Please help on setting up new apex

Jyetman · 03/19/2014, 06:31 PM

I just mounted and plugged in my apex. The temp probe is reading 79.9 and my $5.00 floating glass thermometer (Which I thought was a true temp) and jbj chiller (set to glass thermometer) shows 79.0 who should I trust? Any advise setting up lab PH probe that's next.

Breadman03 · 03/19/2014, 06:43 PM

Procedure for calibrating a foodservice thermometer:

1. Fill cup with crushed ice.

2. Fill same cup with cold water.

3. Immerse thermometer probe in icewater.

4. Verify that thermometer indicates 32F or 0C. Adjust as needed.

You can use that to determine which is correct, but that difference is well within acceptable tolerances. The main thing is that your temperature stays relatively stable, not the small difference between thermometers.

mkoop · 03/19/2014, 06:48 PM

The apex temp probes come factory calibrated, they do not require calibration.

The pH probe is easy to calibrate just follow directions provided.

ska d · 03/19/2014, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoop

The apex temp probes come factory calibrated, they do not require calibration.

The pH probe is easy to calibrate just follow directions provided.

If you want a good laugh watch the BRS video on calibrating temp probes for apex. He even says Neptune is going to kill him for showing us. He had two new (i think) temp probes both plugged into the apex and they were showing completely different readings. One was like 76 and the other 78 or somethimg. So just because Neptune claims their probes are "factory" calibrated it means didley. I guees we have to stay away from those probes that were calibrated on a friday.

Jyetman · 03/19/2014, 07:06 PM

Thanks but what about the ph probe from what I read it says to remove shipping cap from new probe and rinse in tap water place in tank. It doesn't say to calibrate first time but every so often. Does this mean the probe is already factory calibrated and just install it in the tank?

mkoop · 03/19/2014, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyetman

Thanks but what about the ph probe from what I read it says to remove shipping cap from new probe and rinse in tap water place in tank. It doesn't say to calibrate first time but every so often. Does this mean the probe is already factory calibrated and just install it in the tank?

Full systems come with calibration fluid, otherwise you have to buy it

Quote:

Originally Posted by ska d

If you want a good laugh watch the BRS video on calibrating temp probes for apex. He even says Neptune is going to kill him for showing us. He had two new (i think) temp probes both plugged into the apex and they were showing completely different readings. One was like 76 and the other 78 or somethimg. So just because Neptune claims their probes are "factory" calibrated it means didley. I guees we have to stay away from those probes that were calibrated on a friday.

Interesting, I would have never thought. Mine matched the temp probe on my tds meter exactly so I figured they were all good.

FullBoreReefer · 03/19/2014, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jyetman

I just mounted and plugged in my apex. The temp probe is reading 79.9 and my $5.00 floating glass thermometer (Which I thought was a true temp) and jbj chiller (set to glass thermometer) shows 79.0 who should I trust? Any advise setting up lab PH probe that's next.

My glass thermometer shows 78. Apex shows 78.9.

Glass thermometer maybe be right but hard to visually see exactly. So my apex may be correct. I did not calibrate apex, I just roll with it...

LobsterOfJustice · 03/20/2014, 08:21 AM

.9 of a difference isnt really enough to matter. When I set up my apex I just assumed the probe was right and went with it. I recently purchased a PM1 to run a second temp probe in my QT tank... out of curiosity I put the second probe in the main tank next to the first probe and they read over 1.5 degrees off. After thinking about it, I decided that the main tank had been doing well over the past 9 months that I've had the apex, so even if that first probe was off I didn't care, so I just calibrated the second probe to read the same as the first and called it a day.

BTW: You can't do the ice/water calibration with the apex temp probe. I tried and couldn't get the temp probe to read lower than the low 40's.

03/19/2014, 06:31 PM	#1
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	Please help on setting up new apex I just mounted and plugged in my apex. The temp probe is reading 79.9 and my $5.00 floating glass thermometer (Which I thought was a true temp) and jbj chiller (set to glass thermometer) shows 79.0 who should I trust? Any advise setting up lab PH probe that's next.

03/19/2014, 06:48 PM	#3
mkoop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Madison WI Posts: 387	The apex temp probes come factory calibrated, they do not require calibration. The pH probe is easy to calibrate just follow directions provided. __________________ much to learn. Current Tank Info: 180 mixed reef

03/20/2014, 08:21 AM	#8
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	.9 of a difference isnt really enough to matter. When I set up my apex I just assumed the probe was right and went with it. I recently purchased a PM1 to run a second temp probe in my QT tank... out of curiosity I put the second probe in the main tank next to the first probe and they read over 1.5 degrees off. After thinking about it, I decided that the main tank had been doing well over the past 9 months that I've had the apex, so even if that first probe was off I didn't care, so I just calibrated the second probe to read the same as the first and called it a day. BTW: You can't do the ice/water calibration with the apex temp probe. I tried and couldn't get the temp probe to read lower than the low 40's. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

03/19/2014, 06:43 PM	#2
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	Procedure for calibrating a foodservice thermometer: 1. Fill cup with crushed ice. 2. Fill same cup with cold water. 3. Immerse thermometer probe in icewater. 4. Verify that thermometer indicates 32F or 0C. Adjust as needed. You can use that to determine which is correct, but that difference is well within acceptable tolerances. The main thing is that your temperature stays relatively stable, not the small difference between thermometers.

03/19/2014, 07:06 PM	#5
Jyetman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,712	Thanks but what about the ph probe from what I read it says to remove shipping cap from new probe and rinse in tap water place in tank. It doesn't say to calibrate first time but every so often. Does this mean the probe is already factory calibrated and just install it in the tank?