automatic water change

Doing a test run:



I've got the salinity of the change water and the salinity of the tank and I'm collecting my output in a bucket vs the drain. Lets see how this goes!

Good luck Iced. Let us know. I see you have the 170 DM. What's the diff between 170DM and 100DM?
 
So I have my LM3, RPM module and WXM that comes with the float switch etc. I'd like to use the LM# for AWC and also the WXM for ATO. What Would be the best way to set this up? Also can I trust the float sensor(it's a presure sensor) that come witht he WXM?
I also hae and Extra LM3 and WXM with sensor that I can trade for the actual ATO UPLC-II - LLC-UPLC-II
 
well, after changing about 20 gallons, so far this thing is very easy to use and no salinity drift. I won't know for sure things are 'good enough' until a few weeks in, but it's certainly taking the sting out of water changes. Big fan.
 
well, after changing about 20 gallons, so far this thing is very easy to use and no salinity drift. I won't know for sure things are 'good enough' until a few weeks in, but it's certainly taking the sting out of water changes. Big fan.

yay! How's the noise level?
 
yay! How's the noise level?

Dave, Chris, anyone. If you have any advise on advantages of the DM170 or DM100 please pm me. I am ready to go with one or the other. Want to do about 1 gal per day or 30 per month. Thanks. Just sold my old house and ready to start this project.
 
yay! How's the noise level?

Noise level is high. LM3 all the way if you're worried about noise, I can hear this thing through the wall loud and clear, it will only be changing water in the afternoon when it's just me working. It is louder than any other item in my reef setup.

Dave, Chris, anyone. If you have any advise on advantages of the DM170 or DM100 please pm me. I am ready to go with one or the other. Want to do about 1 gal per day or 30 per month. Thanks. Just sold my old house and ready to start this project.

Hey sorry I missed this question the first time around the 170 just rotates faster, I picked it over the 100 and went with #5 tubing to get my changes done as fast as possible. Stenner suggested the 170 was quieter than the 100, though they admitted not by much. I didn't get the adjustable one as I didn't see the need, but I see now they have ones where both heads are adjustable, so perhaps that'd help with long runs where the heads aren't matching well? I also have the 25psi one. Ordering a new one comes with two sets of tubes (one installed and ready to go), two weighted strainers, two 25 foot runs of tube, 6 collars and inserts to connect the tube (I used 4, didn't destroy any and no leaks, so that's a plus to have spares). The instructions are simple as the pump is pretty simple.

Only thing I didn't forsee: the tubes want to move as it runs. Each burst of pressure causes some movement in tubes, so secure the ends in a drain, the sump, etc. The weighted strainers are great for the suction lines, but you'll want to secure the line back into the sump as it will jump around. (it's not a constant linear flow, it pulses).

Hope that helps, maybe it's just the newness but am in pretty big amazement at how easy this is going to make my water changes. Very excited still.
 
Noise level is high. LM3 all the way if you're worried about noise, I can hear this thing through the wall loud and clear, it will only be changing water in the afternoon when it's just me working. It is louder than any other item in my reef setup.



Hey sorry I missed this question the first time around the 170 just rotates faster, I picked it over the 100 and went with #5 tubing to get my changes done as fast as possible. Stenner suggested the 170 was quieter than the 100, though they admitted not by much. I didn't get the adjustable one as I didn't see the need, but I see now they have ones where both heads are adjustable, so perhaps that'd help with long runs where the heads aren't matching well? I also have the 25psi one. Ordering a new one comes with two sets of tubes (one installed and ready to go), two weighted strainers, two 25 foot runs of tube, 6 collars and inserts to connect the tube (I used 4, didn't destroy any and no leaks, so that's a plus to have spares). The instructions are simple as the pump is pretty simple.

Only thing I didn't forsee: the tubes want to move as it runs. Each burst of pressure causes some movement in tubes, so secure the ends in a drain, the sump, etc. The weighted strainers are great for the suction lines, but you'll want to secure the line back into the sump as it will jump around. (it's not a constant linear flow, it pulses).

Hope that helps, maybe it's just the newness but am in pretty big amazement at how easy this is going to make my water changes. Very excited still.

Good advice on all accounts.

Iced- Im a year and a half into it, and am loving it!!!!

Sheelsee- 170 does more GPD than 100, thats the only difference im aware of.
 
Do you use a controller to turn it on/off? Glad the shine doesn't wear off.

Just ordered the Stenner 100DMP5. Went for the fixed rate. Was advised the adjustable does have clutch parts that will need replacement in time. The lower you crank it down the faster they go bad. Don't think I will really need the adjustment. Only a 15 foot run. Looking forward to automatic water changes!!!!
 
Do you use a controller to turn it on/off? Glad the shine doesn't wear off.

i do, but its not necessary. Any timer with 1 minute increments would work just fine. Havent used the below. Just an example.
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/89364/SUN-734105.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=SUN-734105&utm_content=Titan+Controls+%25257C+Grow+Light+Timers&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=CjwKEAjwvPepBRCoqo37teOD1XsSJAC7v6WQ3YiT4eNJjd-5clKItf-ivH8_8evof-aVwl9A3dtiIhoCFLDw_wcB


I dont even see a problem with a 15 minute interval timer, you just cant be as precise on amount of WC you want, but honestly, who cares?
 
Just ordered the Stenner 100DMP5. Went for the fixed rate. Was advised the adjustable does have clutch parts that will need replacement in time. The lower you crank it down the faster they go bad. Don't think I will really need the adjustment. Only a 15 foot run. Looking forward to automatic water changes!!!!

Do know anyone that has felt the need to go adjustable.

You wont regret it!!! :fun4:
 
automatic water change

Hi there!

I just purchase 2 Watson - Marlow peristaltic pump 323S + 313x + 313D , I have one hooked up for my calcium reactor and the other one I plan to use in my AWC. I have 2 channel pump heads of which one will be pulling old tank water while the other one is for pushing new mix salt water to the tank.
I wonder if I need to hooked the pulling Plc water tube in my display tank and hooked the pushing or filling NSW tube in the sump .
Hope anyone give me how I can make it better set up.
I am not looking at auto continual water change but will use this as a way to let me work more easier during water change without many bucket , jar , hose , pumps and mess on the floor.
I just want to mix new salt water and then let the pump do the rest .

I will post my other pump , which is similar to this one that I use for my calcium reactor;

4e5a26b92a90e09f8555faf22c7f34f7.jpg


Cheers,


MD
 
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Here is the another one pump to be use for AWC , exactly the same model 323S with 2 pumps head 313x and 313D

af906b00f264fd70abb47ba2502b8586.jpg


919822882589c42d97289a0ea2fe9031.jpg


Will have one pumps head pulling the old tank water to drain and push and have another one pump head to push new salt water into the tank

I need your comment if it is better to pull old water from DT and push new salt water to sump . Will it be possible that whatever new salt water added may be also drained out at the same time ?

Hope to hear from you guys !

Cheers,

MD
 
Its not changing that large of a volume to even notice ....one thing i would recomend though is a series of float valves incase one side fails for any reason
 
automatic water change

My initiative for my AWC system will be more on semi - Manual Water change system .

In the past when I do water Change I have to use so much bucket , jar, hose , pumps and not to mentioned spilling my floor with sea water and hurting my old cranky back.

I want to make use of this Watson - Marlow to pull old water and drained it directly into the drainage and then pushing new salt water at the same time .

All I need to do every time I make water change is to just mix fresh sea water and then turn off the returning pump and turn on my watson - Marlow pump to pull old tank water from the DT and at the same time it will push new salt water into the sump . I think running about 5% or 20 liters even 10% or about 44 liters will only took around less than 15 mins to 30 mins or so and I believe it will safe me from a lot of hassles.

I hope anyone out there may give me much better advise or idea than what I have in my said initiative .

Cheers,


MD
 
If you take it to that level I would say hook it up to a timer or controller, bin of water and let it go automated. Much safer IMHO rather than trying to remember to turn on/off all the time
 
As a note, I found this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068147 which showed a PVC based tubing holders while I was searching for probe/dosing line holders. Being a cheap you know who I employed it for my setup, though the locations are temporary the clamps work excellently:



I felt the acrylic options I found weren't as secure and much more expensive (NOT FREE).

I've changed out ~100 gallons of water in the last two week (been a little more aggressive to catch up on nitrates from initial cycle) and everything has worked great with no salinity shifts. My coral are really responding (easy to say that as I put up big new lights and reduced Nitrates significantly) but that leads me to an observation:

this is the best thing I've ever done for my tank.

I really believe that should I be willing to invest the water and salt mix to keep this running it will significantly reduce my heartache in getting my big tank growing coral and keeping fish without major problems. I feed heavy now, let the skimmer work and let the water changes do the rest. I love it and so do my coral and fish. Thank you all for the ideas and help.
 
Great news. Good tip on the holder. I am at day two of 1 hour - 2 gal change per day. Loving it. May drop to a size 2 tube on the stenner so I can go slower yet.
 
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