Pacific Sun Kore 5th dosing Fan Club

[19simon79]

Considering all the issues Ive had and the overall quality and support in my case, the cost of the additional item/s required are irrelevant, its purely principal. Also as discussed with Pac Sun if indeed the requirement of a Class 1 bluetooth tongue is require they should have this specified. I was not aware of this possible requirement and it has never been bought to my attention. Like any other company around the world they should have bought it to their consumers attention as they have infinite means to do so. If they specify on their website that "incorrect firmware version may damage your doser" why not specify "additional Class 1 bluetooth device require for OS X compatibility" is stead of just stating it when confronted with the issue, Quote "Your iMac Bluetooth didn't work properly but it's really not our fault that some other company didn't support properly working devices to their customers." (Its so narrow minded to blame apple for their compatibility issues. They're making a product to be mac compatible not the other way round :headwalls

One thing that I suggest you guys think about is the fact that with every issue Ive encountered, My aquarium health is at risk. Be it coral deaths, colour loss or even a tank crash, it sets reefers back months which not something that anyone expects for whats ment to be a quality piece of equipment. if it honestly has become a shortfall of the Kore 5 Mac OS X compatibility they should be going to all ends to make it public knowledge and even consider supplying it to their customers rather than sitting back waiting to be contacted. Ive never received any notice from them or seen it specified. (Did you read about my ATO issue above? Should I have known that the floats in my float sensor were supplied to me upside down and that they put the wiring plugs were also incorrectly assembled????)

Id love to see what your reactions would be when the Kore decides to dump your RO storage container full into your tank (in my case 35g) or better still dose a gallon of Alk supplement into you tank at once.

 

[Przemek_PacSun]

Hello
I'm sure that our service will give you detailed replies tomorrow(by mail).
I want to clarify only few important things mentioned above.
1. It's not true sentencthat additional Class 1 module is required for OS X compatibility. All MacBooks work great wth any PS devices because they have very strong radios inside(strong and not cheap). Problem exist only on iMacs - because they are using the same bluetooth radio for sharing connection with mouse/keyboard and other BT devices.
We don't want to blame Apple for that - but like our service explained you in mails(giving exact source of that informations) - some troubles in iMacs compatibility with AirDrop and BT communications (in exact profiles) are really not depending from Pacific Sun.
Thats a source of your problem and you have right - we will include additional information about that on our website because as I see - for that issue whole product can be blamed without matter where problems is exactly/really placed.
From our side we can apologize for your troubles and time spent to trying fixing that issue before you contacted with our service in Poland.

About Bluetooth:
We are using that technology since 6 years - and we decided to use it (instead of Wifi) because it's much easier to setup/manage for Customer than Wifi.
You simply need three steps to connect device:
1. Discover
2. Pair (using code 1234)
3. Connect

with Wifi - sometimes you need to know all this things like your IP address, network mask, gateway, dos etc.(if you want to connect your device to home network).
Of course, we see some pros to use Wifi module in devices like dozing station (remote access) but for devices like lamps (hybrid/t5/leds) it completely without sense - how many times daily/weekly we are changing lighting config/times? But of course - it's my personal thoughts.

2. Sensor up/side down.
You bought dozer from company which is not our actual Distributor. In last year we did some changes in our firmwares which required (from all previously produced dosers/sensors) to be adjusted for newest versions for firmware/software. Of course, all dozers after this firmware changes were shipped properly assembled but in your situation - probably your seller did firmware update but not adjusted floating sensor to be compatible with that version of firmware.
So again I need to clarify - it's not true that this sensor was not correctly assembled - but probably your seller did firmware update not assembling floating sensor properly n the same time.
I really regret that you had that kind of problems but to be honest with you - we even didnt had a chance to explain it to you(as I read your really huge post we even not get 10% of all this informations posted here).
I'm sure that if your contact with our service would be earlier - a lot of your troubles would never exist(because our service would be able to inform you about all this important things/changes).

Again, I'm sure that our service will take care about your tomorrow perfectly and will reply to all your questions/concerns.

Thank you.

Regards

Przemek

 

[mcd_83]

still waiting for feedback on this:

i am also still interessted in the feature breeze control. waiting for it now since more than a year.
can someone give an update on this.

no email reply and also no information via facebook when asking about the breeze function

thx.

 

[rees2301]

Been trying manual dosing on vinegar and am now ready to run it via my doser as a carbon source. As it effects Oxygen I'm advised to only dose during day when lights are on. C11 option looked to be the answer with a 9.00 am start and 10 further doses on the hour. When I set it to 60ml total on C11 it shows the first dose correctly at 5.45 ml but for some reason the next 10 doses are all showing 4.17 ml. Even with my maths that doesn't total 60 ml. Anyone experienced similar or know what I may be doing wrong. Thanks.

 

[19simon79]

Hello
I'm sure that our service will give you detailed replies tomorrow(by mail).
I want to clarify only few important things mentioned above.
1. It's not true sentencthat additional Class 1 module is required for OS X compatibility. All MacBooks work great wth any PS devices because they have very strong radios inside(strong and not cheap). Problem exist only on iMacs - because they are using the same bluetooth radio for sharing connection with mouse/keyboard and other BT devices.
We don't want to blame Apple for that - but like our service explained you in mails(giving exact source of that informations) - some troubles in iMacs compatibility with AirDrop and BT communications (in exact profiles) are really not depending from Pacific Sun.
Thats a source of your problem and you have right - we will include additional information about that on our website because as I see - for that issue whole product can be blamed without matter where problems is exactly/really placed.
From our side we can apologize for your troubles and time spent to trying fixing that issue before you contacted with our service in Poland.

About Bluetooth:
We are using that technology since 6 years - and we decided to use it (instead of Wifi) because it's much easier to setup/manage for Customer than Wifi.
You simply need three steps to connect device:
1. Discover
2. Pair (using code 1234)
3. Connect

with Wifi - sometimes you need to know all this things like your IP address, network mask, gateway, dos etc.(if you want to connect your device to home network).
Of course, we see some pros to use Wifi module in devices like dozing station (remote access) but for devices like lamps (hybrid/t5/leds) it completely without sense - how many times daily/weekly we are changing lighting config/times? But of course - it's my personal thoughts.

2. Sensor up/side down.
You bought dozer from company which is not our actual Distributor. In last year we did some changes in our firmwares which required (from all previously produced dosers/sensors) to be adjusted for newest versions for firmware/software. Of course, all dozers after this firmware changes were shipped properly assembled but in your situation - probably your seller did firmware update but not adjusted floating sensor to be compatible with that version of firmware.
So again I need to clarify - it's not true that this sensor was not correctly assembled - but probably your seller did firmware update not assembling floating sensor properly n the same time.
I really regret that you had that kind of problems but to be honest with you - we even didnt had a chance to explain it to you(as I read your really huge post we even not get 10% of all this informations posted here).
I'm sure that if your contact with our service would be earlier - a lot of your troubles would never exist(because our service would be able to inform you about all this important things/changes).

Again, I'm sure that our service will take care about your tomorrow perfectly and will reply to all your questions/concerns.

Thank you.

Regards

Przemek

Thank you and i appreciate your comments. I do want to clarify that when I purchase my Kore, it was from your (at them time) US distributor. Please find his email signature details below as HE listed it. I do believe that I contacted the correct people in an appropriate manner and at appropriate times. Yorgos wiped his hands of this matter directed me to forward all claims to Pac Sun Poland directly.

Nothing personal but you make it sound like I bought my Kore 5th from the back of a pickup truck in a carpark. Defiantly was not the case!!!

Yorgos #######, Owner
Pacific Sun USA, Inc
O 978 969 ###
C 978 8840###
sales@pacificsunusa.com
www.pacificsunusa.com

 

[rees2301]

Been trying manual dosing on vinegar and am now ready to run it via my doser as a carbon source. As it effects Oxygen I'm advised to only dose during day when lights are on. C11 option looked to be the answer with a 9.00 am start and 10 further doses on the hour. When I set it to 60ml total on C11 it shows the first dose correctly at 5.45 ml but for some reason the next 10 doses are all showing 4.17 ml. Even with my maths that doesn't total 60 ml. Anyone experienced similar or know what I may be doing wrong. Thanks.

As an update, just in case anyone else hits this problem. I e-mailed Pac Sun Europe who have checked it out and admit it's a bug and have passed to the programmers to fix. I found a short term way around it so will wait for their update.

 

[PacSun Service]

Hello.

Our programmers checked that this bug only display wrong value of dosed fluid on application window. Doser pump proper amount of fluids on each hour. They work on new application version and it will be released soon.

Best regards

Pacific Sun Service.

 

[thaireef]

Just an update from here...

Finally had some time today for yet another attempt to get the doser to work. This has now been my 3rd full day trying to get the doser and the Auto Water Change to work. (I have spent over 20 hours on the doser by now)

Started by doing a complete reset to Default Settings and then setup the doser from start again (tried many times before). Calibrated the pumps etc., saved all to the doser and then waited for the AWC to start. Again, like all the other times I have tried, NOTHING happens and the only thing I can actually get to work is the ATO.

After adding and saving the changes to the doser, I get different values when I later read the settings I previously saved. Calibration settings suddenly disappear etc. An example is that it changes my weekly water change amount from 10 to 8010 liters. But as Pacific Sun keeps claiming, then this is just something I am doing wrong. Because their doser works and can not have any errors...

I have now written a mail to the support again and sent screenshot. I doubt I will ever get this to work, but I can then brag about having the worlds most expensive ATO system.

What I find worst about all this, is Pacific Suns way of handling this issue. The replies always insinuate that this is MY FAULT and ME doing something wrong and I can see from other posts that this is a general issue. When something is wrong, then blame the customer or someone else (like Apple) Because there is absolutely NO chance that it has something to do with their doser. In general its just a shitty attitude to have towards customers, who have been spending multiple hours on trying to get their product work just work as it should.

Anyway... the ATO works just great... Bloody expensive, but it works .... at least until now. But I pull the plug on the doser every night before I go to bed and it is only on when I sit near the tank. Why? I do not trust the doser at all! (But of course, it is my own fault for being so stupid that I can not get it to work)

 

[thaireef]

Considering all the issues Ive had and the overall quality and support in my case, the cost of the additional item/s required are irrelevant, its purely principal. Also as discussed with Pac Sun if indeed the requirement of a Class 1 bluetooth tongue is require they should have this specified. I was not aware of this possible requirement and it has never been bought to my attention. Like any other company around the world they should have bought it to their consumers attention as they have infinite means to do so. If they specify on their website that "incorrect firmware version may damage your doser" why not specify "additional Class 1 bluetooth device require for OS X compatibility" is stead of just stating it when confronted with the issue, Quote "Your iMac Bluetooth didn't work properly but it's really not our fault that some other company didn't support properly working devices to their customers." (Its so narrow minded to blame apple for their compatibility issues. They're making a product to be mac compatible not the other way round :headwalls

One thing that I suggest you guys think about is the fact that with every issue Ive encountered, My aquarium health is at risk. Be it coral deaths, colour loss or even a tank crash, it sets reefers back months which not something that anyone expects for whats ment to be a quality piece of equipment. if it honestly has become a shortfall of the Kore 5 Mac OS X compatibility they should be going to all ends to make it public knowledge and even consider supplying it to their customers rather than sitting back waiting to be contacted. Ive never received any notice from them or seen it specified. (Did you read about my ATO issue above? Should I have known that the floats in my float sensor were supplied to me upside down and that they put the wiring plugs were also incorrectly assembled????)

Id love to see what your reactions would be when the Kore decides to dump your RO storage container full into your tank (in my case 35g) or better still dose a gallon of Alk supplement into you tank at once.

I completely agree! The doser might work for others, but the one I have is dangerous! Nearly emptied one of my tanks, when it decided to suddenly just start and pull water out without stop. Of course the issue is MY FAULT, since the dosers from Pacific Sun can never be at fault.

I am also using Mac and I have a feeling after testing for many hours, that the MAC software or Bluetooth connection is at fault. It would only be fair to tell this to people, before they buy the doser. A doser has to be trusted and that is not the case... at least with my Kore 5th doser. Worst piece of equipment I ever purchased for my tank and worst ever customer service I have ever experienced from a seller.

 

[thaireef]

So after posting the above I was again contact by Pac Sun via email where they stated that they were sure that if i purchased an external bluetooth module that my problems would be solved. I replied that I was not willing to do so as I didn't see why I should spend more money when I purchased a device that was apparently Mac OS X compatible.

Over the course of several emails I went on to say that what they were doing was down the line of false advertising as they never specified and hardware limitations or requirements. I thought a pretty simple case of "Mac OS X" compatible and I have Mac OS X (regardless that I have the latest 27' quad 4GHz machine). They have now come back stating they will send me the so called required external bluetooth module. As skeptical as I am my finger are crossed.

Thank you so much for your posts, which has convinced me that I have not gone crazy. I too have exactly the same experience, with a doser that simply does not work and a company basically just telling me that it is MY FAULT.

I am also a Mac User so I guess the bluetooth thing might be the issue. But it just should not be like that and it is so wrong not to inform buyers about that!

Good luck with the bluetooth module. If you ever receive it and you ever get your doser to work, then please let me know. I just spent all day on trying to get it to work, so can not even be bothered to mail them asking for one. Maybe I will have the strength tomorrow. The Kore 5th doser right now just makes me sick! (Total waste of money and unnecessary waste of time and frustrations).

 

[ravenr108]

Thank you so much for your posts, which has convinced me that I have not gone crazy. I too have exactly the same experience, with a doser that simply does not work and a company basically just telling me that it is MY FAULT.

I am also a Mac User so I guess the bluetooth thing might be the issue. But it just should not be like that!

Good luck with the bluetooth module. If you ever receive it and you ever get your doser to work, then please let me know. I just spent all day on trying to get it to work, so can not even be bothered to mail them asking for one. Maybe I will have the strength tomorrow.

The Kore 5th doser right now just makes me sick! (Total waste of money and unnecessary waste of time and frustrations)

Thanks for the info as being a mac user my self and was looking at this to purchase i will now be going GHL .

 

[thaireef]

Thanks for the info as being a mac user my self and was looking at this to purchase i will now be going GHL .

Your welcome and smart move going with ANYTHING ELSE!! I wish I had done that, so I was not stuck with the worlds most expensive ATO.

 

[thaireef]

Another update:

Once again my doser was about to empty my tank as before. As mentioned earlier, I setup the doser earlier today and the AWC never started as it should according to the manual (every XX.50 hours).

Was about to go to bed, when the exactly same issue as last time I played with the doser happened:

- At 00.01, the AWC system suddenly beeps and activates (Manual says it should start every XX.50 hours like e.g. 00.50). I have no idea why it started at 00.01.

- At 00.29, the pump is still pumping water out. My doser was set to change 2.86 litres pr. day and 0.12 litres pr. water change. At this point it of course has pulled out much more than 0.12 litres and is continuing to take water out (kind of scary).

- At 00.45, the Water Out pump is still running as I send yet another mail to Pacific Sun support.

- At 00.53, I pull the power plug, which is the only way to get the doser to respond and stop it from taking more water out of my tank.

Again, I was lucky that I had not gone to bed, or I would have woken up to an empty tank and dead fish. (This time a large Naso and Clown Tang, that I just recently purchased)

I am horrified about this doser, but even more horrified that I am most likely going to get the "your doser is calibrated wrong" excuse. After more than 3 full days of trying to get this doser to work.

I am now without a doubt that my doser is faulty and I am very excited to see how Pacific Sun will respond. I wonder if they will do the decent thing and accept the fact that the doser they sent me is not working and give me my money back. But lets see.... if they play fair or not.

I will for sure send them the doser back, because this has nothing to do with calibration, connection, Apple, bluetooth or other issues/excuse and the product is useless to me as it is. Will be exciting to see their company policy, when it comes to returned defect products. (will keep you updated).

PS. I also tried connecting using a MacBook Pro, which made absolutely no change. (Pacific Sun reported that only iMacs had issues). So my issues are for sure not connection related. The doser is simply defect.

 

[Przemek_PacSun]

@ThaiReef
As I understand mails with the same details was sent to our service directly (if you are looking for technical support) because our service don't provide technical assistance thru ReefCentral.
I want to clarify only one important things here about Mac OS X.
Problem were reported by Customers which tried to use our app on their iMac's - because this computers use internal bluetooth module to parallel communication with external mouse/keyboard and this affect communication with dozer.
That's why we suggest using additional external BT module IF Customer use iMac.
On all other computers (MacBook Pro/Air) it's not needed because they have very strong and reliable radios.
This was very detailed explained you by our service with giving exact source of that informations / confirmations of that issues reported by iMac computers with some other equipments(not PS) also.

Finally - our service or Pacific Sun NOT BLAME any Customers. Only what we want to say/explaining is that if any issue/error is reported by small group(I don't want to write - few) Customers/users it mean that issue have to be placed in computer settings/hardware - or wrong dozer settings.
If that kind of issues/errors would be something "normal" and "included" in software - it will not work for anybody. Telling that we not blaming anybody - it simply true IT rule.
AWC can't start on different time than 00:50. If it started at 00:01 time(your computer/watch time?) it mean that dozer internal time clock was different than yours. I'm one of designers uC code and without any doubt I can say that it simply not possible.
For more advanced troubleshooting please contact with service@pacific-sun.eu because they are not reading this thread/not use forum for technical support(not being active advertiser)
Thank you for understanding and I'm sure that if you will reply to all questions sent by our service (in mail) they will be able to solve your issue .

Regards

 

[thaireef]

@ThaiReef
As I understand mails with the same details was sent to our service directly (if you are looking for technical support) because our service don't provide technical assistance thru ReefCentral.
I want to clarify only one important things here about Mac OS X.
Problem were reported by Customers which tried to use our app on their iMac's - because this computers use internal bluetooth module to parallel communication with external mouse/keyboard and this affect communication with dozer.
That's why we suggest using additional external BT module IF Customer use iMac.
On all other computers (MacBook Pro/Air) it's not needed because they have very strong and reliable radios.
This was very detailed explained you by our service with giving exact source of that informations / confirmations of that issues reported by iMac computers with some other equipments(not PS) also.

Finally - our service or Pacific Sun NOT BLAME any Customers. Only what we want to say/explaining is that if any issue/error is reported by small group(I don't want to write - few) Customers/users it mean that issue have to be placed in computer settings/hardware - or wrong dozer settings.
If that kind of issues/errors would be something "normal" and "included" in software - it will not work for anybody. Telling that we not blaming anybody - it simply true IT rule.
AWC can't start on different time than 00:50. If it started at 00:01 time(your computer/watch time?) it mean that dozer internal time clock was different than yours. I'm one of designers uC code and without any doubt I can say that it simply not possible.
For more advanced troubleshooting please contact with service@pacific-sun.eu because they are not reading this thread/not use forum for technical support(not being active advertiser)
Thank you for understanding and I'm sure that if you will reply to all questions sent by our service (in mail) they will be able to solve your issue .

Regards

Dear Przemek,

Thank you for your reply.

The reason why I am also posting here, is exactly because you do not believe anything of what I am saying and it is starting to drive me completely nuts!

When I said that I did not receive a CD or USB with the doser, your responded by saying that would be impossible. You claim with 100% certainty that the CD/USB was there and I say IT WAS NOT! Have you ever heard of human mistakes or technical products that can have faults? I guess not, because it is totally impossible for your company to make any kind of mistakes.

Look... the damn doser started at 00.01 (Time displayed on doser) and I know that, because I heard the beep and sit only 2 meters from it. Now I am getting the same answer, that this is simply impossible and must be something I am imagining. Do you think I am doing drugs while setting up the doser? Do you really think I did not ensure that the time was correct set on the doser? I work with IT for a living and have done so since 1994. My daily life consist of testing software systems, programming and project management. But of course I must have set the doser time wrong and must have been drugged or drunk at the time. Anything else is impossible! Same as I must have been imagining that my tank was getting completely drained by the doser.

I guess NASA was also not expecting some of their space shuttles to explode, but they did! However, I doubt they are just as stubborn and can at times admit their systems can be or go wrong. I do not know why it started at that time, but why on earth should I lie about it? Do you think I spend 3 full days on trying to get it to work and waste my time writing this, just for fun?

What makes me mad, is that you are not even giving me the benefit of the doubt and can not even in your mind consider that the doser could be faulty and that I did not receive any USB or CD. What you are indirectly doing, is saying I am lying which I find really annoying and totally unfair.

As mentioned earlier, I am feed up with this and the doser. So tomorrow morning I will pack up it up and return it. I have had two offers from people who would by it from me, but I will not take money for something that does not work. And dont worry... After delivery the package at the post office, I will stop by a mental hospital and ask a doctor for advice on what to do with my "imagining things" problem. Because I must be going crazy, when I experience things that you claim are totally impossible... right?

When you receive the doser, you can do whatever you find morally right. I would highly recommend that you return me my money, but it is totally up to you.

 

[Przemek_PacSun]

@thaireef
I never told that I don't believe for anything what you said. All my replies based after my own experience here since 6 years. Yes, it's not NASA shuttle - and of course - this dozer can be faulty, however it not possible for me to agree with some facts - like AWC working on not proper time. It simply not possible from source code point of view. I understand that something can not work - like faulty pump(not working) or anything other. But something working completely different(like AWC on 00:01) - it sound crazy(I will tell it again - it's not possible)
Again, please dont take it like attack on you - no. I only want to say that all this replies are based on our 7 years experience.
We not started manufacturing dozers two weeks ago. We sell them since February 2014 and IF your dozer really start AWC on 00:01 and is faulty - you will get full report detail from our service - and I will also put it here (because it will be FIRST dozer which is working completely different then it's written in firmware). Really, I will check it personally also because from my point of view(programmer) - AWC starting at different time than its written in firmware is like by self powering on microwave machine.Hope that you understand what Im trying to say.
Of course - you will get detailed reply from our service and I will take a look personally for that also.
Please contact with me directly at p.cybulski@pacific-sun.eu
Thank you.

Regards

Przemek

 

[thaireef]

No AWC start...

No AWC start...

Attached screen shot my data after pressing READ and getting the info stored in the Doser. Also this video showing no start of AWC supposed to start at 15.50.

Video here: https://youtu.be/GBlTEu5oI7c

As you can clearly see on the screenshot, my setting in the doser are:

- AWC via Dosing Pumps 4 and 5 (No. 4 is out and No. 5 is in)

- Water Volume is 80 litres

- Weekly change volume is 20 litres

- Both pumps are calibrated reading Pump 4, 70.01 ml/min and Pump 5 is 98.85 ml/min.

According to instructions on right side of the screenshot, the water change will be performed in 168 cycles with a week and the water change will start on XX.50 every hour.

I took a video of my doser when the doser time hit 15.50, which according to the instructions should activate the AWC. As you can see on the video absolutely nothing happens and not water change starts.

I would just love an explanation of why the AWC is not starting as programmed into the doser? Can you please enlighten me Przemek of what things I am doing wrong? Because of course I am fully aware that it is me doing something wrong and not the doser.

Can you please explain why the doser stays inactive (never starts) in relation to AWC, when the data pulled directly from the doser says something completely different??? Please provide a logical and rational explanation for that? And it would be great if we could try to keep others (Apple and Microsoft etc.) out of it. The fact is that the data is in the doser, because the data turns up in the software when pressing READ. Now based on that, then tell me...WHY does the AWC not start at XX.50 ???????????????????????? Do I need to wear a special color shirt, when operating the faultless doser? Please instruct.

Also for your info... it is now 16.55 here and again NOTHING at 16.50.

 

[Przemek_PacSun]

Please send this all informations to technical support directly.
Thank you.

 

[soulpatch]

Yeah this is starting to be like watching 2 ex lovers fight in the pub when you are just trying to enjoy a beer. Thai - I would say to post up in here and let us know when and if your issue is resolved but since Pacsun is not a sponsor here they can not post up walk throughs making this one sided.

I get your upset and sounds rightfully so but at this point it is just screaming for the sake of screaming.

 

[19simon79]

Hi all,
Im dosing kalkwasser via a Nilsen reactor tied to a large RODI container. I have a lot of variables for evaporation so I dont want to use my ATO (nor ruin my Pac sun pump)

What is the maximum liquid level that can be set in the Kore?

Through trial and error i think i found 3500 ml to be the maximum but that means i have to 'refill' the liquid level in the software every 2 days. :headwalls:

Thanks
Jason

Just check mine and my max capacity is 5500ml