PSA - Neptune Temp Probe

[DSMpunk]

Just a friendly warning out there for everyone with a Neptune temp probe.

I started having issues about a month ago. Most of my SPS were starting to fade in color. Then one by one they started bleaching white. Algae started kicking in and I lost a few frags. I was baffled, I started checking everything I could think of and everything looked good. ALK, Ca, Mg Specfic Gravity, temp etc. I bought a new 5 gallon bucket of salt to make sure I didnt have a bad batch.

Eventually I noticed the temp on the ACIII display was jumping from 60 degrees to 85 degrees back and forth. So I plugged my old aqua-medic controller in and it read 62 degrees! After I slowly brought the temp up to 78 degrees, everything started looking better.

Lesson learned. If you are having problems, dont assume your probes/test kits are accurate. Test and calibrate those probes and verify your test kits!

 

[Nykademus]

I hope everything is alright Sean.

 

[DSMpunk]

My tank is recovering and I think most everything is going to turn around. Unfortunately I lost all of my fish except for my clowns and my mandarin.

I just want to make sure this doesnt happen to anyone else here.

Looks like this is not uncommon problem though.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1321616

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1340509

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1330613

Those are just the ones I found in the Neptune forum from the last few weeks.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1333691 (By waverz )


The good news is they are no longer making those small unrealiable probes anymore. The new ones look completely different and they pulled the olds ones off the shelves.

Im going to email them to see if they will replace my current probe.

 

[waverz]

Yeah that sounds like a similar story for sure. Where did you read they are doing away with them? From the looks if it mine is the same one i had before only encased in eopxy with a rubber cap on the end, it went bad too. I'm on my 3rd one since Feb. and i have it double wrapped in a plastic baggie so it cant even get wet. IT's ghetto but i sleep better at night.

 

[DSMpunk]

This is what they are shipping now as I understand it.

Mine looks nothing like that.

Found it in this thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1341713

I sent Curt at neptune an email to confirm this.

 

[vid151]

I made Curt aware of a problem 1+ years ago as I had 2 fail in a month

I ended up with 2 temp probes and all the programming set up to fail safe ...

 

[snapperface]

I always run 2 temp probes to be sure

 

[DSMpunk]

They are going to ship me a new probe for free even though it is way out of warranty. At least they have good customer service.

So, to run two temp probes do you have to buy the probe expansion thing?

 

[vid151]

yes I have the expansion

I dont know of any way to run 2 probes with out it..

plus it is always a good idea to have a thermomiter in the tank as well..

DR