Litermeter III for auto water change...

[sn4265]

Not sure if I can squeeze the budget enough for this or not, but it really sounds like the best solution available. My thought is to put the LM3 in the laundry room with my RO/DI unit and water making stuff. This means that I would be pumping to and from the tank thru the attic and over about 20 feet or so. I think this would be fine for the LM3, but I'm just checking here.

I'm also not sure of the purpose of the LM3 auto water changer add-on. Is this something I would need for this? I'm pretty sure that does indeed break the bank as it's an extra $180.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[James77]

Yes, the LM can handle that head. IIRC it can pump up 30-40 feet and draw from 24 feet below.

You need 2 LM pumps to change water. The main LM3 pump controls both, the add on would be the 2nd. One pump would pump in a set amount of water, then the other would draw out that water.

 

[sn4265]

Yes, the LM can handle that head. IIRC it can pump up 30-40 feet and draw from 24 feet below.

You need 2 LM pumps to change water. The main LM3 pump controls both, the add on would be the 2nd. One pump would pump in a set amount of water, then the other would draw out that water.

Yikes... Dopey me. I thought the 3 in the LM3 name was meaning that it actually had 3 pumps included with the base unit.

 

[sn4265]

Can someone recommend a manual pump with an accurate flow rate and high enough max head to be able to do the "automatic" water changes described above manually? I should be able to just plug these into my Apex and control them that way. I'm hoping to be able to save a couple hundred dollars since I don't absolutely need the control functionality of the LM3.

 

[James77]

You could look into the pumps here:
http://reefdosingpumps.com/

They have the Nautilus model at $180, it can about a half gallon per day per channel, which is 15 gallons a month water change...that is about 12% per month on your tank. Not sure if that is enough for you.

The smaller hobby dosers like drews and bulk reef supply ideally should not be used for auto top off, as it can be high volume. The Top off doser from bulk reef may handle it, but not sure on its reliability for that or if they advise against it.

 

[tkeracer619]

With that long of a run you will be hard pressed to get an even amount of water even with high end pumps. You would need the ability to calibrate it and as the tube wears it will come out of cal.

What are your goals here? How much water are you trying to change and why do you want it to be automatic? There are options but to get a system that really works we need to see the big picture.

 

[sn4265]

Well... I want to automate the water change process such that I can simplify things a bit more for me. This would allow me to make water changes much more consistently as well as doing much smaller water changes more frequently to minimize the changes in water parameters for the health of the tank. I love the idea of "continuous" water changes in terms of no sudden changes in water parameters such as you get when doing a 20 to 30% water change.

As to the volume of water to change... I figure on maybe doing about 5% per week or maybe a gallon per day to make the numbers easy. This would give me about a 20 to 25% water change per month.

 

[tkeracer619]

A continuous at that range will be difficult and probably rather expensive.

Do you have a controller and how far are you from a drain?

 

[sn4265]

Why would it be expensive? You mean in tubing and pump requirements?

I do have an Apex controller and unfortunately there is no drain closer than the laundry room that I would have continuous access to. The kitchen sink is only about 10 feet or so away, but there is really no way to access it that can be concealed.

 

[ganjero]

Definitely use the litermeter. It can push to 60 feet above and draw from 25ft below. I do my ATO and Water changes with the the litermeter and everything comes from basement, about 18ft.
The litermeter has an alarm to remind you of maintenance and every time I recalibrate the pumps, they are at the same rate; only after a long use (years) the starting changing and it's normal due to the tubing wear which is cheap to replace. I have my pumps drawing from below, but if you wanted to be safer since you are close to the draw limit you can just install the litermeter next to the water source and have it push (again the limit is 60ft pushing above).

Install everything and then calibrate the pumps just to be safe.

Look at this guy setup, there is not much head up and down but there is for sure a lot of length for delivery.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2113252

Another option is Genesis but that's even more expensive.

 

[Timber77]

ganjero is right on everything.
ive been using one of these for about 15 years no issues, it was pumping from basement to first and second floors no problem , i did not use it for water changes as i had a basement sump, the only drawback i see to using is it can be a little noisy (squeaks)

cole palmer has some peristaltic pumps that will work but they are much more than $180

i have a controller as well but really the liter meters setup is much better than a controller/pump because it does calibrations for you, you could do it manually but ive never found a pump for less money that can push water that high and be accurate

the 3 in the name is like the model its been the litermeter 3 for at least 15 years
the computer in it can run 3 pumps but it only comes with one

 

[sn4265]

I guess one idea would be to put the new water pump by the new water storage tank in my laundry room and then put the pump that is pulling the water out of the DT sump over at the fish tank that way both are pushing, just in opposite directions. The question is though, is this possible? Is the wiring to connect the additional pump just simple electrical wire or is it some kind of special wiring like USB or something?

I'm most likely going to have to wait until after Christmas to actually do this, but it's definitely good to get the info now.

 

[ganjero]

I guess one idea would be to put the new water pump by the new water storage tank in my laundry room and then put the pump that is pulling the water out of the DT sump over at the fish tank that way both are pushing, just in opposite directions. The question is though, is this possible? Is the wiring to connect the additional pump just simple electrical wire or is it some kind of special wiring like USB or something?

I'm most likely going to have to wait until after Christmas to actually do this, but it's definitely good to get the info now.

Possible? it probably is, but not out of the box. The cable from the remote pumps (regular cable with a male connector) to connect them to the main unit are not that long.

The pump should have not issues drawing from above to your basement, or viceversa. If the manufacturer advertises 25ft I'm sure it is more than that. For your application you can install it above or below, 20ft is not too much for the litermeter


you can see the connector here:

 

[tkeracer619]

Well a dual litermeter is expensive is it not? You can do an auto waterchange with two maxijets, a controller, and some floats. Its not really that hard but takes a bit of diy.

If both peristaltic pumps are in the same location and one is pulling while the other is pushing they will be different. It absolutely can be done as long as you can calibrate them separately.

Before I traveled for work I ran an autochange. Now I just have a pump hooked to a float valve. I hit water change mode on my controller and it pumps water into the sump, the float activates due to the water rise and it pumps old water out to a drain. Takes me less time then mixing the salt.

 

[Squidward5]

I am pumping up from about 23ft with my LM3 with no problems, 2g IN 2g OUT per day. There pumps are some of the best,,imo