I’ve been reading about these and finally decided to get one. It should arrive today. I‘m ridiculously excited about it. 
Apera PH60 - What a difference cleaning it makes...
- Thread starter jesse-99
- Start date
- May 23, 2015
- 25,709
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I’ve been reading about these and finally decided to get one. It should arrive today. I‘m ridiculously excited about it.
Did you buy any of the extra calibrating fluids?
What’s included will get you a basic calibration, good enough for government work. But you’ll need to use the extended range calibration fluids, especially the conductivity ones, if you want to do any advanced water testing (like tap water or bottled water). You should also get a small bottle of the 3M KCl storage fluid.
Read the instructions CAREFULLY. The calibration procedure has a very specific flow to it and it’s something you have to do with all of the fluids ready to go in front of you. If you fiddle around trying to pour stuff into containers while trying to calibrate, the probe will time out on you.
Always rinse under tap water when you are done and ALWAYS store it in the KCl fluid when not in use. Also, NEVER turn it on while the probe is in the KCl solution. It’s way too concentrated with conductive ions and you can easily burn out the probe if it’s left that way.
Good luck and have fun.
I did order the bottle of KCI along with it, read that I would need it on one of the threads here. Thank you for the extra info - will follow carefully!
I second what @JoyfulNoise stated about the calibration process - have all the calibration fluids poured in the proper bottles so you can move from 1 calibration task to the next.
The instructions are not well written.
My Apera kit came with some calibration fluid (for all 3 calibration points) that got me through the first several calibrations - I do them every 3 months.
I have purchased the attached from Amazon and it is fine.
Howdy all! So, I haven’t had time to mess with it until today. I did the calibration, then tested pool water and got 7.34.
For funsies, I did the Phenol red test and was torn between 7.5 and 7.8.
Close enough?
For funsies, I did the Phenol red test and was torn between 7.5 and 7.8.
Close enough?
- May 23, 2015
- 25,709
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Did you calibrate fully with all three standards (4.1, 7.0, and 10.1)? Waiting each time for the smiley face icon?
Did you wait for the smiley face icon when testing the pool?
I only received 2 calibration standards, 1413 S Calibration Solution and 12.88 mS Calibration Solution.
Yep, I waited for stable smiley face each time. I went from one cal to the other without rinsing or turning off meter, but I did turn it off and rinsed with a small amount of distilled water before testing the pool sample - was that a mistake?
Also, I did my phenol red first, then tested FC, CYA, TA and salt before I started with the PH60, so the sample water sat for a few minutes between PH test and meter test. Could that be a factor?
And so sorry for hijacking thread! And the instructions that came with meter really need some work.
Yep, I waited for stable smiley face each time. I went from one cal to the other without rinsing or turning off meter, but I did turn it off and rinsed with a small amount of distilled water before testing the pool sample - was that a mistake?
Also, I did my phenol red first, then tested FC, CYA, TA and salt before I started with the PH60, so the sample water sat for a few minutes between PH test and meter test. Could that be a factor?
And so sorry for hijacking thread! And the instructions that came with meter really need some work.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,709
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Did you get any pH calibration fluids? I thought it would have come with at least the 7.0 and 10 standards?
Nope. I think someone linked to them earlier in this thread - I’ll have to order them.
Ack, they sent me the wrong meter! No wonder it doesn’t match up with what you guys are saying!
Getting replacement delivered tomorrow and returning this one. It tests salinity among other things but I’m happy just using K-1766.
Getting replacement delivered tomorrow and returning this one. It tests salinity among other things but I’m happy just using K-1766.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,709
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
So they sent you a conductivity meter or is it a combo pH/EC meter?
Conductivity/tds/salinity. I stupidly paid no attention when I opened it!
At least that’s a relief….. the real one should have 3 fluids
Wait a bit longer than the smiley face…. There can sometimes be multiple smiley faces as it’s reading right near the end… sometimes it moves an additional tenth.
I usually put the meter in and do other tests and then read it
Wait a bit longer than the smiley face…. There can sometimes be multiple smiley faces as it’s reading right near the end… sometimes it moves an additional tenth.
I usually put the meter in and do other tests and then read it
I was scratching my head when I first read this. What a relief that you had the incorrect kit.
My Apera PH60 came with 3 bottles of calibration fluid as described by @JoyfulNoise .
It states you can reuse the fluid twice before discarding it. Even if you discard after each use, I think you can get 3 calibration periods in before the fluid they supply is fully consumed.
I then bought the calibration fluids I linked to earlier in this thread.
@kellyfair I know it’s been said before but it will come with a tiny bottle of the KCL solution. You want to buy a big bottle and keep the cap always filled to the mark and store the meter in it. If you atore the case upright nothing spills. Change the solution when it evaporates to not covering the tip.
Also, swirl the meter a bit when you put it in so that any air bubbles escape. Air bubbles and dry tips are your enemy in addition to calibration. It becomes second nature fast though for wet storage and swirling.
Also, swirl the meter a bit when you put it in so that any air bubbles escape. Air bubbles and dry tips are your enemy in addition to calibration. It becomes second nature fast though for wet storage and swirling.
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Popped open replacement today - that’s more like it! Meter tested 7.89 and phenol red was a hair deeper than 7.8 but not as vibrant as 8.2. So I’m happy!