http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/xaoss23/RK2_UI.jpg http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/xaoss23/RK2_small.jpg

Sammy from www.aquabuys.com (http://www.aquabuys.com) is offering a Reef Keeper 2 power buy.

Buy the RK2 at our regular price $268.99 + tax and get the following FREE stuff
FREE MI pH Probe
2 FREE pH 7.0 Packets
2 FREE pH 10.0 Packets
FREE shipping! (Domestic USA only)
Over $50.00 of FREE Stuff!

Expansion Socket (optional) Special Power Buy Pricing $39.99!

No minimum order!
The Power Buy will be active until April 30th.

Please contact www.aquabuys.com (http://www.aquabuys.com) for payment and shipping info. I would like to thank Aqua Buys for this power buy.

I would also like to add you get my program ReefTool for free... oh yeah... hijack and a plug in the same post.

Good deal and big thanks to Aquabuys for coming through.

Thanks Sprayin and Aquabuys! I'll call and order mine tomorrow.

What's the MI pH probe? Is it not the same one as the one from Digital Aquatics? Also, what are pH packets?

Ph packets contain the calibration fluid 10 and 7.

MI pH probe is a Milwaukee brand pH probe.

The Power Buy Will be active until April 30th.

Does anyone have any information on the Milwaukee brand pH probe? Ive noticed its a lot cheaper than the others.

I can't remember where I read it, but someone compared a series of non-lab probes and the Milwaukee probe tied for first in accuracy beating out Reef Fanatic and ACJrs probes. It tied Pinpoint I believe.

A pH probe is a pH probe is a pH probe. There are differences when you get really high end, but since none of us spend hundreds of dollars on a single proble, we'll never see one. The concept is the same on all probes, and any probe should work on any device, assuming it's properly calibrated.

I haven't seen the test that cameron's referring to. My first questions would be -

1) what was the accuracy differences? I'm not concerned with 100th pH differences, but more instability
2) how many samples of each proble did they test?
3) did it really make a difference in the real world? I'm guessing not...

In short- any pH probe will work with the RK2 for reef needs.

1. The measured after calibration values were within .02 of the lab probe.

2. I believe it was a personal test and only one of each probe was used.

3. Not really no. I think the PinPoint, Milk probes measured either right on the lab probe or .01 off. The ReefFanatic was oddly .01 off virtually all the time and the ACjr was the most erratic at up to .02. Didn't test RK2 probe or any others.

The test was obviosly to the 100ths and no further.

Thanks for the followup. I think that supports my claim that they're all the same. It seems that I remember reading that there are only one or two main manufacturers of probes (and the rest were resellers), but I could be wrong.

In either case, a difference of 8.15 and 8.16 won't make a difference in a reef tank...

I would agree.

So the bottom line is... when buying a ph prob look for the one with the lowest price, correct?

That's what I do, and haven't run into any problems. If you feel better by having a more expensive probe, go for it.

AquaBuys has the RJ-11 Splitter for sale too.

One clarifying question: The 8 plug module is the set of 8 plugs that the RK2 can control individually and it's included with the cost, correct?

Also, I saw they are on back order. Any ETA?

One clarifying question: The 8 plug module is the set of 8 plugs that the RK2 can control individually and it's included with the cost, correct?

Yes.

Also, I saw they are on back order. Any ETA?

We haven't been notified of any being on backorder... you can contact Sammy at AquaBuys (http://www.aquabuys.com/) about delivery times when placing your order. In order to get the special PowerBuy pricing you must contact AquaBuys directly, not through their website.

(from AquaBuys Contact Us page)
Phone order hours are M-F 10am to 5pm EST. Call us at 678-218-0700.

yes they are on back order. He is going to place on big order in a few days. He told me that once there they will ship immediately. UPS ground is the shipping service. I ordered everything including some extras and and it will be like two weeks before I receive my order. Remember that the shipping is free.

Thank you to everyone who has ordered the ReefKeeper2 Powerbuy so far. We are already sold out but have more on order that should be in stock around April 12th. Digital Aquatics has had a bit of a backlog on production but appears to be catching up.

The MI pH Probe and pH calibration packets are the Milwaukee Instruments brand. We have carried the Milwaukee Instruments units for several years and have had virtually no problems.

The ReefKeeper2 uses a two point calibration with a center 7.0 pH point and then an upper or lower slope point. For saltwater applications you would use the 10.0 point for your slope calibration. Two sets of pH calibration solution packets are included with the power buy.

I got a confirmation that the the Data Logger Splitter would be shipping with our next order. The Data Logger Splitter allows you to use the serial port connection to a PC and the temperature probe simultaneously. It is apparently a non-standard RJ-11 adapter and has six outputs! I wonder what digital aquatics is planning with all of those extra plugs?

The Data Logger Splitter will be available for $9.49.

Speaking of data logging...many thanks to Cameron for the great work on the ReefTool software. :yay:

I downloaded it several days ago and checked it out. It looks easy to use, is free and hooks up to the ReefKeeper2! Too cool.

FYI, ReefTool will no longer be available to run on the RK2. This worked out in a really strange way and unfortunately, I cannot publish or continue to work on the project. Please do not buy an RK2 expecting to use ReefTool. DA does supply a program that will monitor your RK2, but as of now lacks some of the features of ReefTool. I do believe they will have a product out that will address these shortcomings soon however.

ReefKeeper2's are back in stock. :yes:

We have several units left and are still taking orders for the powerbuy. If these units sell out we will still be taking orders up until April 30th. Don't miss out on this great deal.

I'll be ordering mine probably tomorrow! ;)

I got mine yesterday. Big thanks to Sam for this PB.

The build quality on this unit is excellent. The housings are powder coated metal and the entire thing feels like it could be used in a very unforgiving manner. Very reminiscent of mil-grade equipment, minus the rubber coatings.

So for those of you who tend to be a bit rougher on the equipment (like me), this is a great choice.

I would just like to put in my 2 cents... I love mine!

Just ordered mine! :)

Thanks for the power buy!

I recieved mine the other day works great excepty that I have to send it back. One of the control plugs doesn't work. Anyway great product other than that.

The RK2 looks beautiful. I love its looks. :)

Hey got mine today after ordering it yesterday! LOL! Thats awesome!

Anyway, I think my PH probe might be messed up, I think. I am new to these probes, but I was under the impression it has to be wet. I opened the box, and it looked like saltcreep all around the edge of the rubbercap. Looks like it leaked out.

Am I wrong? Should I take off the cap or what?

I had an acjr, but never had the ph probe so dont know too much about them.

Just clean the probe off. The white stuff is very common.

Oh ok and go ahead and use it? Dont matter that its not wet or is it underneath the cap?

As long as there is some liquid inside the probe and no cracks are present you will be OK to calibrate it. PH Probes generally either work really well or not at all. After calibration you are going to know real quick.

Ummm let me step in here in case the question was meant like I read it, you have to take the plastic cap off... It is only used for storage! ;) If I read this wrong let me know! ;)

Brandon is correct about the plastic cap part. It should be removed and after you remove it, it may have white crusty looking stuff around the probe. The probe itself should also contain water though.

I know to take it off, I just didnt want to to mess with it if it had leaked out just in case I had to return it.

Well took the cap off and it was dry as a bone. Trying to calibrate it now, but it's staying at 922.

Well it stays the same so I think it is messed up. I mean there was a lot of the substance on the outside of the probe so I guess it leaked out. :(

Good thing I hear aquabuys has excellent customer service! :D

Well it stays the same so I think it is messed up. I mean there was a lot of the substance on the outside of the probe so I guess it leaked out. :(

Good thing I hear aquabuys has excellent customer service! :D

Cal me tomorrow (today LOL!) and we can work out a replacement for you if needed.

The pH probes seem to calibrate better after a soaking in water for several hours to "re-wet" the probe. If that doesn't do the trick we can get you a replacement. :yes:

Ok I will let it set for a few hours in the tank then I will try and calibrate it. Thanks a lot you guys are great!

The pH probes seem to calibrate better after a soaking in water for several hours to "re-wet" the probe. If that doesn't do the trick we can get you a replacement. :yes:
Salt or RO water? Or does it matter?

Thanks Sammy and Aquabuys for getting this fixed for me!

I just posted some more information on calibrating the RK2 pH function. The calibration part is little weird as it shows funky values that are not pH values.

Check this post (http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?p=37024#post37024) for the details.

Sam,
That process worked for me the first time. Its now showing 8.10.

Joe

Guess it time to step up and make good on my word.
Sam I'll take an order of the RK2 if you have atleast 1 cancellation due to the other PB that got cancel.

However if there are no canncellation and everything else work out fine with you and the club then I will not need to make this order

I didnt think it would be so small! For some reason I thought it would be twice the size. I cant wait to get it going tomorrow.

I love mine! I sold my acjr to get this. It's smaller, sleeker, and a million times easier to use than the AC.

I also got my PH probe working correctly with some help of Sam at Aquabuys. I guarantee I will be buying more stuff from these guys, they stand behind their product, call and email.

Thanks.

Out of curiousity how many people ended up buying these? Thanks again for making this happen Sprayin and Aquabuys.

I bought one and love it..Simple and easy to program. Sam helped on the programming of the ph monitor and it was easy to do.

Joe

I got one and as I think I stated, I'm very impressed with the build quality and the use of powder coated metal where other companies use plastic.

Ive had two for about a year now... I love it. Would of bought another one but I'm already running one on my reef AND my freshwater tank. :)