Alkatronic Users Thread

[Wrasse-cal]

Finally set up my Alkatronic yesterday. A few observations. Jonas is amazing, messaged me through Facebook within minutes of a message, walked me through the bluetooth connection (which I never got to work). I spent a few hours trying with my android phone, and Jonas was right there along the way, but no luck. I read in the thread about how much better iOS works and picked up the wifey's iPad and, voila, was on in 5 seconds. I'll tackle Bluetooth later. I screwed up my entire bottle of mixed reagent by trying to save the little bit I had calibrated pump C with. I picked up the wrong measuring cup and poured water in the solution. No idea how much, UGGG, so ******. So I mixed up what I had left and started the 2-5 first run tests. My alk is extremely low on my cycling tank, lol, did not know that. The tests went from 6.75>6.72>6.66>6.61, then tested every 2 hours for the following readings 6.72>6.66>6.72>6.75>6.80 This seems like its stable and in the range. I found that my Hannah meter read 6.0 when the Alkatronic read those first 4 test readings. Way off. Any thoughts on this??

I would like to set this up with my Apex DOS, if anyone has experience with that and can tell me how it is working out for you, I would like to hear.

Hi @slojmn. No need to hook up the Alkatronic to a DOS. It comes with a built in pump to add alk solution. Also, why are you testing your alk while cycling? That seems to me to be a waste.

 

[scuzy]

Looks like these things are super back ordered.

 

[Silver14SS]

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/alkatronic-alkalinity-controller-batch-3-focustronic/

Shows in stock here. I ordered from here and with their rewards got a free ICP test.

 

[stevem650]

Receiving my Alkatronic Thursday. Ordered from saltwateraquarium.com and also got a free ICP test.

 

[Wasatch.Wired]

I have not heard of a single defective unit so far, and for that reason I'm going to keep trying with mine. Hanna Checker says 9.7, Red Sea alk check says 10, and Salifert says 10.3. I'm pretty sure that my Alkalinity is around 10. Alkatronics unit setup Last Friday night started at 15. And after a retest, "please restart". I haven't dosed since setting it up. The Alkalinity started falling and got down to 11.5. But whenever it did a scheduled test, the results were out of range 13+. The only time I get a maybe normal result is when I manually initiate a test. Troubleshooting so far.
Verified length of tubing. Water In: 18" up and over the lip of the tank. Filter on, zip tied to my salinity probe. Water out is 12" into a jug. The jug is lower than the unit. Reagent tube is the same length it was when I pulled it out of the box. It is pushed through a hole in a plastic jug. Water in Calibration always hit 52ml. Reagent Calibration always hits 10.5. Water out tube is touching the bottom of the beaker. Reagent in is snapped into place. And Water in tubing is snapped in and resting at the stop point. pH probe calibrated twice. I have made 2 batches of reagent with a priming/calibration between switches. Ideas?

 

[mitch91175]

I have not heard of a single defective unit so far, and for that reason I'm going to keep trying with mine. Hanna Checker says 9.7, Red Sea alk check says 10, and Salifert says 10.3. I'm pretty sure that my Alkalinity is around 10. Alkatronics unit setup Last Friday night started at 15. And after a retest, "please restart". I haven't dosed since setting it up. The Alkalinity started falling and got down to 11.5. But whenever it did a scheduled test, the results were out of range 13+. The only time I get a maybe normal result is when I manually initiate a test. Troubleshooting so far.
Verified length of tubing. Water In: 18" up and over the lip of the tank. Filter on, zip tied to my salinity probe. Water out is 12" into a jug. The jug is lower than the unit. Reagent tube is the same length it was when I pulled it out of the box. It is pushed through a hole in a plastic jug. Water in Calibration always hit 52ml. Reagent Calibration always hits 10.5. Water out tube is touching the bottom of the beaker. Reagent in is snapped into place. And Water in tubing is snapped in and resting at the stop point. pH probe calibrated twice. I have made 2 batches of reagent with a priming/calibration between switches. Ideas?

Have you tried to make sure that the reagent you mixed is correct? I know there are some instructions to confirm the mix some where. Here is the Facebook group too:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/168117720788273/

 

[stevem650]

Got mine today. Hope to get it running over the weekend

 

[stevem650]

I have a few questions. Going to set up my Alkatronic this weekend.
1. I use Apex Dos using Bulk Reef Supply Alk & Cal. Can I use the BRS ALK to dose from the Alkatronic?
2. I currently Dose 110ml a day of ALK with Apex Dos. Can the Alkatronic dose that much Daily?
3. Should I continue to use Apex Dos and just have Alkatronic monitor Alk?
4. What is the Max distance the unit can be from the sump?
Thanks

 

[jimbob928]

I am by no means an expert, but here is what I understand...
1. Yes. That is what I'm doing.
2. Probably, but that is not the intent. Use the DOS for your main Alk additions, let the Alkatronic add a little more if you are low.
3. See #2. You can use the Alkatronic to monitor, or to add a little extra Alk. Up to you.
4. Directions say tubing to be no longer than 3 feet. The reason I believe this is as follows:
Alkatronic in resting state has tank water in the testing beaker to keep pH prob wet. To begin a test, it pumps the water in the beaker to "backflush" the filter. Then it draws new tank water into the beaker. If the line is too long, it might not get all the old water out of the tubing, which may affect the test result.

Coralvue has a nice setup video which I found to be very helpful.

Good Luck. I've only had mine for two months, but I like it so far.

 

[stevem650]

Was just reading the 5.5 manual. Tubing distance for #1 pump to reagent 0.5m(19”) max and for water in 1.5m (59”). That would allow the unit to be 5’ from my sump. Does this sound correct?

 

[jimbob928]

Yes the manual says up to 1.5 meters, but shorter is better. Carlos says 3 feet in the video. I'm drawing water from the display tank as its closer to where I was able to put the Alkatronic. I used an airstone I broke in half and connected it to the filter with a short length of airline to weigh it down. I'd send you a link, but it is currently unavailable from Amazon.

 

[jimbob928]

Correction- available from Amazon under a different name.
https://www.amazon.com/Pawfly-Aquar...ir+stone&qid=1550278549&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-5

 

[stevem650]

I have a Redsea 750. The alkatronic is being placed on right compartment of stand. Sump water going to the unit has to climb/suctioned around 2’ and then down to unit another 2’. Do you think that will be an issue?

 

[LimestoneCowboy]

Does anyone know how to turn off the reminder to "calibrate pump D"? We only use our Alkatronic for measuring alk. Thx

 

[LimestoneCowboy]

Does anyone know how to turn off the reminder to "calibrate pump D"? We only use our Alkatronic for measuring alk. Thx

I think I just found it. :) When the latest firmware updated, it turned action mode back to "on". I just turned it off again and will see if that stops it in case that helps anyone else. Thank you

 

[LimestoneCowboy]

Does anyone know how to turn off the reminder to "calibrate pump D"? We only use our Alkatronic for measuring alk. Thx

I think I just found it. When the latest firmware updated, it turned action mode back to "on". I just turned it off again and will see if that stops it in case that helps anyone else. Thank you

 

[reefandreptileautomation]

Had anyone's unit just stopped connecting to the app via BT? The wifi works but the BT just stopped working? No idea what to do.

 

[BrianReefer]

Had anyone's unit just stopped connecting to the app via BT? The wifi works but the BT just stopped working? No idea what to do.

I've had the same, if i unplug/plug back in, then open up the app without first connecting to the wifi URL, it reconnects via Bluetooth for me.

 

[reefandreptileautomation]

Yea I have done the same.

I have the web app closed completely. I even went as far as turning off my WiFi in the house and still can not connect to it anymore.

 

[reefandreptileautomation]

Magically started working. Just kept hitting the “SN” and it eventually got back in.