IceCap Salinity/Temp Digital Tester V3
SKU: IC-SPT03
MSRP: $ 92.39
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Available Through Authorized Retailer
- Advanced Conductivity Sensor Path: Utilizes precise electrical conductivity grids to measure absolute dissolved salts, replacing traditional optical lenses.
- Triple-Format Salinity Reporting: Instantly toggles between Specific Gravity (SG), Parts Per Thousand (PPT), and Practical Salinity Units (PSU) via a single button.
- Integrated Water Temperature Probe: Built-in sensor cross-checks system heater configurations while delivering concurrent temperature display grids.
- Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC): Automatically corrects for thermal sample variations, preventing false reading spikes in warm or cold water volumes.
- High-Contrast Backlit LCD Window: Outfitted with an easy-to-read, vibrant blue backlit display screen that auto-locks measurements upon target calculation.
- Push-Button Quick Calibration: Features a streamlined, digital programmatic calibration interface that auto-tunes metrics using standard reference fluids.
IceCap
Premium aquarium equipment without the premium price. Protein skimmers, pumps, reactors, heaters & more.
IceCap Salinity & Temperature Digital Pocket Tester — Version 3 (SKU: IC-SPT03)
The IceCap Salinity/Temp Digital Pocket Tester V3 (SKU: IC-SPT03) is an authentic, laboratory-grade mobile water diagnostic tool distributed by CoralVue to bring absolute measuring confidence to marine reef keepers and breeding facilities. Maintaining a stable, locked salinity baseline (typically 1.025 SG or 33–35 PPT) is a core requirement for the long-term survival of delicate stony corals, macro-algae, and sensitive marine fish. Traditional analog refractometers require users to view lines through blurry daylight lenses, calibrate constantly based on room air temperatures, and perform guesswork between tiny scale intervals. The IceCap V3 Digital Tester replaces this outdated method by passing micro-electrical currents through an isolated water sample to provide a precise, high-speed calculation shown directly on a clear digital readout.
Engineered with an updated Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) motherboard, the IC-SPT03 actively scales sample readings to account for ambient fluid temperature differences. The testing pen allows you to cycle through three separate measuring formats—Specific Gravity (1.000 to 1.041 SG), Parts Per Thousand (0 to 50 PPT), and Practical Salinity Units (0 to 60 PSU)—alongside standard Fahrenheit or Celsius water temperatures. To keep readings stable, the unit is programmed with an audible buzzer that beeps when a final measurement is calculated and locked. Housed inside a rugged, water-resistant casing powered by two standard AAA batteries, the IceCap V3 Pen is an accurate, long-lasting replacement for traditional hydrometers and optical tools.
Key Features
Eliminates Optical Human Errors: Delivers crisp digital numbers on a backlit screen, removing the need to squint into a blurry viewfinder window.
Dual-Purpose Health Inspector: Delivers simultaneous temperature and salinity cross-checks to ensure mixed saltwater matches your main display tank.
Streamlined Multi-Unit Toggling: Allows you to change between SG and PPT instantly with consecutive button presses, simplifying target adjustments.
(Note: This retail package arrives fully equipped and includes (1) V3 Digital Pocket Tester Pen, (1) protective storage cradle case, and manual programming sheets. Batteries and calibration solution lines are available under separate categories).
What’s Included:
(1) IceCap Salinity/Temperature Digital Pocket Tester V3 Instrument Pen
(1) Rigid Plastic Protective Storage Clip Case
Technical Specs:
Official Manufacturing Title: IceCap Salinity/Temperature Digital Pocket Tester V3
SKU / Factory Part Identifier: IC-SPT03
Specific Gravity (SG) Range Scale: 1.000 to 1.041 SG
Parts Per Thousand (PPT) Range Scale: 0 to 50 PPT
Practical Salinity Unit (PSU) Range Scale: 0 to 60 PSU
Temperature Reading Range Scale: 32.0°F to 176.0°F (0.0°C to 80.0°C)
Measurement Resolution Metrics: SG: 0.0001 | PPT: 1 | PSU: 1 | Temp: 0.1°F
Factory Calibration Accuracy Windows: SG: ±0.001 | PPT: ±2 | PSU: ±2 | Temp: ±1.5°F
Operational Battery Requirement: Requires (2) Standard AAA Alkaline Batteries
Warranty
CoralVue, Inc. hereby guarantees this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of:
- 1 Year
Warranty is activated on the date of purchase.
This Standard Limited Warranty applies and is limited as follows:
- To the product only as long as it remains in the possession of the original purchaser.
- To the product that has not been subject to accident, misuse or abuse.
- To the product that has not been modified, altered, defaced, or had repairs made or attempted by other than CoralVue, Inc.
- That CoralVue be immediately notified in writing within ten (10) days of first knowledge of defect by owner or his agent.
- That CoralVue, Inc. shall be given first opportunity to make any repairs, replacements or corrections to the defective construction within a reasonable period of time.
- Under no circumstances shall CoralVue and/or the Manufacturer be liable by virtue of this warranty or otherwise for damage to any person or property whatsoever for any special, indirect, secondary or consequential damages of any nature however arising out of the use or inability to use because of the product defect.
- Open the battery compartment cap on the rear end of your IC-SPT03 pen and install two fresh AAA batteries. Press the power button once to turn on the backlit LCD panel.
- The Isolation Sampling Phase: Because this digital instrument measures salinity via electrical conductivity, testing it directly inside an aquarium can cause false readings from stray voltage emitted by nearby pumps or heaters. Always draw a small sample of water into a clean, detached plastic cup or vial.
- Submerge the lower probe section of the tester pen straight into your water sample cup. Warning: Only the lower tip assembly is water-resistant. Do not submerge the entire pen or the upper battery cap.
- Stir the pen gently for 3 to 5 seconds to dislodge any trapped micro-bubbles from the internal conductivity metal plates. Trapped air bubbles will distort data.
- Hold the pen still inside the cup. Wait several seconds until you hear an audible electronic beep. The final, locked salinity calculation will display clearly on the screen. Press the button to cycle through SG, PPT, PSU, and Temperature.
- Shake off remaining water drops, rinse the probe tip with pure RO/DI water to prevent corrosive salt buildup, and wipe it dry with a soft cloth before returning it to its case.
Pro Tips:
- Calibrate Monthly Using Standard 35G/L (53.0mS) Digital Reference Fluids. To maintain the high-precision accuracy of your IC-SPT03 conductivity sensor, calibrate the instrument once every 30 days. Do not calibrate using pure RO/DI water or home-made salt solutions. Purchase a bottle of certified 35 PPT (53.0 mS/cm) laboratory calibration standard fluid. Submerge the clean probe into the reference fluid container, enter calibration mode following the manual guidelines, and press the lock button to re-zero your motherboard accurately.
- Rinse the Probe Tip in Pure RO/DI Water After Every Single Measurement. When you remove the tester pen from a sample, a micro-layer of saltwater remains trapped across the internal conductivity grid plates. If left to air-dry, this water evaporates and leaves behind a hard crust of calcified salt and mineral scale over the sensors. This residue can skew future measurements and make the pen read lower than actual values. Keep a small cup of clean RO/DI water nearby to rinse the tip clean after each use.
- Replace Weak Batteries Instantly to Avoid False Lower Value Drift. When the internal AAA batteries begin to drop below optimal voltage levels, the conductivity sensor circuit can lose the power required to pass consistent micro-currents through fluid samples. This electrical drain can cause readings to slowly drift downward or delay response times. If the backlit screen flickers or your readings take longer than 15 seconds to sound the lock-in beep, install fresh, high-quality alkaline batteries to restore peak performance.