cm11599ps
New member
I ordered my Base unit in the fall and only got around to setting my tank up two weeks ago and it's my first stab at SW. I also got the PM2 assuming it came with the probes. Oh well.
I thought the one energy bar would be fine for all my equipment. I also installed 2 wall switches by my tank to pump top off and new salt mix into my tank. I've got a top off can and a salt mix can in my garage each with a pump. I've got a heater and a PH in the salt mix can but havne't put the heater on yet. My plan was to only turn it on the day before a water change. So far, so good.
So after setting my tank up I realized that it would be better to have 2 energy bars by my tank just to plug everything in to.
So then I got to rethinking my water storage outside. It was silly for me to have to go in the garage (it's attached to the house but no entrance to it from the house) just to plug in my heater before doing a water change. Also, being that it's in the garage, it does get close to freezing in the winter so I don't want a heater on 24/7.
I ended up getting an APEX lite for the garage and additional temp and pH probes. I'll place the 2 new temp probes in each can in the garage and the pH probe in the SW can. I also plan on programming the APEX to control the water temps in the cans. The top off can doesn't need to be at 78 degrees, just slightly above freezing. That's something you can't accomplish with a regular heater simply because you can't set them that low. I'm topping off every day into my sump so I'm sure that little amount of cold water isn't going to be much of a problem. The salt mix can will be brought up to the correct temperature the day before a change. I've already tested it and it's no problem during outside air temps in the 30's. I just wouldn't want it to be a daily thing with the heater on.
It's going to be great having the second display in the garage too.
I think my favorite part is going to be water changes. I am placing a pump in my sump that is connected to a drain line going out of my house. I'll program all the regualr pumps to shut off so my sump fills up to capacity and then turn on my drain pump. Then have my salt mix pump pump the new water back into my sump before turning the main system back on again.
I thought the one energy bar would be fine for all my equipment. I also installed 2 wall switches by my tank to pump top off and new salt mix into my tank. I've got a top off can and a salt mix can in my garage each with a pump. I've got a heater and a PH in the salt mix can but havne't put the heater on yet. My plan was to only turn it on the day before a water change. So far, so good.
So after setting my tank up I realized that it would be better to have 2 energy bars by my tank just to plug everything in to.
So then I got to rethinking my water storage outside. It was silly for me to have to go in the garage (it's attached to the house but no entrance to it from the house) just to plug in my heater before doing a water change. Also, being that it's in the garage, it does get close to freezing in the winter so I don't want a heater on 24/7.
I ended up getting an APEX lite for the garage and additional temp and pH probes. I'll place the 2 new temp probes in each can in the garage and the pH probe in the SW can. I also plan on programming the APEX to control the water temps in the cans. The top off can doesn't need to be at 78 degrees, just slightly above freezing. That's something you can't accomplish with a regular heater simply because you can't set them that low. I'm topping off every day into my sump so I'm sure that little amount of cold water isn't going to be much of a problem. The salt mix can will be brought up to the correct temperature the day before a change. I've already tested it and it's no problem during outside air temps in the 30's. I just wouldn't want it to be a daily thing with the heater on.
It's going to be great having the second display in the garage too.
I think my favorite part is going to be water changes. I am placing a pump in my sump that is connected to a drain line going out of my house. I'll program all the regualr pumps to shut off so my sump fills up to capacity and then turn on my drain pump. Then have my salt mix pump pump the new water back into my sump before turning the main system back on again.
