Salinity Probe Useless

[pdxmonkeyboy]

ok, I have tried everything over the last 5 months.
1. recalibrate
2. reposition
3. recalibrate
4. re-route wires to avoid interference
5. cleaned the probe tip
5. put a foam "guard" around the sensor to prevent micro bubbles and pods from getting in the tip.

I get a good reading, then it starts fluctuating after a day or so. I think the longest I have ever gotten a correct reading is maybe 3-4 days.

so straight up... is the probe worthless? Or just more trouble than it is worth?

I know that some people have had good luck, certainly not the case in my situation.

advice?

 

[puffy127]

Worthless. I could never get a consistent reading on mine. Gave up on it long ago. I hardly ever check salinity anyways and certainly no need to constantly monitor it.

 

[jsker]

ok, I have tried everything over the last 5 months.
1. recalibrate
2. reposition
3. recalibrate
4. re-route wires to avoid interference
5. cleaned the probe tip
5. put a foam "guard" around the sensor to prevent micro bubbles and pods from getting in the tip.

I get a good reading, then it starts fluctuating after a day or so. I think the longest I have ever gotten a correct reading is maybe 3-4 days.

so straight up... is the probe worthless? Or just more trouble than it is worth?

I know that some people have had good luck, certainly not the case in my situation.

advice?

Get a digital refractometer, this is what I did.

Do you have a classic setup or the 2016? I am wondering if it has to do with the frimware. I have not had any issue up until the last frimware update. My salinity was right on. I went through the same process as you and bought a digital refractometer and now I know for sure what my salinity is.

 

[Skep18]

Worthless.

I keep mine stuck in a 1/2" or 3/4" PVC, forever the size, but it can sit around 35 for maybe a couple weeks at best. That said, when it trends I have zero confidence it's actually right.

 

[miPapareef]

I don’t think it’s worthless, it’s just sensitive. Not only to salinity change but a lot of things.

Here’s what my weekly data typically looks like.

The only way I could get it calibrated was to do the calibration in sump, with temp floated solutions, and not move the probe wires at all.

 

[stevenlu]

Lol checkout mine. Been like this for over half a year.

 

[Skep18]

Lol checkout mine. Been like this for over half a year.

Lol. Thank you for that. This is how accurate I imagine mine is in reality. I just feel better as the inaccuracy is calibrated around my favored value.

 

[TheHarold]

Worthless on my apex 2016 as well.

 

[ChadmRoman]

ok, I have tried everything over the last 5 months.
1. recalibrate
2. reposition
3. recalibrate
4. re-route wires to avoid interference
5. cleaned the probe tip
5. put a foam "guard" around the sensor to prevent micro bubbles and pods from getting in the tip.

I get a good reading, then it starts fluctuating after a day or so. I think the longest I have ever gotten a correct reading is maybe 3-4 days.

so straight up... is the probe worthless? Or just more trouble than it is worth?

I know that some people have had good luck, certainly not the case in my situation.

advice?

I was having a ***** of a time until I found this thread on Neptune’s forum. Zombies instructions in the following link calibrated the probe to 35ppt. Haven’t had any issues since. Good luck!
https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?24176-Help-with-Salinity-Probe&p=151154

 

[Waters]

Definitely not worthless but don't count on an accurate reading. If you use it strictly for trends, than it can be quite useful. For example, I use mine as a safeguard in case my ATO malfunctions.....regardless of what number the probe is reading initially, it will drop if a bunch of fresh water is dumped into the tank.

 

[ReeferNtraining]

I had the same problem when I got the 2016 Apex and probe. I gave up calibrating with solution. I used a refractometer and got my water a perfect 1.026 and then just calibrated the probe to my water. It’s been dead on accurate for 9 months with no recalibration.

 

[spifftempo]

The key is placement. Good flow, low micro-bubbles. Can be a difficult thing to come by in some sumps. My is placed on the opposite side of the intake on my return pump.

I use a true seawater refractometer, calibrate it with refractometer solution before verifying calibration and it matches perfectly with the Neptune Systems Salinity Probe that is calibrated with the Neptune Systems calibration solution.