]

Well, your graph is some good news, as it doesn't appear as though you are getting very much conductivity interference.
Check around for some tips, tricks, and suggestions on getting a good (more accurate) calibration.
However, always keep a good secondary source to check your parameters.

 

[Benny Morosco]

That big of a swing could have killed everything in my tank down the road..

 

[Dystinction]

BTW...here's what it looks like when your probe wire is ran incorrectly (with power cords).....



It took me no time at all to realize what I had done, however, I still felt a little dumb. ;Blackeye

 

[Dom]

Cycling has no detectable impact on salinity. Evaporation changing water levels does, or it is test error.

Won't fluctuations in temp effect salinity?

 

[Dystinction]

I'm having picture issues...here's the image I was trying to show from my post above....

Won't fluctuations in temp effect salinity?

I believe they do, as the Apex probe is a conductivity probe, however, @Randy Holmes-Farley would be the man for a definitive answer, and lay down some science for us all!

 

[Benny Morosco]

I'm having picture issues...here's the image I was trying to show from my post above....

I believe they do, as the Apex probe is a conductivity probe, however, @Randy Holmes-Farley would be the man for a definitive answer, and lay down some science for us all!

it is right in line with your dips..

 

[Dystinction]

Actually, it's a little of both.
The green line is the power, and you can see when the power (heaters specifically) kicks on, the salinity probe reads an increase until the power cuts, then it drops back down.....like clockwork.

The lesson here, kids....don't run your conductivity probe wire parallel with your power cords.

 

[Benny Morosco]

I thought it would be more accurate ..I submitted a ticket with Apex ..lets see what they say..

 

[Dystinction]

Yeah, won't hurt.
I know there is an advance setting for TC value, but that is beyond me at this point.

BTW, welcome to R2R, and good luck with your cycle. Mine's just finishing. Be patient, it will happen!
Also, if you don't have a build thread out there, hook us all up and show us what you have going on.

 

[Benny Morosco]

Ok Apex got back to me with directions on doing probe calculation manually so I did it and it still reads higher than the refact meter..

 

[Rick Krejci]

I just adjusted my tank water to 35 on my calibrated refractometer and then used the tank water to calibrate the Apex salinity/conductivity probe. Been pretty accurate ever since. I would never use the probe for anything important, more just a good read of short term issues like ATO malfunctions.