MD84
Community Member
My 12 year old son has been asking about getting a reef tank for a few years now. I am getting one for his birthday Aug 4. I placed an order for the following:
Reefer 350 - 91 Gallon White All In One Aquarium V3 Sump - Red Sea
Octo VarioS-4 Controllable DC Water Pump - Reef Octopus
Reefer RSK-300 Protein Skimmer - Red Sea
AP9X Aquarium LED Light - Kessil
AP9X Aquarium LED Mounting Arm - Kessil
ReefWave 45 Aquarium Gyre Flow Pump - Red Sea
Thermocontrol-E Dual Thermostat (400 Watt) Dual 200 Aquarium Heater Kit - EHEIM Inkbird
30 lbs Real Reef Rock Large 8-16" - Real Reef
Arag-Alive Special Grade Reef Sand (100 lb) 1.0 - 2.0 mm - Caribsea
FritzPRO R.P.M. Salt Mix Box (55 lbs - Makes 200 Gallons) - Fritz Aquatics
Digital Seawater Refractometer MA887 w/Protective Case - Milwaukee
Seawater 35 ppt Refractometer Salinity Calibration Solution - 60 ML - Aquacraft
SRP8 Controlled Power Strip - American DJ
Raspberry PI w' 7" Touchscreen
I am looking at options for RODI.
A bit of a rant to note my thoughts:
I would like to do a lot in the way of automating and tracking the maintenance activities. I'm planning on using the raspberry pi as a controller and data logger. I am considering splitting the chiller compartment into additional sump space and electrical. I will put in an additional tank used for either ATO or Saltwater storage. It would be above or below an electrical/control panel.
I have been researching water changes and this is something I would like to automate. It may not be fully automatic because I am concerned about equipment failure. I am not too keen on direct plumbing a RODI in to anything. I may put a manual valve from the RODI into something like a 20 gal tank in the chiller compartment. I would mix salt in this and install a small heater and power head. This would be my water change reserve tank. From here I need to think about pumps and sensors.
Auto water change plumbing: I need a pump that will drain my sump enough for an adequate water change. I think anywhere from two gallons to the full sump capacity. It seems like pumping out 2 gallons will not be too complex of a setup. If I wanted to drain the whole sump I would need to get more creative. Then I just need a pump from the saltwater storage tank to the sump, or use gravity. Is a daily 5% water change as good or better then a weekly 20% water change?
I wonder if its possible or suggested to plumb in some alternate configurations for the main return pump. Possibly I could turn it off and close off its normal circuit, then open some valves to turn it into a transfer pump or drain pump. This would reduce the amount of additional pumps I would need. Does anyone use sprinkler valves or do other better options exist for electrically controlled valves?
If I get comfortable enough with a good working Auto water change setup, I may look into putting a valve on the RODI input that can be controlled. I would have to use a valve that is mechanically held closed and electrically held open. So the failure mode would be closed. Then If I automated it I would need to put in some timers so the valve will not stay open for a long time. Before I consider this I would also look at sealing the whole sump area and making a full pan at the bottom with a traditional sump pump that would automatically pump to my drain. Just worried about overfilling or equipment failure...
Is salt dosing a thing? Could I fill a 20 gallon tank with RODI water and then dump a pre-measured portion of salt, and mix? Do any refractometers output an analog/digital signal? I could read with a controller and then add small portions of salt, mix/wait, measure again....run a code that would automate preparing a 20 gallon batch of saltwater.
Thanks,
Mason
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