Solution for a finicky salinity probe?
- Thread starter jgvergo
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zoomonster
Valuable Member
I pretty much had a problem with mine since day one and went back and forth with Neptune. The conclusion is its highly susceptible to micro bubbles which I think you already know. I will say though mine has been in operation about 21 months now and it was only ever calibrated once. When its working correctly its spot on with my calibrated refractometer. My probes sit in the 2nd chamber of my sump surrounded by a wall of chaeto which protects from most bubbles. Occasionally I clean it and/or swish it around to get rid of bubbles. I have also noticed it seems slow to adjust to significant changes in salinity.
The original salinity probe back as far as probably the aquacontroller II days (had that one but no salinity probe) used a foam block around the base of the probe probably for this very reason. I suppose they figure this "improved" probe does not need it but it does and eventually I'm going to try that.
Overall reasonably happy with it for monitoring but I would never trust it for any type of control i.e. never use it to add salinity when too low or to control ATO.
The original salinity probe back as far as probably the aquacontroller II days (had that one but no salinity probe) used a foam block around the base of the probe probably for this very reason. I suppose they figure this "improved" probe does not need it but it does and eventually I'm going to try that.
Overall reasonably happy with it for monitoring but I would never trust it for any type of control i.e. never use it to add salinity when too low or to control ATO.
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jgvergo
Valuable Member
@zoomonster , much appreciated. I am beginning to really lower my expectations for the salinity probe. My perspective is that if you can't depend on the probe to accurately measure salinity, it's pretty worthless. I find myself using the refractometer 100% of the times I need an accurate reading.
