Fully controlled calcium reactor via Neptune trident

[Emac909]

Ok first off I know there’s a simpler way to have the trident to control a calcium reactor by just using this code on your co2 outlet.

If Alkx__ > then 9.00 then off

Yes it works. But it will just shut the co2 of for 6 hours or untill the next alk test is done that’s below 9.00.

He here’s my goal. To keep the pH at a level that slows the dissolving rate of the calcium media. In my calcium reactor it will take a good 12 hours for the pH to drop one full pH point. I don’t want to increase my co2 bubble rate. This will make the solenoid work harder by turning off and on more often.
Here’s a test I ran on how to check the rate of with pH dropped in my calcium reactor
pH at 8.22

Then 11 and a half hours later at 7.16

Well in 12 hours my system can drop 0.06 to 1 full ppm in alkalinity during the day if the calcium reactor is not dissolving media. I don’t want to be playing catch up on alk in the system or pH in the calcium reactor all day long.

So my plan is to keep the pH in the calcium reactor at a level where I can control the precipitation level at a desired rate and not have the pH go to high that it will take a excessive amount of time to get the right precipitation in the calcium reactor.

So know that if described and laid off my intentions let’s get to the meat and potatoes of the programming.
I started off by creating 3 virtual outlets. Here’s each virtual outlet and it’s function (never mind the fallback codes there just standard so if apex get disconnected from co2 out).
Virtual outlet #1 labeled (Low_Melt)
This outlet switches on if the alk is higher then 8.75 and it lets the pH in the calcium reactor go to 7.01 (I will play with this number too, cause if alk still climbs at a pH of 7.01 then I’ll have to raise pH to where it’s not getting a hi melt rate)

Let’s explain these codes, first CalRX is the label of the pH probe on the calcium reactor.
(2) Set on
This turns the outlet on if none of the other codes shut the outlet off
(3) If CalRX < 7.01 then off
So if the pH goes lower then 7.01 the the outlet turns off.
(4) If Alkx13 < 8.75 then off
This turns off the outlet if alk goes lower then 8.75ppm
(5) Defer 010 then on
This is just a 10 min buffer so that when the outlet turns off after pH goes below 7.01 the outlet won’t turn right back on for 10 mins after pH has gone above 7.01.

Ok virtual outlet #2 (Norm_Melt)
This outlet keeps the co2 outlet running at the proper pH for normal alk precipitation rate when alk is in the range I want it.

What these codes do.
(2) Set on
This just turns the outlet on if there’s nothing to turn the outlet off like low_melt outlet
(3) If outlet High_Melt on then off
This code is not needed but I don't want the outlet to be on when high melt outlet is on. Yea I’m a little anal like this
(4) If outlet Low_Melt on then off
This will turn off this outlet allowing the low melt outlet to raise the pH in the cal reactor to the level you set it at. For me that currently at pH 7.01.
(5) If CalRX < 6.81 then off
This will turn off the outlet if pH goes below 6.81
(6) Defer 010 then on
Again this allow the ph to raise a little in the reactor so the solenoid isn’t turning on and off rapidly

Ok virtual outlet #3 (High_Melt)
This outlet allows the pH to go down to 6.60 in the calcium reactor. Making it so there is a high precipitation level in the effluent.

(2) Set on
This this turns the outlet on if there’s nothing turning it off like the other two outlets
(3) If Alkx13 > 8.25 then off
This turns the outlet off when alk is higher then 8.25ppm
(4) If CalRX < 6.60 then off
This allows the outlet stay on until the pH goes below 6.60 then it shut the outlet off
(5) Defer 010 then on
Again just like the other outlets this gives a 10 min break so the outlet isn’t rapidly turning on and off

So now that the virtual outlets are done we need then to trigger the co2 outlet and do the programming.
I here’s what my co2 outlet coding looks like

(2) Set off
This keeps the co2 outlet off unless told to turn on
(3) If High_Melt on then on
This just turns the co2 on and off when the high melt virtual outlet is active
(4) If Norm_Melt on then on
This is the virtual outlet of just basic calcium reactor function
(5) If Low_Melt on then on
This turns the co2 on and off when low melt is active.
(6) If Alkx13 > 9.00
Then as a fail safe if the alk goes higher then 9.00 then it completely shuts off the co2 until the next time the trident does a test.

So I did all this programming the other day but yet put it I action. Only cause I’m leaving my calcium reactor off until my calcium level drops in my tank
But I have been monitoring the outlets and how they react to the different alk levels of the trident

Good luck reading this it quite confusing



MAYBE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Emac909]

I created this program a few days ago and haven’t put it in to action yet do to I’m trying to let my calcium drop before I turn the calcium reactor back on. But I have been monitoring the switches as the trident has been doing it’s tests
These pics show how each different switch gets activated when the alk is at different levels.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

This looks very interesting. Question what happens if your ph probe drifts? is there some redundance for that say , If probe 1 and probe 2 do not agree within a set tolerance, then dont do any adjustments? Are you limited to just one probe or could you use 2-3 probes to verify the PH before making control actions happen.

 

[Emac909]

This looks very interesting. Question what happens if your ph probe drifts? is there some redundance for that say , If probe 1 and probe 2 do not agree within a set tolerance, then dont do any adjustments? Are you limited to just one probe or could you use 2-3 probes to verify the PH before making control actions happen.

I guess I could add a PM1 and a 2nd pH probe. As a backup pH to verify the CalRX probe. But I do try to calibrate all my pH probes every 6 months. A drifting pH probe could be a problem for any calcium reactor owner tho, if they run the solenoid off an outlet that is controlled by a pH probe.

 

[Daveobrien]

Nice code. It's been 10days - have you put it into action yet? Can you show before and after Alk swings in the tank?

 

[Emac909]

Nice code. It's been 10days - have you put it into action yet? Can you show before and after Alk swings in the tank?

so I actually have already started using the coding and it’s working quiet well. I did have to modify the defer timing from 10 min to 20 min. I also had to raise all of the pH levels in each VO. My calcium reactor is just way to big for my system so a pH of 6.8 would raise my alk level 1dkh in 12 hours.

 

[Emac909]

Here’s the current coding I’m using
Basically no melt. This code just keeps the cal reactor at a level where it won’t take a full 8 hours to lower the pH level if I just had the co2 turn off if alk went above 9dkh

Low melt

Normal melt

high melt

this is the VO on the dash board.

alk graph. I had to change A reg out today so I got a wonky reading

cal reactor pH graph
Then last the log of the outlets

 

[Daveobrien]

I implemented your code on a virtual CO2 control outlet on my system, and compared my pH change rate and Alk Change rate.
1. I'm supplying a lot more gas / bubbles, and using a much smaller reactor chamber. I drop reactor pH like a rocket. No need to slew that.
2. My tank Alk change rate seems to swing faster. The tank just isn't established with life yet.

There's a reactor size change coming in my future, and I'm still thinking about tweaking bubble/etc rates. Right now - I may stay my course.

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I am looking to try this from the other way I have it running now to hopefully make thing a bit more stable. How has this been running for you now that you have been running it for a couple months.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

Curious how this worked,, i bought a used acr and played with it a few months but sold it off.
i love the idea of automating but dont wanna mess up my corals

 

[Emac909]

I’ve seen running this program for almost a year now. It’s running amazingly. I have fine tuned the program a bit tho.
So here is the low melt VO

here is normal melt VO

here is high melt VO

Here my alk swing for the last 7 days

 

[Emac909]

Here is my 187g tank that almost a year old