IPT
Active Member
This was posted in a thread about Reef factory in general but feel that is really needs a thread in the equipment section dedicated to this specific piece of equipment, not the company as a whole. So, here is my recent experience with the RF KH Keeper Plus.
Well, I ignored the bad reviews in favor of the good ones as all the units available seem to have WiFi connection issues. This one checked all the boxes for me so I got one (KH Keeper plus) and this is my experience so far.
So far, I am excited, but frustrated. The setup took A LOT longer than I thought it would. I had some issues getting the Wifi connected. Some was on my end not remembering the proper login password, but even after that I had issues. This was resolved after reading a thread and setting up the Smart Reef account prior, then logging in through that account and using the "add a device". It's been pretty good since I got it logged in with solid connection both locally and remotely sans a few short disconnects. I tried updating the software and that failed twice so far so I am still using whatever it came with. Trying to set it up via the recommended method they have on Youtube was a no go for me.
As for the unit mechanically, well, it's been interesting to say the least. The dosing pump (that brings the water in from the aquarium) just clicked and didn't move or pump at all. Seems that is was stuck or something and after many attempts it finally freed up and pumps well now. That was concerning. Then I had issues getting the reagent to draw up. That pump wouldn't fully draw the reagent up from where I had the reservoir placed (on the floor with the unit about 16 inches above it). I had to move the reagent container up to being the same level as the unit and now it draws fine, except (see below).
I had several issues with the pump calibrations too. Using the scale method as described and recommended, I NEVER got the same reading even once for the aquarium water calibration volume. If I recall the weights (they have you measure the calibration amount by weight and divide it by the weight of seawater). If I recall it varied from 2.12 up to almost 2.5. That was a large deviation. I did 10 trials (time consuming) and averaged it. Honestly, it still pulled too much liquid every time. I ended up using the beaker and fudging the calibration number the scale should have provided until I was able to do the "accuracy test" and it distributed the correct amount (50ml I think). Clearly I should not have had to do that, but I did find a workaround and it's been accurate since. Then calibrating the reagent pump I noticed air bubbles in the fluid coming out of the pump. After closer inspection I noted they were in fact only after the pump. More on this later, but I will say they are sending me a replacement for that dosing head. Then, the pump that empties the beaker was not pulling up the fluid and had tons of bubbles. I couldn't believe it. After closer inspection I found the rigid plastic tube was cracked at the top allowing air in and breaking suction. I swapped that tube with the one that adds the tank water (since that doesn't need to be airtight) and it worked fine. I probably cracked it taking the beaker out during the setup by not raising the tubes up high enough bending the tubes as I removed the beaker.
As for the PH calibration, wow, some crazy stuff. The PH device looks snazzy and more fancy than the PH pen I have. Calibration appeared to go smoothly for the most part. Once the fluid was at the proper temp (25 C I think) I did the calibration. The accuracy test was good after a trial or two. However, when I run test now it consistently tells me that the tank water PH is WAY high. Seems to vary from 8.5 all the way up to 8.98. There is no way my tank has a PH of 9. I also have Reef Keeper with a PH monitor and for the last year it's shown my PH to consistently be between about 7.95 up to 8.4 depending on my last calibration. The KH keeper has never shown it to be under 8.5.
So far, the actual KH measure has generally been low. I'm getting readings of around 7.98 up to about 8.12. In comparison, today my HANNA tester (with pretty new reagent) was 8.3 and a Salifert test came back at 8.3 as well. So I'd say the KH keeper is about 2 units low.
So, at the end of the day I am digging having the ability to test and monitor remotely. I didn't think it would be a big deal but since my tank is at my office and I am often not around it I have found this capability very nice. I actually wish I would have done it earlier.
I have only had the unit for a week so the jury is still out as far as I am concerned. I think it needs to run some to break in and get stability. I am concerned one head started off stuck, and another is for sure not working properly. The PH thing is just wacky, but I wonder about calibrating at one temperature then testing tank water at another temperature. I'm getting some extra fluid and will play more with this.
As for customer service, I used the contact us page on the website and opened two cases. One for the cracked tube, and one for the bubbles in the line. I sent pictures of the lines with the bubbles. This was on Saturday and Sunday. To their credit I had a response today. I would have liked it to have been yesterday, but based on different time zones it was reasonable enough for me. I was told there is an extra tube supplied in the box (found that after looking but my fix is working fine so I will save that extra one) and for the pump they recognized the problem and said they will send the new pump head once I provided the info they needed (shipping address, proof of purchase, serial #, etc).
I like the unit, the price was OK, and it looks like it will provide consistent measures. Accuracy so far is questionable, but there are still variables to be addressed (like the PH and the reagent pump not functioning properly). It does offer an option to do a +/- to the readings to get it accurate, but honestly I don't care if it is dead accurate, but I do need it to be consistent. Time will tell how the rest of the customer service follow up will be (so far it's been good) and how the unit will hold up over time. Hopefully well, because I like the size of it, the price of it (sort of - expensive, but it's good relative to the competitors) and the capabilities it has. Fingers crossed it all pans out to smooth sailing. I highly doubt any of these types of devices are plug and play so it is what it is.
Well, I ignored the bad reviews in favor of the good ones as all the units available seem to have WiFi connection issues. This one checked all the boxes for me so I got one (KH Keeper plus) and this is my experience so far.
So far, I am excited, but frustrated. The setup took A LOT longer than I thought it would. I had some issues getting the Wifi connected. Some was on my end not remembering the proper login password, but even after that I had issues. This was resolved after reading a thread and setting up the Smart Reef account prior, then logging in through that account and using the "add a device". It's been pretty good since I got it logged in with solid connection both locally and remotely sans a few short disconnects. I tried updating the software and that failed twice so far so I am still using whatever it came with. Trying to set it up via the recommended method they have on Youtube was a no go for me.
As for the unit mechanically, well, it's been interesting to say the least. The dosing pump (that brings the water in from the aquarium) just clicked and didn't move or pump at all. Seems that is was stuck or something and after many attempts it finally freed up and pumps well now. That was concerning. Then I had issues getting the reagent to draw up. That pump wouldn't fully draw the reagent up from where I had the reservoir placed (on the floor with the unit about 16 inches above it). I had to move the reagent container up to being the same level as the unit and now it draws fine, except (see below).
I had several issues with the pump calibrations too. Using the scale method as described and recommended, I NEVER got the same reading even once for the aquarium water calibration volume. If I recall the weights (they have you measure the calibration amount by weight and divide it by the weight of seawater). If I recall it varied from 2.12 up to almost 2.5. That was a large deviation. I did 10 trials (time consuming) and averaged it. Honestly, it still pulled too much liquid every time. I ended up using the beaker and fudging the calibration number the scale should have provided until I was able to do the "accuracy test" and it distributed the correct amount (50ml I think). Clearly I should not have had to do that, but I did find a workaround and it's been accurate since. Then calibrating the reagent pump I noticed air bubbles in the fluid coming out of the pump. After closer inspection I noted they were in fact only after the pump. More on this later, but I will say they are sending me a replacement for that dosing head. Then, the pump that empties the beaker was not pulling up the fluid and had tons of bubbles. I couldn't believe it. After closer inspection I found the rigid plastic tube was cracked at the top allowing air in and breaking suction. I swapped that tube with the one that adds the tank water (since that doesn't need to be airtight) and it worked fine. I probably cracked it taking the beaker out during the setup by not raising the tubes up high enough bending the tubes as I removed the beaker.
As for the PH calibration, wow, some crazy stuff. The PH device looks snazzy and more fancy than the PH pen I have. Calibration appeared to go smoothly for the most part. Once the fluid was at the proper temp (25 C I think) I did the calibration. The accuracy test was good after a trial or two. However, when I run test now it consistently tells me that the tank water PH is WAY high. Seems to vary from 8.5 all the way up to 8.98. There is no way my tank has a PH of 9. I also have Reef Keeper with a PH monitor and for the last year it's shown my PH to consistently be between about 7.95 up to 8.4 depending on my last calibration. The KH keeper has never shown it to be under 8.5.
So far, the actual KH measure has generally been low. I'm getting readings of around 7.98 up to about 8.12. In comparison, today my HANNA tester (with pretty new reagent) was 8.3 and a Salifert test came back at 8.3 as well. So I'd say the KH keeper is about 2 units low.
So, at the end of the day I am digging having the ability to test and monitor remotely. I didn't think it would be a big deal but since my tank is at my office and I am often not around it I have found this capability very nice. I actually wish I would have done it earlier.
I have only had the unit for a week so the jury is still out as far as I am concerned. I think it needs to run some to break in and get stability. I am concerned one head started off stuck, and another is for sure not working properly. The PH thing is just wacky, but I wonder about calibrating at one temperature then testing tank water at another temperature. I'm getting some extra fluid and will play more with this.
As for customer service, I used the contact us page on the website and opened two cases. One for the cracked tube, and one for the bubbles in the line. I sent pictures of the lines with the bubbles. This was on Saturday and Sunday. To their credit I had a response today. I would have liked it to have been yesterday, but based on different time zones it was reasonable enough for me. I was told there is an extra tube supplied in the box (found that after looking but my fix is working fine so I will save that extra one) and for the pump they recognized the problem and said they will send the new pump head once I provided the info they needed (shipping address, proof of purchase, serial #, etc).
I like the unit, the price was OK, and it looks like it will provide consistent measures. Accuracy so far is questionable, but there are still variables to be addressed (like the PH and the reagent pump not functioning properly). It does offer an option to do a +/- to the readings to get it accurate, but honestly I don't care if it is dead accurate, but I do need it to be consistent. Time will tell how the rest of the customer service follow up will be (so far it's been good) and how the unit will hold up over time. Hopefully well, because I like the size of it, the price of it (sort of - expensive, but it's good relative to the competitors) and the capabilities it has. Fingers crossed it all pans out to smooth sailing. I highly doubt any of these types of devices are plug and play so it is what it is.
