Salinity Automation with Apex

[ca1ore]

Noodling over getting the salinity monitoring expansion module for my Apex. Does anyone use it to control anything, or just monitor? I was thinking about how it might be possible to actually control salinity levels with dosing pumps, but seems on the surface to be more trouble than its worth?

 

[tgunn]

It sounds like an interesting idea but realistically it isn't something that should fluctuate all that much if your ATO is functioning properly. Probably doing automated water changes would be another way of helping keep the salinity stable too and it isn't as subject to any error in reading or malfunction of the salinity probe.

 

[disc1]

It would be nice to see what the salinity is but I would stop short of any automation of adjusting it. I would be far more concerned that the probe might give me a bad reading than that the actual salinity in the tank would get very far off.

 

[cakemanPA]

I considered adding the probe to my APEX, but I would not ever be comfortable bumping up my salinity in an automated fashion. I do trust my osmollator to keep my water level stable which then keeps the salinity stable.

 

[slief]

I've been using the Conductivity probe with my Apex for a couple years now. It's a great device to monitor trends and use for fail safes such as shutting your ATO off if salinity gets to low or shutting off an automatic water change device if salinity gets too high. Both of which are things I use my probe for. That said, they can drift a bit over time as far as readings go and as such, I would not use my probe as a device to measure, raise and or lower salinity.

From my perspective, if you are using an ATO and managing the salinity levels of your water change water, there would be no reason to have to adjust your tanks salinity. If you salinity is drifting up or down, you are either not adding enough or are adding too much fresh water to replace your evaporated water or the salinity of your water change salt water is not matching that of your tank.

 

[ca1ore]

Thanks everyone for your observations. I am inclined to agree that salinity measurement is best left as monitoring, or as a fail safe.

 

[Epicreefer]

I have used a conductivity probe to monitor conductivity in fw and sw systems before. As long as you calibrate monthly you should be on par with actual value and it's ability to regulate your system. They work well but are more or less not needed unless you dose a high amount of supplements. If your dosing 1ml/gal of alk or CaCl or more it would help with keeping salinity stable long term. As far as inaccurate readings they are mostly from poor maintenance and a dirty probe.