Apex Programming for Skimmer Delay after Feed Cycle

[jharding08]

I turn off all the equipment during Feed cycles...return, skimmer, tunzes, ATO. They all turn back on as soon as the Feed cycle is over.

The water level rises slightly in the skimmer chambers, causing the skimmer to overflow somethings. If I can delay the skimmer, it would probably fix my issue.

By chance, does any one know the Apex code to make this happen?

This is my current skimmer code:

[ Skimmer_4_7 ] ( 4_7 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF

FeedA is 5 min
FeedB is 15 min
FeedD is 60 min.

Thank you for your help

 

[swearint]

You have two choices. The most obvious choice is to change the 000 in the appropriate Feed cycle to the desired delay. This will impart the specified delay at the end of the Feed cycle. The one drawback to this method is the additional delay is ignored if the Feed cycle is canceled.

Therefore, an alternative approach is to use the Defer command:

[SKIMMER]
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If FeedB 000 Then OFF
If FeedD 000 Then OFF
Defer 2:00 Then ON

This will delay the skimmer for two minutes before allowing it to turn back on for any reason. So if you were to manually set it to OFF and then change it to AUTO, the delay would apply as well.

Todd

 

[jharding08]

I think I will use the Defer command. It will work in all circumstances.

Thanks for your help!

 

[d0ughb0y]

Ideally, a properly setup sump should not cause the skimmer to overflow when the return pump is off. When the return pump is off, the water coming down from the display tank should only fill up the return section so skimmer section level remains the same. You don't need to turn off skimmer at all during feeding.

 

[jharding08]

I totally agree that the water level in the skimmer chamber should never change. I don't have many baffles in my sump. It came with the tank and has many different chambers, but it doesn't contain the water levels very well from chamber to chamber.

The return chamber is small and the two chambers previous to that have the outlets to the return chamber at the bottom so the water level is consistent through those 3 chambers.It is probably 40% of the total water volume in the sump. I have my return level low enough to cover the return pump and allow some back flow from the return line. I do have a swing check valve on the return line, but some water does flow back into the return chamber. I could probably lower the water level a bit, but dont want to get to a point where I can risk it getting down to the pump input. Theoretically it shouldnt, but you never know if the ATO runs out, I dont have any wiggle room.

What is the recommended water level above the return line in put for a return chamber? Here is a diagram of my sump, it is an eshopps sump, dont know the model. -