Auto water changes using Litermeter pump

[MSHUR]

I wonder how many people use Letermeter for continue water changes in there reef system? i set it up but seems to me its more like a water recycling then true water changes , since pump it self adding and taking out small portions during a day of total 150 times..
maybe i am missing something

mike

 

[d2mini]

I ran this setup for at least a year and now I run a similar setup run by my Profilux, but it doesn't do it 150x per day which i think is awesome and I miss it.

Does somebody change out 15% of the ocean's water all at one time?

Here's some good reading.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[MSHUR]

i actually thinking to use profilux for this app but i dont think small pump are design for this app. you can run each pump for 60sec max per period. how do you have urs set up?
you dont think letermeter is more of a water cycling? i was under impression then you can take 4g out and use second pump to pump 4g in but its not the way Letermeter works

 

[d2mini]

IMHO, the LM3 may be the better setup.
I'd rather be doing a continuous water change all day long than 1 per day. Read the link i gave you.
But right now 1 per day is exactly what I'm doing.
I originally was using a profilux dosing pump, controlled by the profilux computer, but unlike the LM3 which can dose 150x per day, the profilux could only dose something like 8x per day. So in order to change out the same daily total volume, the doser had to run for more than 15 minutes at a time, which puts too much stress on the rollers and they start to break down from the heat.

Now the good things about using the profilux computer...

1) the AWC programming is built in, so its easy to set up.

2) you use level sensors and two regular pumps. This is arguably even more accurate than using the dosing pumps since you don't have to calibrate the two pumps. It will only put back what it took out, no more no less. One of these level sensors also controls your ATO, but the profilux automatically disables ATO function while the AWC is running.

3) it's integrated into a piece of equipment I already own, which was my main reason for switching when i did my new tank build.

 

[MSHUR]

I am on the same boat, my system runs of profilux for many years with great success and as you said all futures are integrated . I figure Letermeter is more practical then Profilux dosing pumps as far as water changes.. i guess , i will start Letermeter and see how it goes. i want it to do 3 g per day for now..

 

[Mark Bianco]

I use the LM3 has worked great for about a year so far.

 

[Rouselb]

I use LM3 for daily auto water changes for years. I change over 14L per day.

 

[Jamey1010]

I use a Masterflex/Apex combo changes 1.5 gallons every 12 hrs but I could program it an infinite number of ways but true it's replacing as its adding.

I looked at reef genesis it takes out before it adds but didn't want to invest in an auto top off too or figure out floats to turn mine off when it was on.

 

[slief]

I used the LM3 for automatic water changes for a couple years. I changed out 4 gallons or so a day with it. It worked great for that. That was virtually the only water changes I did and my tank was always healthy and my test results were impeccable so even if it is just recycling, it works well for that purpose. My only gripe was having to clean the rollers every few months and dealing calibration. Other than that, they are incredibly reliable and well made.

I recently switched to the Genesis Renew and I am really glad I did. I recently had a major mishaps with my system and the renew made 50 gallon at one time follow up water changes simple and convenient. I used it to change out nearly 200 gallons over the course of a few days and after doing 180 gallon water changes manually via siphon, the renew completely justified it's expense. The best part about the renew is the fact that is 100% accurate, never needs any calibration or maintenance and does larger water changes 1000 times faster than the Litermeter. For most that is not a concern but when you have a 550+ gallon system, the speed and flexibility that the renew offers has made it a very important part of my system.

As for it impacting my ATO, it's not something that concerns me. My sump is large enough that even if 1 gallon of water out starts my ATO, the ATO running for a short while certainly won't impact my salinity and a bit of extra water in my sumps isn't going effect anything either. I use a dosing pump for my ATO which is controlled through my Apex. Fresh water is added is slow enough that it doesn't make a bit of difference it runs for a few minutes and any extra water will evaporate regardless. I also have a delay programmed in so the Apex doesn't turn the top on the ATO pump on unless it senses low water for more than a few minutes which is enough time for the Genesis to swap a gallon.

That said, on a smaller system, the LM3 is a great device for automatic water changes and dosing. Heck, even on a larger system, it works great for that. I really like the Litermeter and if I dosed anything, I would have kept it for that purpose alone.

 

[MSHUR]

thank you guys for feedbacks. i think i wanna try Letermeter and hopefully i like it

Slief,
i think if i dont like Letermeter my next step would be Genesis there is a few different systems they offer, witch one would you recomend ( just for basic wc)

thank you

 

[rottloverr]

I used my LM3 for auto top off as well. Worked great.

 

[slief]

thank you guys for feedbacks. i think i wanna try Letermeter and hopefully i like it

Slief,
i think if i dont like Letermeter my next step would be Genesis there is a few different systems they offer, witch one would you recomend ( just for basic wc)

thank you

I would go with the advanced or the pro. They offer a bit more speed when it comes to continuous water changes which was beneficial to me. They include addition float switches in the metering bins so that the renew stops the pump feeds when the metering bins are full as opposed to running the pump for a full 60 seconds each time the metering bins fill. They also allow you to monitor the water levels in your salt water holding tank and your sump. Those two options were not something I needed as my salt water storage tank is 100 gallons and my sumps are pretty large so I did not use those particular features.

You can also add on their ATO solution which will allow the ATO to operate unaffected by water changes as the renew will pause the ATO when a water change is in process.

 

[MSHUR]

thanks buddy!