Affordable Multiparameter Water-Quality Probes in 2026: What They Actually Cost
Last updated: 14 July 2026 Most multiparameter water-quality sondes don't list a price. YSI, In-Situ and Xylem all route buyers to a quote request.
Growprobe4 mULTIPARAMETER sensor
Our state-of-the-art multiparameter probe measures turbidity, temperature, light, current speed and current direction all with high accuracy, making it the ideal tool for monitoring marine growth and environmental changes.
With a deployment capability of 10 months on a single charge, the GrowProbe4 delivers critical data to support informed decision-making for aquaculture, restoration, and environmental monitoring projects in marine as well as freshwater environments.
- Turbidity
- Current speed
- Current direction
- Light
- Temperature
- 5-in-1 sensing: Capture vital environmental data (light, temperature, current speed, current direction, and turbidity) in a single device.
- Burst and averaging modes: Observe both short-term fluctuations and long-term trends with a combined burst and averaging mode.
- Flexible deployment: Can be anchored to the seabed, floating upright, or in an inverted configuration for deployment on floating infrastructure.
Turbidity, temperature and light are calibrated. Current speed and direction are raw, uncalibrated output.
GrowProbe4 is available to order now, £1,495 ex VAT.
Technical specs
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Temperature sensor | +0 C to +50 C Operating, 0.1C resolution |
| Turbidity sensor | 0 to 100 NTU Operating, 0.5 NTU resolution, calibration solution for 0 - 40 NTU supplied. |
| Current speed (tilt angle) | 0 to 85 degrees tilt Operating, 0.5 degree resolution (85degrees tilt ~ 2.5knots) |
| Current direction | 0 to 360 degrees heading direction Operating, 0.5 degree resolution (0 / 360 degrees = North) |
| Light sensor | 0 to 100,000 lux Operating, 100 lux resolution |
| Dimension | Ø64 × 720 mm |
| Depth rated | 50 m |
| Weight | 1500g in air |
| Materials | POM-C enclosure, mineral glass lens, titanium hardware |
| Output file type | .CSV, comma separated |
| Logging rate | 10/second to 1/day, burst + averaging mode |
| Memory | micro SD card. Supplied with 32GB SanDisk |
| Battery | 12.8Ah Lithium Ion Battery, 320 days at 1/30min sampling rate on single charge |
Turbidity, temperature and light are calibrated. Current speed and direction are raw, uncalibrated output.
recommended Set-Up
The GrowProbe is supplied with a 0.5m length of rope which can be tied to a >5kg weight. We recommend attaching the GrowProbe in the center of a 14mm gauge and 2m+ length chain to ensure the device does not move or can become entangled during high currents or storms.
For more details on mooring, please visit our mooring guide below.
MOORING GUIDE
Equipment Guides
FAQ
- Where can I find setup and troubleshooting help?
- Full setup, deployment and troubleshooting guides are at docs.pebl-cic.co.uk.
- What is the GrowProbe?
- The GrowProbe is a multiparameter water-quality sensor. It measures turbidity, temperature, light, current speed and current direction in one device, with a deployment capability of up to 10 months on a single charge.
- How much does the GrowProbe cost?
- The GrowProbe 4 is £1,495 ex VAT for a single device covering five parameters (turbidity, temperature, light, current speed and current direction). Comparable multiparameter sondes from established instrument makers typically start around £5,000 and commonly reach £10,000-£15,000 once configured with sensors.
- How does the GrowProbe compare to a sonde like a YSI or In-Situ probe?
- A single turbidity logger or tilt current meter from an established instrument maker can cost close to, or more than, an entire GrowProbe. The GrowProbe combines five commonly needed parameters in one affordable, easy-to-deploy device. It doesn't measure conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH or chlorophyll, so for those a dedicated sonde is still the right tool.
- What's the cheapest way to monitor turbidity and current at a marine farm?
- The GrowProbe is built for exactly this: turbidity, current speed and current direction, plus temperature and light, in a single £1,495 device, instead of running separate loggers that can individually cost more than the GrowProbe itself.
- How long can the GrowProbe stay deployed?
- Around 10 months on a single charge at a 30-minute sampling interval, depending on sampling rate and site conditions.
- Do you offer a monitoring service, not just the equipment?
- Yes. You can buy the kit and run it yourself, or ask PEBL to deploy, operate and interpret it as a managed service scoped to your site. Email hello@pebl-cic.co.uk to scope it.
- What does the GrowProbe measure?
- Five parameters in one device: turbidity (0 to 100 NTU, calibrated for 0-40 NTU), temperature (0C to +50C), light (0 to 100,000 lux), and current speed and direction from tilt angle (raw, uncalibrated, roughly 0 to 2.5 knots).
- Is there an affordable alternative to a tilt current meter?
- Yes. A dedicated tilt current meter alone from an established instrument maker commonly costs around £1,000-1,400. The GrowProbe includes current speed and direction alongside turbidity, temperature and light, for £1,495 total.
- How long does delivery take?
- The GrowProbe is made to order. We dispatch within 6 weeks of confirming your order.
- What data does the GrowProbe produce?
- A CSV sensor log via microSD card (32GB supplied), covering turbidity, temperature, light, current speed and current direction, with logging rates from 10 readings a second to one a day.