using 2 ph probes kalk+Apex

[james1990]

I have a unique situation I need help with,

I use the Kalk King system which is an ATO that has a separate reactor that doses Kalk solution when the PH probe detects low PH. Once PH limit is reached, it bypasses the kalk reactor and doses RODI. This is an all in one system.

Now the problem....

I use the lab grade probe that came with my Apex and I consider it the most accurate. I added the Kalk King that came with its own Ph probe. The two probes are off by .3 - .5

So what I did was ditch the KalkKing probe and hooked up my lab grade to the Kalk King head unit, then hooked up the Apex to the Kalk King. (Kalk King told me this was okay)

Is there any way I can use both probes and hook up the 2nd probe directly to the PH/ORP port and change the ORP to read PH? This would give me 1 probe to run the Kalk King, and another directly to the Apex as a back up reading and fail safe.

am I correct on this? Also, Can I calibrate both probes at the same time?

 

[james1990]

No one using two ph probes?

 

[Widdy]

Yes, you can run both pH probes, 2nd probe on the pH/Orp port.

Disable the ORP in your Probe Setup like:

And enable the pH on the pH/ORP port:

That's how I run 2 pH probes for my calcium reactor setup. I calibrated both probes one after another using the same solution, not at the same time.

 

[viplok]

Yes, you can run both pH probes, 2nd probe on the pH/Orp port.

Disable the ORP in your Probe Setup like:

And enable the pH on the pH/ORP port:

That's how I run 2 pH probes for my calcium reactor setup. I calibrated both probes one after another using the same solution, not at the same time.

thats only if he have the apex full :bunny::bunny::bunny:

 

[Widdy]

True, I'm just going to assume it's the full kit.

 

[james1990]

Yea I do have the full apex thanks. That's the info I needed thanks.

The kalk king came with a battery powered ph digital display that has a small turn screw to calibrate the probe, it doesn't use the 7,10 solution but the other one (can't remember the numbers)

Is there a way to calibrate both probes on the apex then use one on the kalk king and one on the apex? Once the kalk king is hooked up to the apex ph port and another probe on the orp port, which reading will show on the apex?

Sorry but this is rather confusing maybe someone else will have the same questions

 

[Widdy]

Is there a way to calibrate both probes on the apex then use one on the kalk king and one on the apex?

No, I don't believe so. The need to be individually calibrated.

Once the kalk king is hooked up to the apex ph port and another probe on the orp port, which reading will show on the apex?

What do you mean which reading? It can show both if you want. Enable it in the Display Setup screen.

 

[james1990]

Ok, if they have to be calibrated separately then they prob won't have the same exact readings but the variance should be small.

In order to calibrate the kalk king probe I need to use their supplied ph monitor to set the value the same as the calibration solution by turning the screw, but then it's no longer connected to the apex? this is what's messing me up, I'm going to email kalk king and figure this out, who ever is still interested thanks and please keep helping a fellow reefer lol

 

[lnevo]

Its not the probe that gets calibrated. I think thats the confusion you are having. The apex and kalk king are getting calibrated to the probe because each probe is different. With the kk you are putting it in a known solution and then adjusting the meter to that solution. With the apex its recording the high and low readings in the 7 and 10 solution. You'll never be identical because they are using different methods and even if they were they may have their own algorithms to convert the electrical reading from the ph probe into the ph number.

 

[james1990]

So I'm looking for a range between the two probes. It's annoying because there is a big difference between 7.800 and 8.25 when your trying to grow 1 inch sticks lol

 

[lnevo]

I would think the apex is going to be more accurate. What i would do is calibrate apex and kalk king individually and then set the kalk king to dose based on the real ph reading that you see on apex. Whatever it reads is arbitrary. You could also put a failsafe on the apex to shut off kk and send an alert if the kalk king gets screwed up.

 

[james1990]

so I spoke with Kong from Kalk King and he told me I can calibrate both probes using the Apex as follows.

calibrate the KK probe using 4.7 solution, then the apex probe using 7,10.

the KK probe goes into the KK head unit. the apex goes into the port on the KK head unit that the ph reader was meant to plug into. the Apex probe goes into the second PH/ORP port on apex.

now what happens when I need to run another ph probe on the cal reactor?!?! three ph probes is crazy!

 

[Pseudo]

Then you will need a PM1 for the additional probe port.

 

[james1990]

and the shopping continues lol It feels right though. Having kalk on its own PH controller, the tank itself on one, and of course the CA reactor. Its the only way to stay in consistent ranges. Looks like ill be on the apex forums when this all goes down

 

[james1990]

is it a bad sign when I'm calibrating my new probe that the settling number never changed on my apex?