is there a device that monitors all levels

Calc, alk, ph, mag, salt, etc?
I am not sure if my test kits are the only way to go and was hoping there was a digital device that could monitor this stuff.

 

any of the high end controllers should do the trick.

~Will.

 

The constant calibration and monitoring that most of these do make it worth just using test kits also and only using the probes as a quick check.

As far as I know there is no CA monitor that works correctly at this point. The pinpoint one is said to be hit or miss and not for constant use.

 

There is no "one unit" that monitors everything. To the best of my knowledge, there are monitors for the following;
1. Cal
2. No3
3. SG
4. PH
5. ORP
6. O2
7. Conductivity
8. Temp.

I do have the Pinpoint Cal monitor and its a P.O.S. I even replaced the probe (and calibrated) and it still doesnt work properly. You would think that by having all these monitors life would be better, nothing is further from the truth. The truth of the matter is that they're more trouble than they're worth. In some units, the probe has to be replaced once a yr, the probe "should" be recalibrated every 6 months or so, in most cases, replacing the probe costs more than the whole package. Take my Cal monitor for ex, to replace the probe was $199.00 but a new package costs $249.99 I've also had the PH monitor and it works pretty good. The only negative side is that you have to recalibrate every 4-6 months. The only monitors that I have found to work great are the ones that come with the controllers, like Neptune Systems. Down side to these controllers, they dont monitor that many elements. Trust me when I tell you that its better just to use test kits.


Luna

 

Good advice, Luna. Another consideration is the lack of necessity to monitor everything; if and when you have a good handle on the biggies. By good handle I mean consistency from month to month. For example, if you monitor pH, AND run a calcium reactor--AND have a steady reading in the 8.1-8.3 range, this is a somewhat reliable barometer of your calcium, alkalinity and magnesium being pretty close to within acceptable ranges.

If this is incorrect, accept my apology in advance, but from what I understand; those 4 readings are a group that act somewhat as a whole. If the alk is too high, calcium would drop, and the converse being true--if calcium is too high, alk can't be at it's peak either, and this would throw off the pH. Take with that the generalization that calcium and alkalinity can't be in true balance without magnesium being within acceptable range--it's a package deal.

The other side of that coin is that if your calcium, alk, and magnesium are in balance, it's pretty difficult for your pH to be off to the extent where you'd be missing acceptable reef parameters.

Perhaps some of the heavy hitters could chime in on this and tell me if I'm in the ballpark with these statements.

 

Yes, you are correct in your way of thinking and BTW, you are one of those "heavy hitters" that you speak of. ;D


Luna

 

I was a lazy reefer. I had a conductivity (SG) monitor, a pH monitor, and a temperature monitor. All made by pinpoint. I had my dosing dialed in and I maybe checked Ca, Alk, and Mg every other month.

 

The Reefkeeper Lite and Reefkeeper Elite from Digital Aquatics will monitor and control pH, ORP, Salinity, Temperature, lighting, moonlights, pumps and Liquid level all with one controller. Thats about as close as I have seen to what you are wanting. The RK Lite starts at $99 including pH and Temperature as well as many functions like lighting control. I just ordered the RK Lite level 3 with a Moonlight controller to do all of the above except salinity and ORP at this point.