Thanks for the replies. I was about the email autotopoff about the problem, but decided to check the connections again. All of the connections seemed good, but one felt looser/flimsy. I tried the light and it worked. I tried a solenoid and it did not. So I just unsoldered the questionable wire and now everything works. Even the Stenner. :bounce1:.
automatic water change
- Thread starter DRThompson
- Start date
I called it. Loose connection
:beer:Glad you got it working. Nothing more frustrating than "it should work but it's not".......
AquamanE
Active member
NIce work everyone.
And here now Hifters shows us, AGAIN, you dont need a controller to do AWC's. Ive been questioned many times about this.
I don't have one either (technically) but the controls I'm putting together almost qualify, though basically just running off a lamp timer and a few relays!
My ultimate goal and final system will be rather complicated but is working great now just off of one float switch, one relay, a lamp timer, my pump, and it's PSU.
Systems can be very simple if you want them to and not terribly expensive.
nuxx
.Registered Member
Hey guys,
I'm looking at setting up an automatic water change solution using a Stenner pump here in the next month or so.
I'm looking at doing 3-5 gallons a day.
Just a few questions:
- Do you think this would be a good pump to go with:
http://www.lockewell.com/index.php?...ducts_id=176&gclid=CM_1xbrLx7sCFUMV7AodviQAhA
170 GPD / 2 Heads / 24 hours = 3.5 GPH - So basically an hour to complete the change?
- How loud are the pumps? Should it be located in the laundry room and not in the stand? Not crazy about noises.
- I need about 5' of head for the following: Drain (washing machine drain), saltwater holding container, and gutter drain I have setup for my ATO to break siphon.
- Have the pinch valves been successful in equaling how much water is pushed and pulled from the Stenners? I've seen a few people mention stock it's a bit off.
Thanks so much guys :love1:
I'm looking at setting up an automatic water change solution using a Stenner pump here in the next month or so.
I'm looking at doing 3-5 gallons a day.
Just a few questions:
- Do you think this would be a good pump to go with:
http://www.lockewell.com/index.php?...ducts_id=176&gclid=CM_1xbrLx7sCFUMV7AodviQAhA
170 GPD / 2 Heads / 24 hours = 3.5 GPH - So basically an hour to complete the change?
- How loud are the pumps? Should it be located in the laundry room and not in the stand? Not crazy about noises.
- I need about 5' of head for the following: Drain (washing machine drain), saltwater holding container, and gutter drain I have setup for my ATO to break siphon.
- Have the pinch valves been successful in equaling how much water is pushed and pulled from the Stenners? I've seen a few people mention stock it's a bit off.
Thanks so much guys :love1:
DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
- Do you think this would be a good pump to go with:
http://www.lockewell.com/index.php?...ducts_id=176&gclid=CM_1xbrLx7sCFUMV7AodviQAhA
170 GPD / 2 Heads / 24 hours = 3.5 GPH - So basically an hour to complete the change?
Probably your best option. I spread mine out throughout the day and change out 2.5gal per day. I run mine on my apex.
- How loud are the pumps? Should it be located in the laundry room and not in the stand? Not crazy about noises.
VERY loud. They are also large; the dual head is about 11 inches long. I would use the laundry room.
- I need about 5' of head for the following: Drain (washing machine drain), saltwater holding container, and gutter drain I have setup for my ATO to break siphon.
Not a problem for the stenner
- Have the pinch valves been successful in equaling how much water is pushed and pulled from the Stenners? I've seen a few people mention stock it's a bit off.
I've been running mine now since Nov 2013. I have noticed a slight drift in salinity (loss) over time. I now mix my fresh saltwater to a higher salinity (1.026) and it seemed to fix it.
http://www.lockewell.com/index.php?...ducts_id=176&gclid=CM_1xbrLx7sCFUMV7AodviQAhA
170 GPD / 2 Heads / 24 hours = 3.5 GPH - So basically an hour to complete the change?
Probably your best option. I spread mine out throughout the day and change out 2.5gal per day. I run mine on my apex.
- How loud are the pumps? Should it be located in the laundry room and not in the stand? Not crazy about noises.
VERY loud. They are also large; the dual head is about 11 inches long. I would use the laundry room.
- I need about 5' of head for the following: Drain (washing machine drain), saltwater holding container, and gutter drain I have setup for my ATO to break siphon.
Not a problem for the stenner
- Have the pinch valves been successful in equaling how much water is pushed and pulled from the Stenners? I've seen a few people mention stock it's a bit off.
I've been running mine now since Nov 2013. I have noticed a slight drift in salinity (loss) over time. I now mix my fresh saltwater to a higher salinity (1.026) and it seemed to fix it.
nuxx
.Registered Member
Thanks so much Dave.
Plan on running mine on the Apex as well. I can hardly stand the noise of my ATO pump it's pretty quiet.
Laundry room it is hahah
Did you ever do a video of your setup?
- Do you think this would be a good pump to go with:
http://www.lockewell.com/index.php?...ducts_id=176&gclid=CM_1xbrLx7sCFUMV7AodviQAhA
170 GPD / 2 Heads / 24 hours = 3.5 GPH - So basically an hour to complete the change?
Probably your best option. I spread mine out throughout the day and change out 2.5gal per day. I run mine on my apex.
- How loud are the pumps? Should it be located in the laundry room and not in the stand? Not crazy about noises.
VERY loud. They are also large; the dual head is about 11 inches long. I would use the laundry room.
- I need about 5' of head for the following: Drain (washing machine drain), saltwater holding container, and gutter drain I have setup for my ATO to break siphon.
Not a problem for the stenner
- Have the pinch valves been successful in equaling how much water is pushed and pulled from the Stenners? I've seen a few people mention stock it's a bit off.
I've been running mine now since Nov 2013. I have noticed a slight drift in salinity (loss) over time. I now mix my fresh saltwater to a higher salinity (1.026) and it seemed to fix it.
Salinity drift is just like Eddie, his is pumping out more then in. I guess mixing a higher salinity will work but it's not a fix.
nuxx
.Registered Member
Would you look at a different solution?
Sacohen
New member
A different fix, rather than a band-aid would be (what was suggested before) to restrict the amount of that that is being taken it with a valve.
DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
The drift is very slow and seemly consistent. The slightly higher salinity seems to fix it for me. Lately, I've been skimming more and have the same problem as inevo so I'm not sure how much was related to increase in skimming and how much was an actual drift. Either way, it is very slow and i'm not overly concerned.
nuxx
.Registered Member
What's the drift in say a month?
DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
I like to keep my salinity at 1.024. I started the AWC system back in Nov and noticed the shift 1.021 in Feb. That's when I started using higher salinity freshwater (1.026) to balance it out. Back in December I started cycling my denitrater 3 times a day which increases my skim-mate so I'm not sure what the true shift is. My system volume is 200gal and I change out 2.5gal per day; maybe a smaller system would show more shift. Not sure.
I'll try to monitor the month of April closely to double check.
If people want to put bandaids on then so be it, it's not my tank. Like Steve said, the head pushing more needs to be restricted so that they are even with each other. It's almost 100% confirmed that anyone using similar Stenner pumps have the same issue.
On the Thermoflex or whatever it is, you can tighten and loosen the tubes to correct it which is a far easier solution. I'm not going to sit here and argue because I was the first to point this out and while others are still in denial, the proof is there already.
On the Thermoflex or whatever it is, you can tighten and loosen the tubes to correct it which is a far easier solution. I'm not going to sit here and argue because I was the first to point this out and while others are still in denial, the proof is there already.
nuxx
.Registered Member
That's not too bad, running around 600 gallons. I could live with .05 a month or so. Doesn't seem too hard to compensate for.
Do you think head might play an issue?
AquamanE
Active member
i bought and recieved a pinch valve after i determined the difference in mine, as Eric correctly mention.
I haven't decided if im going to use it yet because i am not getting these SG shifts. Whats to say a restrictor wont cause another issue?. As far as im concerned the difference is minimal, as evidenced by my breakdown of the numbers a few pages back.
I haven't decided if im going to use it yet because i am not getting these SG shifts. Whats to say a restrictor wont cause another issue?. As far as im concerned the difference is minimal, as evidenced by my breakdown of the numbers a few pages back.
DRThompson
2018 FMAS President
just checked my salinity.....its at 1.025
I think it's my excess skim mate, not the stenner. Will continue to check throughout the month to be sure though.
I just mixed up 50gal of salt at 1.026 and pumped into my automatic water change system. The 50gal barrel should last at least 3 weeks, I'll check every few days and follow the salinity to be sure.
I think it's my excess skim mate, not the stenner. Will continue to check throughout the month to be sure though.
I just mixed up 50gal of salt at 1.026 and pumped into my automatic water change system. The 50gal barrel should last at least 3 weeks, I'll check every few days and follow the salinity to be sure.
