RKL Module?? Salinity or ORP, which test is more useful?

It seems as though I have been filled with questions lately, but its better to ask than not know..

well, I am about to order a Reefkeeper Lite and I am deciding between the SL1 and SL2 modules. On the SL1 module, you get Temperature, ORP, and Ph readings. On the SL2 you get Temp, Salinity, and Ph readings..

Now, In your expert opinions, which module would you choose and why..

Thank You.. and K+ for answers..
;D

 

salinity.

ORP is one of those really useless readings IME.

 

thanks Horkn.. I appreciate it.. I still dont know why ORP is really measured ..

 

ORP wont be much use to you now if you dont have Ozone which is a means to control ORP. Knowing the reading is not much use to you at present IMO

salinity is a very basic test and does not vary if you stay on top of evaporation weekly testing is adequate for most people

so Id possibly go with ORP - just in case I ever do go deeper into the hobby and want to know and then control my water quality Via Ozone

there is no right answer here Bama, and I might even change my mind again later

Steve

 

do you want to know why ORP is measured?

Steve

 

Yes, please tell..

 

OK Bama

ORP or Redox potential, is a measure in millivolts of a given bodies ability to oxidise waste product ( laymens terms means the waste is broken down, burned off, ceases to be.)

Saturated oxygen or 03 or Ozone, if added to your system increases the systems ability to burn off these wastes and thus maintain your water quality/ control your nutrient parameters

so knowing your ORP can often be a good way of assesing your water quality and linked to a controller, you can then govern the use of Ozone generator, in that it produces and releases Ozone into your set up if your ORP falls below a pre set and stops producing Ozone when you water hits the desired level you have set


Steve

 

honestly either way you cant go wrong.... I have very little understanding of ORP. but from what very little I know it can tell you if things are crappin out on in your tank.... your ORP rises. thats what I know.... maybe inaccurate.

Salinity probe can be a great safety tool. For example OP's tank recently. all the ro water that dumped into his tank. if your ato fails and tops off too much water your controller can shutoff all power to that tank if salinity drops below 1.021. just throwin it out there. not sure if the RKL is capable of such a safety. but food for thought.

 

I would go for salinity over ORP unless you're running ozone like said before. I think ORP is something you can affect less than salinity and I would keep a closer eye on salinity than ORP since as long as you have a well running system your ORP should be fine. That said you can get a refractometer cheap you just have to remember to use it and calibrate it regularly, and there's no cheap solution for ORP testing that I'm aware of.

So really there's pros and cons to each solution, fancy that in the reef tank biz, a neither here nor there answer!

 

I plan on buying the SL2 because I have no use for my SL1 that came with my RKE. I plan on setting an alarm for both low and high salinity. I can set my evap fans to turn off in case of high salinity. Or turn off my ato and get an email alert if it is too low. I still haven't bought the ORP probe for my SL1 because I don't care too much about it.. I will eventually just for fun I guess..

If I had to pick one or the other, I'd get the SL2 and make sure you pick up a salinity probe because I don't think it's included.. You're lucky you get to pick!!!