Pinpoint calcium Monitor

Marinworld · 01/28/2006, 12:20 AM

Anyone have any experience with the new Pinpoint Calcium Monitor. Just purchased one, and have attempted to calibrate unit 5 times. Consistently get an "error" message. I follow the printed directions exactly as written, but unit will not function.

Is this a consistent "bug" in these, or did I just luck out and get a faulty unit?

Most irritated after spending $250.00+

Any suggestions, beside contacting American Marine or my supplier?

Marinworld

chadfarmer · 01/28/2006, 12:59 PM

send it back they are junk

orlenz · 01/28/2006, 01:14 PM

with all the calibration and probe cleaning required to keep them going and accurate, its faster and easier to just do a salifert calcium test.

aquadog · 01/28/2006, 01:16 PM

Contact Lou at American Marine. He is extremely helpful. You most likely have a problem with your calibration fluid. He will replace it and most likely your problem will be solved. Mine has been in use for over 1 year without any real problems. I have been using it continuously which is not suggested and it has been quite accurate. It is not junk... I would say it can be tempermental. Once you understand a little more about how it works you probably will like it... Good luck.

Ti · 01/28/2006, 01:21 PM

I was at the site, how do I contact lou?
The have a service number.
I'm having problems with my ph probe and i'd like to talk to them too.

Marinworld · 01/28/2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by orlenz
with all the calibration and probe cleaning required to keep them going and accurate, its faster and easier to just do a salifert calcium test.

That is exactly what I was trying to avoid by using the meter. Doing the lengthy titration test is a pain. Especially when most of the other parameters are metered. However, I do understand where your coming from. If indeed there is constant messing with the probe, etc., it isn't worth it.

Thanks for the advice to contact Lou, I am sending the entire unit back, and waiting for a replacement.

Marinworld

Matt Rise · 01/29/2006, 12:20 AM

I have a Pinpoint PH and Salinity and they have always worked fine....just my .02 in response to the "junk" comment.

chadfarmer · 01/29/2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chadfarmer
send it back they are junk

refuring to the calcium meter

i owned one also i never got the reading correct after calibrating and the calcium test was much faster

bought it when it first came out

jcraft · 01/29/2006, 01:17 PM

To put my two cents in . . .

I purchased the Ca monitor a couple weeks ago, and while it does look like ill be constantly calibrating it, in my case it still makes sense.

I'm colorblind, so the test kits they have out there,regardless of how long they take, are pointless.
When getting the monitor, saving time wasnt the reason

so far im happy

aquadog · 01/29/2006, 06:33 PM

There is a phone number on the front of the two page instruction manual. Most likely the calibration fluid is the problem. It only takes a few minutes to calibrate at least for me. I did have some problems at the beginning but have not had any problems since. I really like it. But maybe I am a lucky one...Good luck

Marinworld · 01/30/2006, 10:04 AM

Thanks to all that responded to my question on the Calcium Meter.

Aquadog, you said you think they are good, however, you keep mentioning that you had some problems initially. Can you elaborate on those problems.

I would like to use the unit on a continuous basis, but, if they are as inaccurate as one gentlemen said, I question if that would be a smart thing to do.

Perhaps the titration method although annoying, would be a more secure way of getting a proper and true reading.

Marinworld

ps. I have a call into "Lou" at American Marine.

chadfarmer · 01/30/2006, 10:33 AM

the unit cant be used on a continuous basis

you have to take it out after use than calibrate again to use

WY_REEFER · 01/30/2006, 10:37 AM

Someone did some testing on 2 of them against a very high dollar lab instrument. In the end my conclusion was they suck. Get your money back if you still can.

joelsaxton · 02/01/2006, 10:59 AM

I agree. I bought one. Although their customer service was exceptional, the calcium monitor itself was finicky, inconsistent, inaccurate, and ultimately useless.

I would wait for the next generation and see if they can actually get it to work right.

01/28/2006, 12:20 AM	#1
Marinworld Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 89	Pinpoint calcium Monitor Anyone have any experience with the new Pinpoint Calcium Monitor. Just purchased one, and have attempted to calibrate unit 5 times. Consistently get an "error" message. I follow the printed directions exactly as written, but unit will not function. Is this a consistent "bug" in these, or did I just luck out and get a faulty unit? Most irritated after spending $250.00+ Any suggestions, beside contacting American Marine or my supplier? Marinworld

01/28/2006, 12:59 PM	#2
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	send it back they are junk __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

01/28/2006, 01:21 PM	#5
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	I was at the site, how do I contact lou? The have a service number. I'm having problems with my ph probe and i'd like to talk to them too. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/30/2006, 10:33 AM	#12
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	the unit cant be used on a continuous basis you have to take it out after use than calibrate again to use __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

02/01/2006, 10:59 AM	#14
joelsaxton Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 932	I agree. I bought one. Although their customer service was exceptional, the calcium monitor itself was finicky, inconsistent, inaccurate, and ultimately useless. I would wait for the next generation and see if they can actually get it to work right. __________________ LED Technology: It's the Way of the Future Current Tank Info: 5.5g LED softie tank, 2.5gLED SPS tank with faux sandbed

01/28/2006, 01:14 PM	#3
orlenz Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 1,648	with all the calibration and probe cleaning required to keep them going and accurate, its faster and easier to just do a salifert calcium test.

01/28/2006, 01:16 PM	#4
aquadog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ct Posts: 167	Contact Lou at American Marine. He is extremely helpful. You most likely have a problem with your calibration fluid. He will replace it and most likely your problem will be solved. Mine has been in use for over 1 year without any real problems. I have been using it continuously which is not suggested and it has been quite accurate. It is not junk... I would say it can be tempermental. Once you understand a little more about how it works you probably will like it... Good luck.

01/29/2006, 12:20 AM	#7
Matt Rise Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 453	I have a Pinpoint PH and Salinity and they have always worked fine....just my .02 in response to the "junk" comment.

01/29/2006, 01:17 PM	#9
jcraft Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La Posts: 274	To put my two cents in . . . I purchased the Ca monitor a couple weeks ago, and while it does look like ill be constantly calibrating it, in my case it still makes sense. I'm colorblind, so the test kits they have out there,regardless of how long they take, are pointless. When getting the monitor, saving time wasnt the reason so far im happy

01/29/2006, 06:33 PM	#10
aquadog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ct Posts: 167	There is a phone number on the front of the two page instruction manual. Most likely the calibration fluid is the problem. It only takes a few minutes to calibrate at least for me. I did have some problems at the beginning but have not had any problems since. I really like it. But maybe I am a lucky one...Good luck

01/30/2006, 10:04 AM	#11
Marinworld Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 89	Thanks to all that responded to my question on the Calcium Meter. Aquadog, you said you think they are good, however, you keep mentioning that you had some problems initially. Can you elaborate on those problems. I would like to use the unit on a continuous basis, but, if they are as inaccurate as one gentlemen said, I question if that would be a smart thing to do. Perhaps the titration method although annoying, would be a more secure way of getting a proper and true reading. Marinworld ps. I have a call into "Lou" at American Marine.

01/30/2006, 10:37 AM	#13
WY_REEFER Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 120	Someone did some testing on 2 of them against a very high dollar lab instrument. In the end my conclusion was they suck. Get your money back if you still can.