IceCap Digital Pocket Tester Review - Page 2

MarksReef · 03/08/2018, 07:49 PM

I got mine the other day. It seems accurate but I’m just checking against a cheaper handheld refractometer that maybbe off. Hard to tell. One thing I did notice and is why I asked. The SG and PPT are off but it does say sg is +-1 and PPT +-2
My temperature is 10° off lower.
My replacement should be here Saturday.

Kentech5 · 03/08/2018, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettDS

Temp seems pretty good on mine. My apex is reading 79.3 and the icecap said 79.7

That’s weird. My salinity measures pretty well spot on but temp is off. Maybe some quality control issues with these.

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hart24601 · 03/09/2018, 08:31 AM

I ordered one of these too and am excited to see how it works. FWIW I had a Milwaukee Digital and just hated it. That 0.002 accuracy was just too far off and repeat readings for me varied and while it was in spec for the machine variations of true 1.026 between 1.024 and 1.028 were too much. (yes was using their solutions and following instructions). I am excited and hopeful for this as it's getting harder for me to see refactometer .

BrettDS · 03/09/2018, 01:11 PM

At this point I’m pretty well convinced that my unit is reading way low. This morning I remembered that I had some Neptune 53 ms solution that was not old and was still sealed in a single use foil pouch. I tested the icecap probe with that and got a reading of 31.9 ppt. 53ms should be 35 ppt.

I’m going to return the icecap probe and stick with the Milwaukee digital refractometer.

Kentech5 · 03/09/2018, 05:30 PM

Well now I want to see more people’s experiences. I’m curious if I got lucky with mine.

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MarksReef · 03/09/2018, 08:42 PM

Because my temp is 10° lower they sent me a new replacement and will be here tomorrow.
I’ll have the 2 to compare till I mail the other back on Monday.
On the one I have now, I believe it is reading the correct salinity in SG and I agree the PPT is further off but it does say the PPT is +-2
It’s funny that I was getting a constant 1 degree higher SG when I didn’t use the attached cup. All three had different salinities.
I was dipping down into a bucket and milk jug with no electronics near them.
When I used the cup and just shook the water off between the 3, it was consistent back to 1 degree lower. Maybe it’s the volume of water.
Too bad IceCap couldn’t join this thread.

Kentech5 · 03/10/2018, 07:51 AM

Yeah I also noticed I get weird results if I don’t use the cup.

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gabe145 · 03/10/2018, 09:20 AM

I am very excited for this

MarksReef · 03/10/2018, 04:05 PM

Ok, new one came and looks like this one’s temperature is good. It reads VERY close to my apex temperature.
Everything else is close when comparing the 2
Sg 1.025-1.025
PPT 36.6-36.2
PSU 41.9-41.4
Temp 76.6- 68.7 <—- reason for replacement.

Kentech5 · 03/10/2018, 09:25 PM

So there’s definitely a chance of getting a bit of a dud.

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gmneil · 04/19/2018, 08:33 AM

got mine in the other day, not happy at all at the moment, maybe I got ne of the duds,,

every tank I try says 1.021 when I have triple verified that the tanks are 1.023 , 1.025 and 1.026 all 3 different systems but my unit reads 1.021 on all f them,

I am actually getting more and more aggravated at the minute as instead of them just sending a replacement they keep trying to have me trouble shoot, and mentioning how it could be electrical interference,, well my issue comes from different locations and buildings so it cant be "the room" im in,

I wish they would just send me a good unit before I decide to give up on this all together and just request a refund,

I had high hopes for this unit so as of now im very disappointed

MarksReef · 04/19/2018, 11:24 AM

That is a bummer.
I would ask for a replacement or you will return it. If you still wanted a try at a new one and they won’t replace it, return it and buy again somewhere else.
My replacement has been great to use. Making new water to 1.026 is much easier. I will soon bring it to some stores with me to try it out against their meters they use and compare results but I expect them to be close. Or hope so.

BeanMachine · 05/10/2018, 12:11 PM

I've been using one a week or two. Compared with a couple calibrated refractometers to verify. Its been pretty spot on for salinity. The temp compared to my apex and rkl was about .5 degree off. Close enough and not really why I bought it.

03/08/2018, 07:49 PM	#26
MarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rush, N.Y. Posts: 4,058	I got mine the other day. It seems accurate but I’m just checking against a cheaper handheld refractometer that maybbe off. Hard to tell. One thing I did notice and is why I asked. The SG and PPT are off but it does say sg is +-1 and PPT +-2 My temperature is 10° off lower. My replacement should be here Saturday. __________________ 93G Rimless Cube Current Tank Info: 93G Rimless Cube

03/09/2018, 08:42 PM	#31
MarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rush, N.Y. Posts: 4,058	Because my temp is 10° lower they sent me a new replacement and will be here tomorrow. I’ll have the 2 to compare till I mail the other back on Monday. On the one I have now, I believe it is reading the correct salinity in SG and I agree the PPT is further off but it does say the PPT is +-2 It’s funny that I was getting a constant 1 degree higher SG when I didn’t use the attached cup. All three had different salinities. I was dipping down into a bucket and milk jug with no electronics near them. When I used the cup and just shook the water off between the 3, it was consistent back to 1 degree lower. Maybe it’s the volume of water. Too bad IceCap couldn’t join this thread. __________________ 93G Rimless Cube Current Tank Info: 93G Rimless Cube

03/10/2018, 04:05 PM	#34
MarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rush, N.Y. Posts: 4,058	Ok, new one came and looks like this one’s temperature is good. It reads VERY close to my apex temperature. Everything else is close when comparing the 2 Sg 1.025-1.025 PPT 36.6-36.2 PSU 41.9-41.4 Temp 76.6- 68.7 <—- reason for replacement. __________________ 93G Rimless Cube Current Tank Info: 93G Rimless Cube

04/19/2018, 08:33 AM	#36
gmneil Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: buffalo, ny Posts: 1,191	got mine in the other day, not happy at all at the moment, maybe I got ne of the duds,, every tank I try says 1.021 when I have triple verified that the tanks are 1.023 , 1.025 and 1.026 all 3 different systems but my unit reads 1.021 on all f them, I am actually getting more and more aggravated at the minute as instead of them just sending a replacement they keep trying to have me trouble shoot, and mentioning how it could be electrical interference,, well my issue comes from different locations and buildings so it cant be "the room" im in, I wish they would just send me a good unit before I decide to give up on this all together and just request a refund, I had high hopes for this unit so as of now im very disappointed __________________ you always lose money chasing women, but u never lose women chasing money.. Current Tank Info: the keeper of clowns,, to many tanks to list

04/19/2018, 11:24 AM	#37
MarksReef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rush, N.Y. Posts: 4,058	That is a bummer. I would ask for a replacement or you will return it. If you still wanted a try at a new one and they won’t replace it, return it and buy again somewhere else. My replacement has been great to use. Making new water to 1.026 is much easier. I will soon bring it to some stores with me to try it out against their meters they use and compare results but I expect them to be close. Or hope so. __________________ 93G Rimless Cube Current Tank Info: 93G Rimless Cube

03/09/2018, 08:31 AM	#28
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	I ordered one of these too and am excited to see how it works. FWIW I had a Milwaukee Digital and just hated it. That 0.002 accuracy was just too far off and repeat readings for me varied and while it was in spec for the machine variations of true 1.026 between 1.024 and 1.028 were too much. (yes was using their solutions and following instructions). I am excited and hopeful for this as it's getting harder for me to see refactometer .

03/09/2018, 01:11 PM	#29
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	At this point I’m pretty well convinced that my unit is reading way low. This morning I remembered that I had some Neptune 53 ms solution that was not old and was still sealed in a single use foil pouch. I tested the icecap probe with that and got a reading of 31.9 ppt. 53ms should be 35 ppt. I’m going to return the icecap probe and stick with the Milwaukee digital refractometer.

03/09/2018, 05:30 PM	#30
Kentech5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 368	Well now I want to see more people’s experiences. I’m curious if I got lucky with mine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/10/2018, 07:51 AM	#32
Kentech5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 368	Yeah I also noticed I get weird results if I don’t use the cup. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/10/2018, 09:20 AM	#33
gabe145 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Key Largo, FL Posts: 50	I am very excited for this

03/10/2018, 09:25 PM	#35
Kentech5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 368	So there’s definitely a chance of getting a bit of a dud. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/10/2018, 12:11 PM	#38
BeanMachine Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 11,200	I've been using one a week or two. Compared with a couple calibrated refractometers to verify. Its been pretty spot on for salinity. The temp compared to my apex and rkl was about .5 degree off. Close enough and not really why I bought it. __________________ 300 Gallon 72x36x27 AGE- 4x Ecotech XR30G5 Blue- AA PVC Hybrid Sump- Dual Synergy Shadow Boxes w Bean Animal- RO 220INT Elite- AquaMaxx cTech T3 CaRx- RD3 230- Apex- Tunze 6155, 6255 & 6150- MP40