Aquatronica

[Untamed12]

That word "Assume" has me worried, say your RO unit leaks 10 gallons of water into your sump.

I hear you....the intervals between readings might be something that you could adjust. If it only takes a 10 seconds to get a reading, even having the probe interval at 2 minutes would result in the probe being off 83% of the time.

On the RO top off thing...one would want to make the RO top off system be incapable of delivering water at a rate which exceeds evaporation by very much. For example, in my current setup...if the float switch stuck and left the evap water pump stuck on, it would take 24 hours to deliver 1 gallon....only slightly more than what would normally have been required for evap anyway.

 

[oldimpala]

Wireless conversion

Wireless conversion

Alright; I'm about ready to jump on an Aquatronica, but like many of you, am waiting patiently to have wireless access to/from my PC.

Has anyone tried the RS-232 to USB adapter from Aquatronica, then use a Linksys, or like product, USB to 802.11 adapter?

Or, one of the wireless RS-232 adapters out there; some can get costly, but I can snag one for less than $100 with a 100 foot range; more than enough to get from my basement, to second floor...

Just curious. I think if it works, it may be a better solution for me than waiting.


Let me know if anyone else has play with these things...

-Andy/Oldimpala

 

[TheMoneyPit]

I hear you....the intervals between readings might be something that you could adjust. If it only takes a 10 seconds to get a reading, even having the probe interval at 2 minutes would result in the probe being off 83% of the time.

It doesn't have to be one or the other, you can have a salinity probe that is constantly on and doesn't rust. It frustrates me to think that because we use Aquatronica we should have to settle for rusty probes and inaccurate readings. AQT can do better then this, AQT even agrees that rusty probes are unacceptable, I'm not sure why Robbyg and Psyire doesn't.
BTW I just received an email from Curt at Neptune and he says their probes never rust, the same from Pinpoint.

 

[oldimpala]

Rusting Salinity Probe

Rusting Salinity Probe

Actually, I've gotta agree with you Robby...

It's simple Chemistry; you may not be seeing the corrosion; but when you pass an electrical charge, through a salt, you get... Galvanic Corrosion. It's the same reason, but in reverse, why people put those electronic "Rust Evader" thingies on their cars in the Northeast. You generate static when driving, deliver battery current, add road salt and water, and wham; your car disintegrates. My chemistry may be off, and it's been a few years since even my last run at it, but it sounds like it to me...

Not sure if AQT is going to be able to fix this one. Perhaps if they go with a metal, such as Titanium, and you get Titanium Oxide; or a like deposit, which may/may not be harmful, or impede the function of your probe. Gold may be another metal that's useful here, though we might not want to pay for it..


-Andy/Oldimpala

 

[TheMoneyPit]

What they should do is find out what Neptune and Pinpoint are using and copy.

 

[RobbyG]

Moneypit

1) The probe IS NOT RUSTING, it is picking up IRON in your water and that is rusting on the electrode. Do you understand this, big difference it's not adding rust to the Water it is actually removing it! This might be considered beneficial by some, that's why when you clean the probe the bands DONT look pitted or damaged, they come back to factory shine. If they where rusting they would be pitted and broken by now.

2) I dont like the Rust on the probe anymore than you do but it's just a fact of Science and if Kirk says his does not rust then I will assume it's because he either takes readings at longer intervals or does some sort of reversing of the polarity. If it's longer Intervals I will stick with my Rust Gathering Aquatronica probe because I have no idea what his intervals are and a lot can happen in 2 minutes, eg. If my RO dumps water, my AQT will shutoff the pump instantly and keep the FW contained in my sump. If the Neptune has 2 minute Intervals I might as well Dig graves for my Fish.

3) If Pysire had not pulled off the cover you would have never known there was rust and you would have been happily doing your salinity readings, the only thing that Aquatronica may be regreting is that they made that cover removable!

4) The reading are not inaccurate, as a matter of fact over the weekend I did my first Re-calibration in 6 weeks and the salinity probe was still dead on.

5) This statement "It doesn't have to be one or the other, you can have a salinity probe that is constantly on and doesn't rust"
seems like pure speculation, and "Always On" is totaly impossible, if it was it would be a constant Electrolysis machine.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6945872#post6945872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheMoneyPit
It doesn't have to be one or the other, you can have a salinity probe that is constantly on and doesn't rust. It frustrates me to think that because we use Aquatronica we should have to settle for rusty probes and inaccurate readings. AQT can do better then this, AQT even agrees that rusty probes are unacceptable, I'm not sure why Robbyg and Psyire doesn't.
BTW I just received an email from Curt at Neptune and he says their probes never rust, the same from Pinpoint.

 

[RobbyG]

Re: Rusting Salinity Probe

Re: Rusting Salinity Probe

Thanks for the support.
I dont think Titanium probes will help as matter of fact they may already be titanium! So long as you have two metal electrodes in water and Pass a DC Current through them, all the Metal in the water is going to head towards the electrodes. You just can't escape it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6945887#post6945887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oldimpala
Actually, I've gotta agree with you Robby...

It's simple Chemistry; you may not be seeing the corrosion; but when you pass an electrical charge, through a salt, you get... Galvanic Corrosion. It's the same reason, but in reverse, why people put those electronic "Rust Evader" thingies on their cars in the Northeast. You generate static when driving, deliver battery current, add road salt and water, and wham; your car disintegrates. My chemistry may be off, and it's been a few years since even my last run at it, but it sounds like it to me...

Not sure if AQT is going to be able to fix this one. Perhaps if they go with a metal, such as Titanium, and you get Titanium Oxide; or a like deposit, which may/may not be harmful, or impede the function of your probe. Gold may be another metal that's useful here, though we might not want to pay for it..


-Andy/Oldimpala

 

[RobbyG]

Your idea is sound but keep in mind the old adage "PooPoo Happens" (Filter Block friendly) so you may get a broken RO hose or something else.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6945725#post6945725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12

I hear you....the intervals between readings might be something that you could adjust. If it only takes a 10 seconds to get a reading, even having the probe interval at 2 minutes would result in the probe being off 83% of the time.

On the RO top off thing...one would want to make the RO top off system be incapable of delivering water at a rate which exceeds evaporation by very much. For example, in my current setup...if the float switch stuck and left the evap water pump stuck on, it would take 24 hours to deliver 1 gallon....only slightly more than what would normally have been required for evap anyway. [/QUOTE]

 

[Untamed12]

If the Neptune has 2 minute Intervals I might as well Dig graves for my Fish.

Do you really feel that way? I would never put that much faith in a float switch or controller or...or anything that I'm dependent on to prevent a deadly quantity of RO from dumping into the system within a minute or two.

Seriously...if your auto top off has the capacity to dramatically alter your salinity within 2 minutes you need to redesign it. Its too powerful.

 

[Untamed12]

I know..I know... you're just saying that if something DRAMATIC happens...somehow...something you never thought was even possible ("poo-poo")...that the controller is right there to alert you or put a stop to it within a millisecond.

I agree, that is best. But I do think that some sort of sampling rate would extend the life of the probes quite a bit.

 

[TheMoneyPit]

I've told you my experience with pinpoint and that with AQT. The frustration I've had with the readings all over the place is also well documented in this thread. You are a hardcore Aquatronican and nothing I say will convince you that probes should not rust nor should they cause rust to form. Pinpoint doesn't, Neptune doesn't and I'm sure when I hear back from AquaDyne they will say the same. I'm not comfortable with the inaccurate readings or rust, sorry.

BTW my probes are pitted and damaged. You're only six weeks into your salinity probe just wait.

 

[RobbyG]

I don't think the life of the probe is in Danger, it is not rusting, just filtering out rust in the water. Lowering the rate might be a good idea just to keep the cleaning interval down, but who knows some people might like that it's gathering up more Iron in the water.

The Ironic Part (Pun Intended) is that if Aquatronica came up with an Iron Removing probe and said that it was removing all the excess Iron that's fueling your Red Algae growth, people would run out and buy it! Then others would come back and complain that it's not picking up enough rust on the collector

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6946210#post6946210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12

I agree, that is best. But I do think that some sort of sampling rate would extend the life of the probes quite a bit.

 

[RobbyG]

No I have had mine from Day one that they where released, it's just that the last calibration was 6 weeks ago. I still have no pits on mine. BTW do you really think any company is going to say "Yes Our Probes Rust" ?
Even if they do Rust, I wonder if anybody can open the other probes.


What I don't get is that you seem to Hate Every striking thing about the Aquatronica, so why dont you just sell it and get a Neptune?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6946276#post6946276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheMoneyPit

BTW my probes are pitted and damaged. You're only six weeks into your salinity probe just wait.

 

[TheMoneyPit]

So long as you have two metal electrodes in water and Pass a DC Current through them, all the Metal in the water is going to head towards the electrodes. You just can't escape it.

Hmmmm..... don't use metal.

 

[RobbyG]

oops double post

 

[RobbyG]

Hmmmm how you would pass an electric current into the water without metal? Maybe some sort of Silicate probe, but that would dissolve in SW, I have no idea but the fact that they use metal probably means it's the best way.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6946315#post6946315 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheMoneyPit
Hmmmm..... don't use metal.

 

[TheMoneyPit]

What I don't get is that you seem to Hate Every striking thing about the Aquatronica, so why dont you just sell it and get a Neptune?

Actually I've said that I like the Aquatronica, what frustrates me are inaccurate rusty salinity probes. That's the only negative thing I've ever said about Aquatronica. Relax.

Hmmmm how you would pass an electric current into the water without metal? Maybe some sort of Silicate probe, but that would dissolve in SW, I have no idea but the fact that they use metal probably means it's the best way.

Ummmm.... Pinpoint seems to pull it off, they don't use metal.

 

[RobbyG]

Are you sure of that, can you open the probe 100% and see whats making contact with the water? If so what is it or what does it look like?

 

[TheMoneyPit]

Why don't you call them and ask, you won't believe me anyway. RobbyG after reading your last few posts, I have to ask, how many times a day do you face your Aquatronica, bow and chant? Seriously man, you need to chill.

 

[Untamed12]

....measure salinity the old fashioned way.

Float a hydrometre in the sump. Attach an electronic sensor which somehow sees how high the hydrometre is floating. Controller gets input from the sensor.

Obviously, there's some design issues in that idea that need some thought...I'm just trying to think out of the box on this one.