Looking for advice with new setup - including dosing

[psteeleb]

I just got the APEX - so far I'm pleased with the unit and "I think I know what I'm doing", but also know with certainty that is a dangerous position to be in :spin2:

First question:
I want to dose Kalc at night (about 1- 2 gallons), small portions, over an 8 hours time frame. I'll adjust the "time on" durations based on a couple tests and don't want this to go over a Ph of 6.4

is this a correct program?

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 0:00 to 0:01 Then ON
If Time 1:00 to 1:01 Then ON
If Time 2:00 to 2:01 Then ON
If Time 3:00 to 3:01 Then ON
If Time 4:00 to 4:01 Then ON
If Time 5:00 to 5:01 Then ON
If Time 6:00 to 6:01 Then ON
If Time 7:00 to 7:01 Then ON
If pH > 6.40 Then OFF

do the time and pH statements work sorrectly? or, is there a better way

more to come

thanks

 

[aquamanic]

There's a better way.

First, there's a bunch of posts on dosing, just use the search tool and you'll find plenty of code examples.

The time statement is only good for 2 minutes of resolution. You can reduce that with a bit of code but it's a kludge. There's a better way.

The oscillate statement can go to seconds. You activate the oscillate for x minutes:seconds every y minutes:seconds then turn it off during the times you don't want. For example:

OSC 0:00/0:01/0:59 Then ON
If Time 08:00 to 17:00 Then OFF

That will turn the outlet on for 1 second out of 60 but only for the hours of 5pm - 8am.

You can see that with a little tinkering, this is a very simple and easy way to get what you want.

 

[psteeleb]

awesome - thanks

so

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
OSC 000:00/001:00/059:00 Then ON
If Time 08:00 to 24:00 Then OFF
If ph > 8.40 Then Off

I'm still not exactly sure on the pH part of the statement, will it mater if it's at the end or does it need to be before the time statement

I'll will also be adding a float switch for a high level off statement (but that's future)

 

[RussM]

At the end is the right place for the If pH statement.. that gives it precedence over the prior lines.

And I'm curious... why a pH6.4 cutoff for the kalk? That's super low, even for CaRx effluent.

 

[psteeleb]

At the end is the right place for the If pH statement.. that gives it precedence over the prior lines.

And I'm curious... why a pH6.4 cutoff for the kalk? That's super low, even for CaRx effluent.

Thanks - I fixed it

 

[psteeleb]

next item is my Ca reactor, that for now will be on a seperate Milwalkee controller. I want to shut off power to the solinoid relay at night, low tank pH, and feeding

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 08:00 to 23:00 Then ON
If pH < 7.90 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

As my trust in and knowledge increase I'll replace the Milwalkee and move the Ca Reactor Ph probe to the APEX ORP/pH second probe slot