Is the GHL Profilux right for what I want to do ?

[snadaud]

Hi,

I'm currently setting up a new tank and I'm looking into aquarium controllers.

I want this controller to control :
- Lights (3x250W MH)
- Top off
- Water change
- Calcium reactor
- Main pump
- Tunze circulation pump + wavebox
- Automatic feeder
- RUGF (actually a part of the bottom of the tank with crushed coral instead of sand, plumbed to a pump which would switch on for a few minutes on a scheduled interval to blast the pods and other critters living in the crushed coral into the water column)
- Culture station

The tank will have two overflow one after the other. This first compartment will overflow in the second compartment which is plumbed into the skimmer and sump.

In the first overflow compartment the RUGF pump will be located.

In the second compartment will be the UV sterilizer and phyto reactor feed pump.

The RUGF pump, UV sterilizer, and phytoreactor feed pump will be switched off when the main return pump is on.

When the main return pump is off, the extra water will flow to the sump. Then fresh water will be added to top off the sump level to a set high level. After the water has been topped off, an automatic water change is made, the old water overflowing to a drain through a bukhead situated just above the set high level.

The automatic feeder switches on.

A few minutes after the automatic feeder switched on, the RUGF pump in the first overflow switches on and makes water circulate in a closed circuit between the main tank and the first overflow. The idea is that some of the pods and detritus which are in the crushed coral bed are put in suspension in the water column so that the corals can feed on them.

The second overflow is isolated, and the water it contains is passed into the UV sterilizer repeteadly, also in closed circuit.
After all the water in the second overflow has been sterilized, a small feed pump switches on to send some water to a phytoplancton reactor, which in turn overflows into the main display.


The way I am thinking of doing is as follow :

- 4 times/day, switch the main return pump off for 1 hour (ex: switch off at 6pm)

Wait 1 minute from main pump switch off to allow the sump level to stabilize
- Switch top off socket on for 10 min (eg 6:01 to 6:10) :
- if sump lvl=low and sump pH>8.3, then turn on Top off pump 1 (pure R.O water)
- if sump lvl=low and sump pH<8.3, then turn on Top Off pump 2 (through Kalkreactor)

Wait 10 minutes from main pump switch off
- Switch on water change socket for 5 minutes
- If sump lvl=ok and New Salt Water reservoir lvl=ok and NSW reservoir conductivity=ok, then turn on Water change pump for 5 min (eg 6:10 to 6:15). Old water will go to a drain through a high water level overflow.

Wait 15 minutes from main pump switch off
- Start automatic feeder

Wait for 20 minutes from main pump switch off
- Start RUGF pump for 15 minutes (eg 6:20 to 6:35)
- Start UV sterilizer and sterilizer feedpump for 30 minutes (eg 6:20 to 6:50).

Wait for 50 minutes from main pump switch off
- Start phytoplancton reactor feed pump for 5 minutes (eg 6:50 to 6:55)

1 hour after it intially switched off, the main pump switches on again, Top Off, Water change, RUGF, UV, and phytoreactor pumps are off, and the water circuit becomes normal again.

The times, frequency, and durations are just to try and explain what I want to do more clearly.

Also, maybe once a week I would like all the tunze pump to work at 100% at the same time for a set duration to make a "storm" and put all particules into suspension. The rest of the time would be on a regular tidal flow & wavebox.

I also want the controller to control the injection of CO2 in the Ca reactor with a pH probe, and injection of O3 in the skimmer with an ORP probe.

Can I do all that with the GHL profilux ?

Which model would be the best suited to this ?

Which add-ons, extension cards, etc... will I need to get to do all this ?

I am also considering adding a surge bucket at a later stage, and would like to know if I could control it in the following way, to make sure that it is empty before the auto-top off and water change processes start :

Surge bucket feed pump : on by default
If time = 6:00 to 6:20 pm and water lvl in surge bucket=low, then pump is switched off for 1 hour.

I am sorry for the long post, but I didn't have any idea how to explain that in a shorter post...I hope it will be clear...

Thanks in advance !
Sylvain

 

[snadaud]

Mmmm... looks like I light have been wasting my time writing this post...

 

[AQD_ottawa]

why? I have only just back in the office I am sorry i could not respond to you any earlier but you are 12 hours ahead of us on time and posted this at 3am our time

Yes the GHL ProfiLux will do all you require for sure

I would suggest the ProfiLux Plus II ex as it will do all you require, all you need to add on are probes and level sensors

 

[boboxx]

a extra powerbar also... looks like you have alot of stuff to connect

 

[snadaud]

Thanks !!

I was not really complaining, just hoping to ellicit some answers with my whiny post

One thing I am not very clear about is the maximum number of level sensor I could connect to the Profilux plus II Ex and the exact use of the splitter.

If I connect two sensors in one port througha splitter, does it mean that I can measure 2 levels in two different tanks, or does it necessarily have to be a max/min level in a single tank ?

I believe that the Profilux Plus II Ex comes with 2 level ports. Can I use a splitter on each of them and then control 4 different levels in 4 different tanks ?

If I want to add another port, the extension card I need is the temperature card ?

Finally, is it possible to add a splitter on a splitter ? For instance, I put 1 splitter in the level sensor port, and then on the each ends of this splitter cable I plug another splitter cable. Can I then control 4 different level sensors through a single port ?

Thanks in advance !!!
Sylvain

 

[boboxx]

PII Ex level sensor = 3

 

[jdjeff58]

snaudlaud.....the 'sensors' available with the profilux are actually level switches. So when a desired/undesired level is realized, there are options based on your needs in the software...ie turn on/off pumps, alarms, etc. I think to actually 'control' level, your best bet with level switches is to use two switches, one for high cut off and one for low turn on. Otherwise your pump will cycle on/off too much if you use only one switch.

Not sure of your intent with level. But when you say 'measure' level, keep in mind they are only switches. And also keep in mind that the optical sensors (switches) work much better than the float type.

 

[snadaud]

Thanks for the answers

I do understand that the sensors a level switches (either float or optical) and that it is safer to use 2 switches to control the level in one tank (one low start switch, and 1 safety stop high level switch).

My question was not formulated very clearly.

What I actually want to know is :

Assuming 2 switches/recipient, what is the maximum number of recipient which level I can control if :

1 - I use the Profilux II plus Ex in its original configuration without adding any extension cards

or

2 - I add as many extension cards for level sensors as possible

Thanks in advance !
Sylvain

 

[AQD_ottawa]

as said above the maximum for now until the launch of the PIII is a total of 3 level sensors.

the EX comes with 3 as standard

 

[snadaud]

Can I make it 6 sensors by plugging in 3 splitter cables instead of plugging in the sensors directly ?