Automatic Water changes. It doesnt get any better then this.

[thadscottmoore]

this is the official program that I developed to make it work on my pico- and yes, I did use a Reef Keeper Elite. and yes, I ran this setup flawless for 2 years with no problems- only reason I ceased using it, I moved into a new home, and just never got back around to setting up my pico tank since the move last May.

3 Cups of water to be changed during water change period. There are 16 cups per Gallon. 2X a day (6 cups total) times 7 days = 2.625 gallons of water change per week- nearly 100% water change weekly in the picotope!



1. Use three channels on my RKE PC4
a. Ch2, programmed as a multi timer (assigned to timer 1) activating every day at 8:00pm (old water out). Siphon break device would prevent any farther amount of water from being removed than desired. Pump is assigned to be on for 6 minutes 40 seconds. And off for 11 hours and 53 minutes and 20 seconds (8am) and run for 6 minutes again for a second water change in 24 hour period.
b. Ch3, programmed as a switch, with a standard float switch controlling it. (this channel is my normal auto top off)
c. Ch4, programmed as multi-timer (assigned to timer 2) activating every day at 8:07pm (new water in) . This timer is assigned to be activated on for 6 minutes and off for 11 hours and 54 minutes (8:07am ) and run for 6 minutes (second water change period of 24hours). This offers plenty of time to refill the tank. Float switch will turn off the pump at maximum level.
d. Alarm 1 is activated by ch2 or ch4 turning on. It is assigned to Ch3. (this turns off my ATO while the old salt water drain pump is on or if the new salt water feed pump is on)
e. Alarm 2 is activated by float switch. When the float switch opens (upper limit) it turns off Ch4.

2. Pump assignments
a. Aqualifter pumps are assigned to channel 2 and channel 4 for auto water change pumps
b. Air pump is assigned to channel 3 for ATO.

I came back and installed the float switch on the fresh salt water to shut off the system in the event of depleting and preventing a full water change from taking place.

 

[Softylover]

this is the official program that I developed to make it work on my pico- and yes, I did use a Reef Keeper Elite. and yes, I ran this setup flawless for 2 years with no problems- only reason I ceased using it, I moved into a new home, and just never got back around to setting up my pico tank since the move last May.

3 Cups of water to be changed during water change period. There are 16 cups per Gallon. 2X a day (6 cups total) times 7 days = 2.625 gallons of water change per week- nearly 100% water change weekly in the picotope!



1. Use three channels on my RKE PC4
a. Ch2, programmed as a multi timer (assigned to timer 1) activating every day at 8:00pm (old water out). Siphon break device would prevent any farther amount of water from being removed than desired. Pump is assigned to be on for 6 minutes 40 seconds. And off for 11 hours and 53 minutes and 20 seconds (8am) and run for 6 minutes again for a second water change in 24 hour period.
b. Ch3, programmed as a switch, with a standard float switch controlling it. (this channel is my normal auto top off)
c. Ch4, programmed as multi-timer (assigned to timer 2) activating every day at 8:07pm (new water in) . This timer is assigned to be activated on for 6 minutes and off for 11 hours and 54 minutes (8:07am ) and run for 6 minutes (second water change period of 24hours). This offers plenty of time to refill the tank. Float switch will turn off the pump at maximum level.
d. Alarm 1 is activated by ch2 or ch4 turning on. It is assigned to Ch3. (this turns off my ATO while the old salt water drain pump is on or if the new salt water feed pump is on)
e. Alarm 2 is activated by float switch. When the float switch opens (upper limit) it turns off Ch4.

2. Pump assignments
a. Aqualifter pumps are assigned to channel 2 and channel 4 for auto water change pumps
b. Air pump is assigned to channel 3 for ATO.

I came back and installed the float switch on the fresh salt water to shut off the system in the event of depleting and preventing a full water change from taking place.

Thank you... That's what I needed to know. I will be setting this up for testing next week. We're did you get the siphon break thing

 

[Softylover]

I did this with my pico tank. RKE programmed to turn off the ATO and start drain pump at X time for a limited time frame- the drain pump off signaled the input pump to function filling up the tank to float switch - desired level reached- float switch would turn off the input pump- this was also set on a time frame alarm- 30 minutes after complete water change - the ATO function would resume function. also, set up float switch in the fresh salt water- if it got low- the process would not start and an audible alarm would notify me to check it out and do routine service. also, I had to make the anti siphon device to prevent any farther flow from the display tank from occurring. anti siphon device looks like this one:

utilized a test transport vial.

What was this made out of?

 

[thadscottmoore]

5ml transport test tube- bought online- had to buy like 24 of them for a minimum order.

 

[Softylover]

So pump pulled out and put into that, and that drained down, so if it started a syphon threw the pump that would break it... Got it

 

[jg93]

So I've had this set-up and running for going on a month now. I purchased the Stenner pump as recommended. Overall I think this is fantastic - fish and SPSs are doing great, levels in my tank have normalized, and I've noticed that a hair algea problem that had been brewing is now totally dying off...

I'm doing 2.7% of my total volume/day - which may be a bit much but it's close to the weekly changes I was doing before.

My only disappointment is - the water I'm pulling out of my tank is slightly greater (15% or so) compared what I'm pumping in. I'm pumping up one floor from a basement, and across a floor, I think it's about 20 ft of tubing or so in total. I'm topping off my tank about 1 gallon twice/week to compensate and watching my salinity closely so my fresh water ATO doesn't drive it down...

Anyone have any ideas how to solve this? I recall reading that it should be happening, but it definitely is, I've run 3 tests to get accurate readings...

Thanks,

JeffG

 

[jg93]

That's *shouldn't be happening.

 

[Softylover]

So I've had this set-up and running for going on a month now. I purchased the Stenner pump as recommended. Overall I think this is fantastic - fish and SPSs are doing great, levels in my tank have normalized, and I've noticed that a hair algea problem that had been brewing is now totally dying off...

I'm doing 2.7% of my total volume/day - which may be a bit much but it's close to the weekly changes I was doing before.

My only disappointment is - the water I'm pulling out of my tank is slightly greater (15% or so) compared what I'm pumping in. I'm pumping up one floor from a basement, and across a floor, I think it's about 20 ft of tubing or so in total. I'm topping off my tank about 1 gallon twice/week to compensate and watching my salinity closely so my fresh water ATO doesn't drive it down...

Anyone have any ideas how to solve this? I recall reading that it should be happening, but it definitely is, I've run 3 tests to get accurate readings...

Thanks,

JeffG

Mine is not set up yet, waiting on pumps, however mine will be based off float switches, so when it drains it will stop via timer (safe guard is a float switch) then it will pump in fresh saltwater and stop with Ato switch... Does not matter that each pump runs at different rates

 

[ReeferEric]

Won a stenner dual head at our local FMAS club, looks like my set up will go to Joshporksandwich.

 

[AquaSwap]

Just Ordered 2 DMP4 Pumps today cant wait to get them!!!

 

[Peanut]

Won a stenner dual head at our local FMAS club, looks like my set up will go to Joshporksandwich.

what was the model number ?

 

[AquaSwap]

Look what showed up today!

 

[jl283467]

How much $ and where did u get it?

 

[AquaSwap]

100DMP4 - Buy Stenner pumps chemical feeders - $284.00

 

[ReeferEric]

The one I won from FMAS is still sitting in the box. I need to get around to hooking it up but with so many tank projects I can't do it yet. Maybe in another month or so.

 

[Peanut]

For years if considered doing automatic waterchanges, but never could find the right equipment do do it and monitor it.

Thanks to one of our local members here in South Florida Dr. David Thompson, he found all that is needed.

System consits of a Stenner water pump, a commercial chemical pump with one motor and 2 peristalsic heads hook up to this one moter. the one i bough is capable of 75GPD.

One head takes water from my WC station in the garage to the return area of the sump. The second head takes water from my overflow area of sump to a drainage line i had already drill out of the house to a drain.

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WATER CHANGE SYSTEM

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cOMES WITH WEIGHTED STRAINERS FOR INPUT. tHIS KEEPS THE INPUT DOWN AND STRAINS ANY LARGE PARTICLE THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE FOR THE PERISTALSIC PUMPS.

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AND FINALLY A SHORT VIDEO OF IT WORKING.

[video=youtube;E3PA6eBDhHc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3PA6eBDhHc[/video]


THIS IS ALL NOW CONNECTED TO MY APEX. I AM CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR 1.5 HOURS, GIVING ME A 2.5 GALLON WATER CHANGE PER DAY.

One note, The pump doing 75gpd is approx 3 gal per hour or 4.5 gallons (not 2.5) in the 1.5 hours you have it running.

I'm totally on board with this and will be ordering a pump soon. love the thread, great stuff thanks for everyone's posts

 

[Peanut]

Look what showed up today!

Did you go with 1/4 or 3/8 on the hose? why?

 

[AquamanE]

One note, The pump doing 75gpd is approx 3 gal per hour or 4.5 gallons (not 2.5) in the 1.5 hours you have it running.

I'm totally on board with this and will be ordering a pump soon. love the thread, great stuff thanks for everyone's posts

Peanut- Correct me if you have found other info but: Its 75gpd for both pumps. Each one does 37.5 gpd. So it is 1.5G per hour. I hope your right though.

 

[AquamanE]

Tough day with tank today.

I had to sit there and watch it for hours cause i had nothing to tinker with. Water change was happening. I fed the fish. Skimmer cup and floss gets cleaned on Sundays, So i had nothing to do to it......:bigsmile::bigsmile:

 

[vlangel]

Tough day with tank today.

I had to sit there and watch it for hours cause i had nothing to tinker with. Water change was happening. I fed the fish. Skimmer cup and floss gets cleaned on Sundays, So i had nothing to do to it......:bigsmile::bigsmile:

Wow, I feel bad for you! NOT!!!!! Just kidding.