Continuous Top-Off/Water Change

[Stevorino]

You can extend an Apex system by using a long Aquabus cable. The entire system can operate with up to 200 ft of Aquabus cabling. That is the limit on the total length of all Aquabus cables added together. I have a single 50' aquabus cable running between my RODI station and my aquarium equipment room.

My DOS peristaltic pumps are located next to my RODI staion, not near my sump tank. I use DOS for ATO and for AWC.

First off, I periodically flush my Spectrapure UHE RODI system automatically. Then when I make RODI water I do it in batches, not continuously. Each time I start the RODI to produce, I divert the first 8-16 fl oz (a drinking glass) to grey water waste to export the initial flow through the filters and the RO membrane as it will generally have an elevated TDS level at first when it starts up. That is why I produce RODI in batches so the percentage of RODI that I discard is very low. I try to produce at least 20 gallons of RODI Each time I turn it on.

My ATO is controlled by water level drop and recovery. I periodically shut down my pumps for about a minute let the water become calm in the sump, measure the water level which by then includes drainage from my display tank and refugium tank and remote DSB tank, add the requisite amount of new RODI water to refill the sump to its 'full' level and restart the pumps when the ATO has completed. This happens automatically every 4 hours .

My AWC is more frequent, virtually continuous, exchanging about 25% per month on average. The normal exchange rate is increased at 10:00 in the morning and decreased at 22:00, sort of synchronizing the water exchange rate to the level of fish activity. Further, I can modify the normal exchange rate percentage when I see a drift in any water parameters that I want to counter by increasing the exchange rate for a while.

Once you operate AWC under a programmable controller's automation you can tune your system in many ways like this and simply monitor its execution and modify its control parameters, even over the internet. I did just that from a Carribean island in May when I changed my reverse daily photosynthesis ratio because I had not gotten around to it before I left on my trip. My aquarium system is in Virginia.

I have had no such negative experience with Neptune Systems and I have a lot of their probes, modules and devices in my system. I read their forum threads frequently and do not see people abandoned when they have difficulties. On the contrary, what I have seen is excellent tech support complemented by a very active forum of knowledgeable users who pitch in to help each other quickly.

I have not seen such responsive and high quality support anywhere else in the aquarium trade. Much of my current equipment is from Deltec, Ecotech Marine and Neptune Systems. I have had equipment from many other manufacturers over the past several decades on the hobby, most of which by now has been retired to the spare parts bin or tossed directly to the rubbish bin.

I do recommend you put separate and independent ATO and AWC in place. Top-off and water change are two chores that are easily and reliably automated. They have high payoff to you in terms of hours being shifted from drudge work to enjoyment of your aquarium.

Great write up - I really appreciate it!

I wrongly figured I'd need to get a separate apex/power system to run the Dos in the basement.... Looks like it as simple as getting a couple of aquabus cables....

I do love the idea of having it tied into my Apex. That thing has saved my butt a handful of times and I can see this being another place where I'd have direct control.

 

[Stevorino]

Have you looked at the Genesis water change system? I've been using it for 2 years changing 1 gallon every 4 hours. It was easy to install and has been rock solid never skipping a beat or giving me a second of worry. I'm running it with eheim pumps which are about as reliable as you can get. It's truly set it and forget it (apart from mixing a fresh batch of SW every week to 10 days)

I did not buy their ATO that works In conjunction with it, since I already had a tunze osmolater I just use my apex to turn that on and off on a different cycle than the Genesis.

I did look into and it looks awesome... But just a lot more expensive currently than the alternatives (assuming you already have an Apex like myself).

 

[FLSharkvictim]

I don't know how much a continous water change can after your salinity but I would think that considering that evaporation doesnt evaporate salt plus you not knowing exactly how much water you evaporate daily, I think your salinity level would end up moving up or down. This would cause more harm than a smaller weekly water change. I do think it's a great idea anyways!

Also wanted to point out something else, these grey colored brute tank we all use to store rodi water seem to leach impurities into the water being held inside them. Specially if we use them to continuously hold our top off or water change water, the contamination becomes quite high. Run this test: test you tds readings out of your rodi and later test the tds for your water upon landing in your brute tank (brute tank has to be previously clean of any saltwater contact). You should find a reading of atleast +.05 higher.

This being said, the cleanest water and freshest imho is that which we produce perhaps straight into a super clean 5 gal bucket, which we mix immediately and later replace in our systems. Any other way you would be introducing more phosphates and more need for gfo.

My personal trick is a straight shot rodi line Into the sump with a float switch for top off at .00 tds. No algae no gfo.

Either way I would like to hear others opinion too. Good luck and keep us posted.

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@Rodmad4 - Or if you get your self some of these ACE MOTO Vertical Storage barrels these will not leach Po4 into your RODI holding container which is barrel 1 for me. If you don't have the loot for these kinds of containers make sure you buy the gray brute cans instead of the colors one. I have heard THAT the color ones b/c the do leach the Phosphates back into the RODI water. I just tour my saltwater mixing station down since I got a killer deal on my Ace Moto barrel including FREE SHIPPING. I am almost down dry fitting everything 1st with my design and ready to start gluing tomorrow. My DOS will be here on Weds for ONLY Automatic water changes only.

TANK INFO:
120 MIXED REEF

 

[Srob]

Great info