Auto Water Change Systems

[PirateToast]

Anyone have any recommendations on automatic water change systems?

I have a SpectraPure LiterMeter and I'm over it. It works, but it requires too much maintenance and I've had too many occasions where one of the pumps stops working and the salinity fluctuates to dangerous levels.

I've seen the Genesis systems, but those are pretty pricey.

Anything cheaper available or an easy DIY option?

 

[Kinetic]

Anyone have any recommendations on automatic water change systems?

I have a SpectraPure LiterMeter and I'm over it. It works, but it requires too much maintenance and I've had too many occasions where one of the pumps stops working and the salinity fluctuates to dangerous levels.

I've seen the Genesis systems, but those are pretty pricey.

Anything cheaper available or an easy DIY option?

I used SpectraPure for a few years and it was the worst.

If you use Apex controllers, you could get the DOS (it's two pumps) and do it that way. If you have the ATK as well, everything would play nicely for salinity.

 

[bif24701]

Defiantly the DOS is a great option. The APEX also is simple to set up an auto water change program. It's built into the Fusion. I would say it's much simpler to implement than the genesis.


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[n2585722]

I use my Archon with two DP1's for auto water change. I also use the salinity input to shutdown the auto water change if it gets above or below the set points.


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[PirateToast]

Ah. I don't have an Apex or an Archon. No controller whatsoever. Seems like the Genesis is the only option at this point.

 

[Kinetic]

I used to want the Genesis too. In theory, it would be great in conjunction with their ATO system as well. I always had issues with water changes and ATO messing with salinity when I was running SpectraPure pumps.

I actually don't know anyone who uses Genesis, so I have no idea how they do.

With that amount, I wonder if you could connect an Apex Jr. controller to the DOS dosers for a water change? Might be similarly priced or cheaper (and expandable to other things later).

 

[slief]

I am a HUGE fan of the Genesis Renew. It's by far the best water change system money can buy. No calibration, always spot on accurate. It's fast and can change out a gallon every 2-3 minute and can do 1-99 gallons a day, week or in one continuous water change. If you have a controller like the Apex, you just program a delay in for the ATO so tthat the ATO float has to be open or closed for 3-4 minutes straight before activating the ATO or just leave it be and the system will be fine unless its a really small system. I've also used the Litermeter 3 and it was a great solution as well but I much prefer the Renew for it's speed and accuracy and fool proof nature. I've set a few of them up for others as well and they too love them.

 

[Kinetic]

I am a HUGE fan of the Genesis Renew. It's by far the best water change system money can buy. No calibration, always spot on accurate. It's fast and can change out a gallon every 2-3 minute and can do 1-99 gallons a day, week or in one continuous water change. If you have a controller like the Apex, you just program a delay in for the ATO so tthat the ATO float has to be open or closed for 3-4 minutes straight before activating the ATO or just leave it be and the system will be fine unless its a really small system. I've also used the Litermeter 3 and it was a great solution as well but I much prefer the Renew for it's speed and accuracy and fool proof nature. I've set a few of them up for others as well and they too love them.

Woah great! someone who has a good review! That's really good to know. How long have you had it?

 

[Breadman03]

Another option would be a Masterflex pump with dual heads. One of them should have adjustable occlusion so that you can match flow.

 

[slief]

Woah great! someone who has a good review! That's really good to know. How long have you had it?

4 years. I've also installed a few for others. There are a number of Renew owners on the forum and I am not aware of anybody who doesn't love them. It's by far the best AWC system money can by. I love the fact that it never needs intervention and is always accurate. I especially love the fact that if I want to do a large water change, I can just punch in the number in gallons and let it do it's think and unlike a slow dosing pump that will take several hours to do several gallons and is subject to wear and tear and routine calibration, the Renew will do it quickly and the only thing you need to worry about are a couple cheap Eheim pumps that are darn near bullet proof anyway.

 

[vitodog]

I'm a Genesis Renew owner and love it. Its basically a plug n play system. Simple to set up and dependable.

 

[dartier]

For a solution that is simple, and not too expensive, see the Stenner line of dual head pumps (E..g 100DMP4). They are not the quietest, so deployment in fishroom/garage recommended. But they are rated for 100% duty cycle and cheaper than a Masterflex. A dual headed Stenner and a timer makes for a dead simple AWC.

Dennis

 

[shellsea]

I have a two head Stenner pump I have been using. Very high quality. With all the talk about Triton and other minor element replacement programs like Reef Grow negating the need for water changes I wonder if it is still a direction I will continue to go.


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[bull shark]

Genesis Renew and Storm user here.

Best money I have spent in my 50 years of fishkeeping.

 

[2000se]

Either genesis or dual stenner will be perfect. Seriously, don't over think either of them.

 

[d2mini]

I don't have the space for something like the Genesis with those tubs that need to be mounted on a wall, so I'm using a GHL Doser 2.1.
It runs 150x per day.
Changes out a total of about 2.25g per day.
It's silent, fits in my stand, and it only uses two heads so I have two left over for other stuff.

 

[Hitch08]

Dennis - How do you account for your ATO? Or, does the GHL Doser 2.1 add at the same rate that it removes, such that it's not an issue?

 

[2000se]

it probably runs like the dual stenner. puts in what it takes out.

 

[d2mini]

Dennis - How do you account for your ATO? Or, does the GHL Doser 2.1 add at the same rate that it removes, such that it's not an issue?

It doesn't remove enough at a time to trigger the ATO. Unless it was near its trigger point already. It's like 57ml.
The pumps run a couple mins apart. The sump isn't all that big so it gives it a little time to mix the new with the old.