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Auto Water Change

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:25 am
by MDB1029
I am wanting to incorporate an auto WC system, possibly a continuous WC of about 1 gallon a day.

My question is what pump should I use? I know there are a few of you out there with auto WC, Is there a pump you recommend or one you would definitely stay away from?

I was wondering if dosing pumps might work, the RA ones? Any thoughts?

Any help is appreciated

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:35 am
by Sacohen
Read this thread over at Reef2Reef.
http://www.reef2reef.com/threads/automa ... is.141619/
It's kind of long, but it goes into 4 different methods.
1 using the Stenner pumps
2 DYI using dual head pumps bough off e-bay
3 using LITERMETER III
4 Apex new DOS.

There is a similar thread on ReefCentral
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... ?t=2349824

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:26 pm
by MDB1029
Sacohen wrote:Read this thread over at Reef2Reef.
http://www.reef2reef.com/threads/automa ... is.141619/
It's kind of long, but it goes into 4 different methods.
1 using the Stenner pumps
2 DYI using dual head pumps bough off e-bay
3 using LITERMETER III
4 Apex new DOS.

There is a similar thread on ReefCentral
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... ?t=2349824

I will definitely give this a read and I appreciate you providing me the thread.

Does anyone have any input on the use of the RA dosing pumps for this?

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:10 am
by Sacohen
I don't think the dosing pumps will work.
The 2 pumps need to turn on and off at the exact same time. They also need to run at the exact same speed.
The RA can turn then on at the same time, but even the same make and model of a pump will not run at the exact same speed.
Reading the thread you'll see that most of the options were multiple head pumps running off 1 motor.
The Liter Meter III has multiple pumps but has an elaborate calibration process.
I don't really know about the new Apex DOS system.

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:50 am
by MDB1029
Thanks again

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:54 am
by cosmith71
Seems like there could be a way using the water level expansion to pull out an exact amount and then replace it. You could use pretty much any pump you wanted to.

Pause ATO
Turn on pump to remove x%
Turn on pump to replace x%

Maybe water sensors or float switches in the receptacles to prevent them overflowing or running dry.

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 5:56 am
by lnevo
Even easier...switch WaterLevelATO to pump on SW reservoir. Start up pump to remove whatever you want. Let ATO top off to correct level. Switch port back to RO pump. :)

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:00 am
by cosmith71
Yup. Lots of ways to do it. I haven't read those threads, but I'm betting they aren't using a Reef Angel. :D

--Colin

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:28 am
by Sacohen
Most are not, but lnevo and myself were both on those threads and based our AWC systems on things in there.
Both of use went with multihead pumps with a signle motor found on E-Bay.

I went with the ThermoFisher D3138-13 w/Masterflex 7024-20 Pump.

These are the heads http://www.ebay.com/itm/Masterflex-Stan ... 3f53d5c308

lnevo went with another multihead pump and motor that had been found when the Masterflex and ThermoFisher had dried up.

I think it was ametek pump

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:33 pm
by lnevo
I don't remember...its setup but i never ran the tubing to my tank. I have issues with my mixing station i need to address first

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:47 am
by Rodasphoto
I have two litermeter pumps and have it pump water in/out 150 times a day. What you need to is see how much each water pumps per unit of time. Then you can calculate how long each pump needs to run and how many times a day you need it to turn on in order to change the desired amount of water. I have mine change water every 9 minutes (150x a day). The nice thing about this is that the new saltwater does not need to be heated as you are changing very little at a time.
Check out the link below for more info on the code I use:
http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5158

A special thanks goes out again for the help I received to make this a possibility.

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 7:31 am
by MDB1029
Rodasphoto wrote:I have two litermeter pumps and have it pump water in/out 150 times a day. What you need to is see how much each water pumps per unit of time. Then you can calculate how long each pump needs to run and how many times a day you need it to turn on in order to change the desired amount of water. I have mine change water every 9 minutes (150x a day). The nice thing about this is that the new saltwater does not need to be heated as you are changing very little at a time.
Check out the link below for more info on the code I use:
http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5158

A special thanks goes out again for the help I received to make this a possibility.
Thank you for your response. Can you post a link to the pumps you use so I can make sure I look at the right thing?

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 7:51 am
by skehole

Re: Auto Water Change

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:59 pm
by pandimus
I've been using the litermeter for 3 months now.... Rock solid...not a single spike in salinity...

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