Problem with salinity probe

Expansion modules and attachments
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AnthonyK
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:51 pm

Problem with salinity probe

Post by AnthonyK »

I got the salinity attachment for my RA+ unit about 2 weeks ago. The problem I'm having with it is that almost as soon as I'm done calibrating it the reading starts dropping and continues to drop, could this be a bad probe? I've tried calibrating it to regular salt water mixed to 35ppt, and then last week I bought the little bottle of solution and recalibrate it to 35ppt. Now a week later it's all the way down to 23.6ppt. Any ideas?
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by rimai »

Probably bubbles or temp swings.
Try moving to a spot without bubbles.
Roberto.
rossbryant1956
Posts: 471
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:08 pm
Location: Montgomery Village, MD

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by rossbryant1956 »

Take a look at your portal web chart...look something like this?

Image

Mine has been doing this since I got it and I cannot figure it out. Many have blamed it on stray voltage but I've added grounding probes, even unplugged everything for a while on a rebuild and no better. I've changed out the probe, moved it around, to no avail.

Let me know if you figure anything out.
Roscoe's Reefs - Starting Over Again:

Building new 29g Nano after landlord went berserk over my 4 75 gallon tanks, Multiple RA's, Water mixing stations, etc. Your help welcomed in remembering all I've forgotten.
AnthonyK
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:51 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by AnthonyK »

Took the probe out of the sump, shook the water off, and put it back in. It went right back to 35ppt, but then immediately started dropping again. It's not a fast drop, maybe .2-.3 per hour, but fast enough that it's concerning.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by rimai »

What happens if you place the probe in a cup with tank water?
Roberto.
AnthonyK
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:51 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by AnthonyK »

Got home from work today and it was back down to 23.9

I just put it in a cup of tank water, it went back up to 35. I'll update you on what it's reading tomorrow, usually drops slowly over the course of a day.
AnthonyK
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:51 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by AnthonyK »

Still dropped, but not as much. In the glass of tank water it made it down to around 32 after 2 days.
rimai
Posts: 12881
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by rimai »

That difference is probably due to temperature difference.
It is very difficult to see what is happening because we don't have log of your controller in the portal.
Roberto.
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jsclownfish
Posts: 378
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Louis

Re: Problem with salinity probe

Post by jsclownfish »

My graphs looked almost identical to the one above when I first got it and I moved it to the other side of my sump and it works smoothly. I think it was collecting air bubbles in the first position.

-Jon
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