legit or quit?

I can't comment on that particular probe. The standard Apex pH probes are $45, so $8 seems suspect, even taking into account the high markups typically seen in the aquarium industry. No idea if it's compatible with the standard controllers, either, although I suspect it would be.

On the other hand, if you get it and it doesn't work, you're only out $10

In general, I haven't found it necessary to monitor pH that closely. If you maintain proper Alkalinity, the pH generally follows. The only time I've had an issue was when I was doing hypo salinity, so the Ca & Alk were way off as well.
 
i appreciate the feedback and i completely agree its only $10 but if i dont have to blow $10 because someone else has then why not ask :)
 
i have one of those on my apex right now. seems to work just fine. but i dont think it reads as well as a neptune one. always seems to change by .02 at a time!
 
I would not trust a pH probe that cheap. Even the $39-45 ones common in this hobby make me a little nervous considering lab grade pH probes typically cost $300-600+.
 
While I disagree that high quality lab grade ph probes will cost you anywhere near $300, let alone $600, there is no way I would trust my tank to an $8 probe off of eBay. Really? You're going to put all of your livestock at risk to save $40 - $100 on a probe that will last you a couple of years? Sorry, but I don't understand that at all. Why bother monitoring ph if you can't trust the probe that you are using?
 
Give it a shot and follow up with basic test kits to see how accurate it is. You could become a hero on here if you find a cheap reliable alternative. Happens from time to time.
 
DaveMorris said:
While I disagree that high quality lab grade ph probes will cost you anywhere near $300, let alone $600,
Click to expand...

The probes we use in our quality assurance chemistry labs run about $466.00 each. That's not to say you couldn't find a descent probe good enough for aquarium use in the $40-100 range. My point is when you consider $466 quality vs. $8 quality, the difference is :lolspin: :lol:

http://nelsonjameson.com/METTLER-TOLEDO-Ingold-Xerolyte-pH-Electrode-p1201.html

Anyways, if you do try out the $8 probe, I would only use it for monitoring the pH. Absolutely do not use it on a controller or make any big decisions based on the readings you get.

My guess is it will work great for a couple weeks. Then you'll start seeing weird numbers and attempts to re-calibrate will fail.
 
reef208 said:
I would not trust a pH probe that cheap. Even the $39-45 ones common in this hobby make me a little nervous considering lab grade pH probes typically cost $300-600+.
Click to expand...

Neptune lab grade probes are about $50 to $70 dollars but I would install it as a 2nd probe to test it out.
 
I have this exact probe, it works great. Once calibrated, it's very accurate and seems to have held its calibration over the course of the month I've had it (I have 4 7 and 10 and it's read all of them perfectly every time I check it).

Not sure it's always necessary to pay a fortune for lab grade equipment when you really just need a "ballpark" estimate for most things anyway.

I do store it in KCl when not in use, and it only gets used about once a week, though.

Read and understand http://www.barrreport.com/forum/bar...ffective-use-and-care-of-ph-meters-and-probes
 
I have to add this update. I had gotten the $8 ebay pH probe and calibrated it and installed it on my aquarium w the added PM1 I bought for it. The difference in the values of the two probes ($8 eBay and the regular Neptune pH probe that was 4 mos old) slowly went from .01 to .22 recently and i figured after a few months it was time to recalibrate them. I was VERY surprised to see that with new calibration solution, the Neptune probe had been reading .23 off... the eBay Chinese probe had skewed only.01 from the calibrated values. Interesting enough. Hmmm
 
That is actually very surpriseing. Even though i dont check pH anymore it is still intresting to see how they compair
 
Neptune wouldn't use the $0.59 probe and rebrand it, mark it up and resell it now would they? Would you even know? I'll bet they all come from China.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

slief
MTC MiniCal dual chamber calcium Reactor w/ Aluminum Co2 tank, regulator & controller
Replies
19
Views
4K
slief
slief
J
what do you think about this
Replies
1
Views
502
Jim.mer
Jim.mer
R
Why I am confident running a Jebao DP-4 dosing pump
Replies
4
Views
4K
Sharpimage
S
B
Replacement PH Probe for my American Marine Pinpoint pH Monitor
Replies
0
Views
497
byee
B
Devaji108
Ebay glass hole saws any good?
Replies
14
Views
1K
Devaji108
Devaji108
Back
Top