probe recommendations please

[coralcruze]

can anyone recommend a good lab grade probe that will work well with the Neptune Apex?

unfortunatly, Neptune will not cover the warrante on my lab grade probe that I used for a short 2 1/2 months. what a total waste of good money

I have heard that they use pinpoint to make thier probes so I will be staying away from those unless everyone tells me that there is a differance between the "official" pinpoints and the ones made for Neptune. Otherwise I would love to hear some recomendations for a good lab grade probe that works well with the apex.

Thanks

 

[swearint]

I cannot make any recommendation, but here is a potential source:

http://www.omega.com/pptst/PHE1300_1400_2300.html

Todd

 

[bvoss]

I don't know about lab grade, but the best probes I have every used for ORP and pH are the cheap ones from BRS. They have been more accurate, stable, and long-lasting than any other probe I have tried.

They have been a nice surprise.

 

[coralcruze]

I don't know about lab grade, but the best probes I have every used for ORP and pH are the cheap ones from BRS. They have been more accurate, stable, and long-lasting than any other probe I have tried.

They have been a nice surprise.

Thats so good to hear... I actually called John at BRS and he told me that thier warrantee is 6 months on the probes but if it goes in 7 to just call them and they will take care of me. Thats customer service... Many vendors should learn from thier example.

I have been using the guys at BRS now for many years and they always took care of me no matter what. John especially has stayed on the phone to troubleshoot many times for hours at a time. I will be buying the BRS brand one. In fact I'll buy it in bulk so I have several on hand.

Much appreciated.

is this the probe from BRS? Its $29
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...-ph-probe.html

 

[coralcruze]

I just got the "preffered" rate for the probe so I paid $27 per probe x 3 plus I also got some cash back incentives from my brs reward points that I used towards the purchase of these probes. I purchased 3 probes so I have some laying around when I need it in a bind. They are warranteed for 6 months. I paid $76 shipped to my door for 3, lol thats the cost of one neptune probe thats waranteed at less than half the time as the brs probes and you better make sure you report your problem if one fails to exercize your replacement right and then you will be asked to send in the probe so they can test it and pay shipping to them.

To me its a no brainer...

There are rip offs and there are bargains, you just have to look for them and watch out for the others. Lets face it, Neptune may be a good product but when you have one weak link the rest can seem like a dissapointment. especially when the customer isn't supported when the product fails prematurely. Thanks again bvoss for reminding me of BRS. Much appreciated.

 

[bvoss]

Try the ORP probes sometime.

I used to use a PinPoint ORP, and I had to clean it twice a week. The readings were always drifting around.

For some reason the BRS ORP Probe only needs a cleaning every couple months.

 

[coralcruze]

Try the ORP probes sometime.

I used to use a PinPoint ORP, and I had to clean it twice a week. The readings were always drifting around.

For some reason the BRS ORP Probe only needs a cleaning every couple months.

I'm already using the BRS ORP probes... they are great and also a fraction of the price. I've actually never cleaned them once. which is now about 3.5 months later. I'll go ahead and clean them today. Thanks again...

 

[aleonn]

Purchased the BRS pH probes recently and will hopefully have time to install them tonight or tomorrow. For that price, it's like getting 2 for 1!

 

[coralcruze]

Purchased the BRS pH probes recently and will hopefully have time to install them tonight or tomorrow. For that price, it's like getting 2 for 1!

I actually got 3-1 Installed it last night... this morning I noticed that my calcium reactors PH was heading down just as expected. I was able to calibrate it within .001 accuracy. I have to adjust my alk/calcium levels now... so I will be shutting the unit back down, make the adjustments and then I'll be finnally back in buisness.

If this works out well, I won't be buying anything else from neptune/pinpoint and saving a bundle while at it. I'll post the resulots soon.

 

[jlylec]

Any update on this? Great to hear that you can use different probes on the Apex system. Everyone seems to love the controller, but the probes do seem pricey. I'm about to pull this trigger on this so this was a good thread to read. Can you hook other 'different' things up to the Apex controller? i.e. do you have to use their powerbars, etc.? I want the best results and am willing to spend a bit more on this system, but if there are better options out there for less money (like this probe issue) it's a no brainer!

 

[aquamanic]

You need the Neptune power bars. They have intelligence and communicate with the base module. I think the only probes people have swapped are pH and ORP. Temp has a special connector and I'm not aware of anyone changing out DO or Salinity.