automatic water change

I just exchanged PM's with Chris155hp regarding the pull/push difference on his stenner dual head pump and here was his response (he asked me to post it since he's on his phone so all can see):
I ended up trying different combos of the 4 tubes that came with the unit and found the pair that gave the closest measurements (bought two cheap volumetric flasks on eBay) and let it be. Over time I'm pretty sure they evened out as the pump broke in the tubes. What ever you do make sure the one outputting more fluid is the one that pushes clean saltwater INTO the tank. This theoretically will cause an increase in salinity but with a little wetter skimming/loss threw salt creep it seams to even out. Also it's much easer to decrease salinity( simply remove a cup of tank water and let the ATO Fill the difference) then to add salt to a tank. Hope this helps let me know how you fare. If you do go the valve route make sure it goes before the pump if not you can burst a pump tube due to head pressure.
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Eddie - We are ready to send you the LM3 setup, but we have lost your address in some deleted PMs.

Could you please PM us again with your shipping info?

Thanks,
Scott at SpectraPure
 
anyone still using dual channel eternal feed pumps with success? i dont know how long one would hold up with continuous use?
 
jason12345 said:
anyone still using dual channel eternal feed pumps with success? i dont know how long one would hold up with continuous use?
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Jason- not sure what pumps you are referring to but these are not under continuous use. They are only on for a few hours per day.
 
jason12345 said:
anyone still using dual channel eternal feed pumps with success? i dont know how long one would hold up with continuous use?
Click to expand...

Been using my Stenner dual head pump since I started this thread back in Nov 2013. No shift in salinity (I test with a digital refractometer and run a conductivity probe) I still change out about 2.5gal/day and the tank has never been more stable!

Whether you use a Stenner, Liter meter, genesys, masterflex, or homemade setup, an automated water change system is worth the investment!
 
jason12345 said:
I meant more long term. Not continuous. Sorry. Eternal feeding pumps like the kangaroo models
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I've been using a modified peristaltic type medical infusion pump (forget which one, it was one of the ebay modded versions not sure if that is the same kind of pump as the kangaroo though) for about 3 years now continuous duty slow rpm to dose two part solution in my reef. No problems, just replace the tubing on the rollers ever two or three months. I don't think they would be very ideal for long term AWC though as they are pretty heaviliy modded and not really intended to run full throttle long term.
 
I will be setting mine up in the future. I am running a line from my Rodi tank in the garage through the attic to fill up my ATO container when its low. So figured i might as well run one from the salt tank at the same time.

As for i plan to run them inside of pvc pipe in case of a leak it wont come through the ceiling but be forced back to the garage.
 
Finally Finished, Success! mostly.......

Finally Finished, Success! mostly.......

Well, after taking forever to complete my auto water change station build it is finally up and running. First batch of saltwater mixed and automatic water changes under way! no more messing with mixing salt, and a gallon a day changes for the next month or so!!!!!!

Only thing I over looked on the controls was a bypass switch for the high water float used to transfer fresh RO/DI into the mixing tank. I have to unplug the sensor and by pass it with a shorted plug to mix the water, DOH! Should have used a 4pole switch, oh well minor issue, only have to mess with it once a month or so. complete with a bright red LED spot light that alerts me when the salt water bin is empty!

My fish and Corals will be very happy now, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with coral growth now, since neglect has been the only thing keeping coral from growing out of my tank in the past.

A couple of pics, at some point I may do an actual build thread, but as long as this took not sure when I'll find the time :lol:

Using a three head Cole-Parmer L/S pump running on an ametek motor with motor speed control for the water change pump (posted earlier in the thread)

:beer:
 

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Congrats man!! I've been slacking, though my automated mixing has been working, it needs some tweaking though. I haven't had the motivation. There's a rescaping planned, maybe after that's out of the way...
 
I know the feeling.
I was originally planning a move of my 55 and I was going to do it them, but the move has become and upgrade to a 90 or 120 and once the new tank is place and going I'm going to setup the AWC.

BTW congratulations on finishing your setup zachts. It looks nice.
Did you have any issues matching input and output of the Cole-Palmer Pumps?
 
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Sacohen said:
I know the feeling.
I was originally planning a move of my 55 and I was going to do it them, but the move has become and upgrade to a 90 or 120 and once the new tank is place and going I'm going to setup the AWC.

BTW congratulations on finishing your setup zachts. It looks nice.
Did you have any issues matching input and output of the Cole-Palmer Pumps?
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Thanks,

No problems matching output, they are pretty accurate if you use the tool or a screwdriver to load the tubing. I posted my calibration tests many pages back. Haven't re-checked since, but it was dead on for two pump heads and the third was pushing around 1 gallon more for ever 24 gallons changed so I just use that one to put fresh saltwater back into my display to make up for skimmer loss, shouldn't see much of a salinity change that way.

Now that this projects done, I can move onto finishing that DT light build that has been progressing even slower :lolspin:
 
DRThompson said:
Bought my 1/4" PVC tubing on eBay for my attic run. It's rated to 30psi and 140 degrees plus it's uv resistant. It's very strong and bends easily. Just do a search for 1/4" PVC tubing on eBay.
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When you have time, please post a link of the RO tubing you purchased for us to use as reference.

Thank you -
 
BobbyV said:
When you have time, please post a link of the RO tubing you purchased for us to use as reference.
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I have used both 1/4" OD PVC tubing and Polyurethane tubing. Compared to the usual Polyethylene tubing, they are more flexible, stronger, more heat resistant and will hold up better in my attic. Here's an eBay link to polyurethane tubing

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=polyurethane+tubing+1%2F4&_sop=15

You could also buy either tubing from globalindustrial dot com or USplastics or amazon
http://www.globalindustrial.com/product/itemKey/31457670?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=CjwKEAjwgMieBRCB3bqB94e9lD4SJABW3sTN84OCt2XDyd5WvLRmZrmdop8_cqehTDDV-I9cWzEEKxoC5Xfw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
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