Pete's 280 log
- Thread starter psteeleb
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Lunchbucket
Premium Member
I like that gravity feed ideal w/ the RO solinoid idea.
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
psteeleb
Team RC
I bought them from an industrial control valve company, they were around $18 ea. I bought 5 to have a spare or two. I'm using one to turn on/off my RO/DI unit to fill the RO/DI reservoir, I may add another one with a timer for the RO/DI. One is for the high Ph shut off. Another will be used in my water change system, and one left over for a spare.
The high Ph is hooked up to my RK2. It's programmed to be on between 7.5 and 8.3, off (closed) if over 8.3 or a power outage. I also need to have it off in standby mode but if I only run it at night it isn't really an issue.
psteeleb
Team RC
thanks Hop
I bought ESV, but I don't know much about the stuff
I will be using up what I have left of some another reefer gave me a while back. All I know about it is that it is a food grade pickling lime that he had access too. I used it before with good results - at least the sps seemed to like it.
psteeleb
Team RC
Bad news for a chromis
Bad news for a chromis
someone took a chunk out of one of my chromis. I know it was fine yesterday so I assume it happened at night and suspect one of the banded coral shrimp go a hold of it (or possibly the beast)
I tried to catch him but he kept hiding in the staghorn. He seems to be getting around okay and was eating today but the wound looks bad and is on both sides (like a claw mark) bummer
same a clam, loose a chromis
life can be a beach on the reef
Bad news for a chromis
someone took a chunk out of one of my chromis. I know it was fine yesterday so I assume it happened at night and suspect one of the banded coral shrimp go a hold of it (or possibly the beast)
I tried to catch him but he kept hiding in the staghorn. He seems to be getting around okay and was eating today but the wound looks bad and is on both sides (like a claw mark) bummer
same a clam, loose a chromis
life can be a beach on the reef
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psteeleb
Team RC
I just let the gallon of RO/DI drain to the Kalc reactor. It took about 15 minutes - way too fast. Only about 1/2 gallon went into the tank as teh Kalc reactor was not full. Ph went from 8.17 to 8.25, or, a 0.08 swing. A bit more then I want and it would probably be twice that if a full gallon went in.
So I'm going to do two things:
1) I'm going to set the Ph high to 8.2, and;
2) I'm going to add a 1/4" JG valve to the feed and keep it about 1/3 to 1/4 open to restrict the flow.
So I'm going to do two things:
1) I'm going to set the Ph high to 8.2, and;
2) I'm going to add a 1/4" JG valve to the feed and keep it about 1/3 to 1/4 open to restrict the flow.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13273243#post13273243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psteeleb
thanks Hop
I bought ESV, but I don't know much about the stuff
I will be using up what I have left of some another reefer gave me a while back. All I know about it is that it is a food grade pickling lime that he had access too. I used it before with good results - at least the sps seemed to like it.
I actually just switched from Kent to the bulkreefsupply's kalk and I like it better. It dissolves nice. Not sure about the corals:lol:
psteeleb
Team RC
done
added the valve - seems like 45 deg is about a third (blow test)
here you can see Ph = 8.25 and channel 1 is on (ch 1 is the ph on/off solinoid)
a simple and quick change
and channel 1 is now off and should stay off till the ph drops to below 8.20
I won't add any more Kalc tonight - I'll play with it again tomorrow to see how the changes work out
added the valve - seems like 45 deg is about a third (blow test)
here you can see Ph = 8.25 and channel 1 is on (ch 1 is the ph on/off solinoid)
a simple and quick change
and channel 1 is now off and should stay off till the ph drops to below 8.20
I won't add any more Kalc tonight - I'll play with it again tomorrow to see how the changes work out
psteeleb
Team RC
I didn't check Alk last night, I dosed my normal last night and this morning. I'll check the Alk today when get home. Hopefuly it held at the reading you got yesterday or went up a little. Dosing what was my normal 8oz a day I was loosing ground, and figured I needed to bump it to 10oz.
Just remembered I need to find that Randy's 2 part to Kalk conversion table.
I need to make a mental note to reconfigured the Ph on (lower) setting. I just realized it will stay off until it hits the lower setting, so I'll set it at one increment below the off setting.
psteeleb
Team RC
If I understand the ratios and conversion correctly the 1/2 gal should have raised my Dkh by about 0.2
3 gallons of Limewater a day should replace my 8oz of two part. I may still have to supplement (if my demand has gone to 10), as I don't want to add more then 3 gal a day of Limewater.
3 gallons of Limewater a day should replace my 8oz of two part. I may still have to supplement (if my demand has gone to 10), as I don't want to add more then 3 gal a day of Limewater.
BigJay
New member
The software engineer in me thought that it would only open the solenoid at 7.5 PH, something your tank will probably never reach. I didn't say anything because I don't know how the RK programming works, I'm only familiar with the aquacontroller logic.
Are you going to set this at 8.0 for the low end then? That should also manage the night dosing since your tank will only ever get that low after dark.
How about the drip dosing, do you have the parts needed to accomplish that?
Either a kalk reactor or a set of dosing pumps are in my very near future. I'm thinking of going with a separate aqualifter pump on my reservoir as a feed, managed by my aquacontroller with a specific timed dosing and PH shutoff. No need for a solenoid or gravity feed.
psteeleb
Team RC
My normal Ph range has been around 7.95 to 8.15 lately (aside from dosing spikes like last night). I think I'll set it at 8.05 or 8.1. I'll check where it drops to about an hour after lights out. Wouldn't it be nice to stabilize within a 0.1 or even a 0.05 range.
As for the drip dosing, I hope the valve I added last night will suffice (that, and the Ph throttling). I'd like to drip the gallon over 2 hours. I don't want to restrict the outlet as it may provide a place for the Kalc to buildup. To help minimize Kalc build up in the drip line, I may devise a flush system buy incorporating a small tube from my ATO into the drip tubing (like an IV feed). If I have to fine tune the drip more then the added valve can provide I'll add in one of those IV drip valves. Another nice thing that happened in the test last night is the drip stopped as soon as the feed stopped, so no siphoning. The tubing to the sump is large enough diameter that it drains freely from the apogee. Once the reservoir level dropped to the feed elbow it totally shut down keeping the rest of the feed lines flooded. Perfect.
I would think an Aqualifer would be perfect for a Kalc reactor on the ground (or in the stand). I considered one but I think they have a limited vertical lift that was lower then what my needs are (around 6-7' lift needed). I don't know how good they would be for dosing 2 part as the volumes are much smaller and would need that extra degree of control. A few ounces extra of Kalc would not be an issue; but a few extra ounces of 2 part would be.
Jay - did I capture those parameters correctly?
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BigJay
New member
I think that the aqualifter can "push" farther up than it can "pull". I'll have to look into that.
Your parameters were close. Your phosphates were almost undetectable. There wasn't enough color to qualify for 0.02 ppm, the lowest setting on the card. Your nitrates were dead in between 5 and 10, so I'd say 7.5 or 8ppm. The parameters are really good for your tank size and larger bio-load. Not everyone's system has to process "Jabba The Hutt's" waste load. :lol:
Bring me all of your FILM algae!
Your parameters were close. Your phosphates were almost undetectable. There wasn't enough color to qualify for 0.02 ppm, the lowest setting on the card. Your nitrates were dead in between 5 and 10, so I'd say 7.5 or 8ppm. The parameters are really good for your tank size and larger bio-load. Not everyone's system has to process "Jabba The Hutt's" waste load. :lol:
Bring me all of your FILM algae!
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
Hey Pete quick question about your Solenoids,
are you using the 120v kind? I got my 120V AC solenoids from MTC like you recommended and I am about to hook one up, but it occured to me that maybe using the full 120 volts is a bit more risky??? What are you thoughts on that?
are you using the 120v kind? I got my 120V AC solenoids from MTC like you recommended and I am about to hook one up, but it occured to me that maybe using the full 120 volts is a bit more risky??? What are you thoughts on that?
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