GHL dosing pump users, sell me on this.

[minus9]

I remember having issues trying to connect and found that it was the usb port I was using (if I remember correctly?), after switching usb ports, it was able to connect. Also, make sure that you turn off any anti-virus software while installing or updating firmware. Once you get past the PC part of it, it's a breeze. I also feel your pain, because I absolutely hate PC's with a passion (I won't start on my PC rant now) and with they had a mac version of control center. I could install parallels or something similar and install windows on one of my macs, but I just don't see myself doing it, ever! GHL has a sponsor forum here on R2R and RC, so you should be able to get support?
Hang in there, it's worth it!

 

[Ashish Patel]

Ask your questions on this page

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/need-help-setting-up-your-ghl-doser-2-1.260361/page-2

If you scroll up you'll see I had a similar issue. I hate anything Windows based but once you get it hookedup to your network you don't have to use this page there after. Just use your smart phone to make changes. I think he told me to discontinue somethings and to restart the computer and it worked.

Vinny is very helpful so just wait for him to respond. Goodluck

 

[coweyes298]

Beware of squeaky head noise.

I had mine (doser 2.1) directly bought from GHL website 2 months ago. After one month all three heads started to squeak like hell. Found out it was some plastic blue cap tolerance issue and it made the roller grinding against the blue cap. GHL have taken me care of by sending new roller/cap sets and the noise is gone for three weeks. Now one of the head starts to squeak a little again.

Regular cleaning for the cap and tube is the key ( there will always be dust on the tube/roller after several months for no reason...). This is a delicate doser which requires more maintenance than DOS ( my DOS runs for 1.5 years without cleaning or maintaining and it is still strong now...). Other than that it is a good doser.

 

[Scott.h]

Here is the support forum/dosing section

Best to post here and have Vinny help you. You can see multiple instances of him getting people up and running on this forum.
http://forum.aquariumcomputer.com/forumdisplay.php?84-Dosing

did you see my post earlier in the thread? You have to use device manager, look for the COM section and expand it, you should see the doser and com# there. Go back to GHL control center, let it say "can't connect, change settings?" Hit yes, select your device and hit edit, select USB and for com port match it to the # in device manager. Hit save, try to connect again. Should work:) then you can set up wifi and all that.

Try this:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/need-help-setting-up-your-ghl-doser-2-1.260361/

ok thanks. I selected "com3" and it worked. I don't get that but it looks like I can continue in the morning with setting up the wifi. .. and I was worried about setting up my first apex lol. I'm pretty sure this has that beat.

 

[Whipples]

GHL has its own way of doing things but now that I "get it" their software and interface is a breeze and I'm beginning to prefer it over Apex.

 

[Scott.h]

Ok I got hung up here. Do I want the first box checked? My box lit up white and then blue. Watching the tutorial it gave me a second option. I don't understand the difference or which path I need to follow from here. Do I need to do what they say at the 5:30 mark on, or is that unnecessary for my application?

 

[d2mini]

Beware of squeaky head noise.

I had mine (doser 2.1) directly bought from GHL website 2 months ago. After one month all three heads started to squeak like hell. Found out it was some plastic blue cap tolerance issue and it made the roller grinding against the blue cap. GHL have taken me care of by sending new roller/cap sets and the noise is gone for three weeks. Now one of the head starts to squeak a little again.

Regular cleaning for the cap and tube is the key ( there will always be dust on the tube/roller after several months for no reason...). This is a delicate doser which requires more maintenance than DOS ( my DOS runs for 1.5 years without cleaning or maintaining and it is still strong now...). Other than that it is a good doser.

Take the cap off and remove the rollers.
Wipe a little petroleum jelly on the roller pins. Careful not to get any on the outside of the rollers or the center shaft.
Reinstall and you should be squeak free. :cool:

 

[Scott.h]

I left the box checked alone since they did in the tutorial and did what they did on the 5:30 mark. I assume I was connected but then for some reason I lost connection. Is this because I'm not using USB connection anymore? None the less I'm using the iPhone app so downloaded that. I listed the unit name and ip address within the app but it won't connect. Just sits there like I'm not hitting the button.

 

[Scott.h]

Take the cap off and remove the rollers.
Wipe a little petroleum jelly on the roller pins. Careful not to get any on the outside of the rollers or the center shaft.
Reinstall and you should be squeak free. :cool:

Shoot I think the software needs the freaking petroleum jelly..

 

[Whipples]

Did you set up as static or dynamic IP? And does the GHL logo flash white or blue when you are not connected? And a silly but important question: did you hit save changes before it disconnected?

 

[Scott.h]

Did you set up as static or dynamic IP? And does the GHL logo flash white or blue when you are not connected? And a silly but important question: did you hit save changes before it disconnected?

Yeah. I went through the whole process all over again and before I disconnected at that 5:30 mark this time I got the app working. I've gotten to the point that I can manually dose liquid with the app or set a specific amount and hit "dose now". When I do the "ping with the ip" it shows 2 sent and 2 returned so I think I'm good there.

How do you set a dose schedule with the app? Or do you have to use the pc for that? Is there a tutorial?

 

[Whipples]

To set dosing, run calibration, refill containers, go into the app, tap the pump you want and it should load a new screen that will list overview, dosing, pump, and container I believe. You can then choose how often and when that pump will dose, but more importantly calibrate the dosing pump and set the speed :). I am not sure if they have a tutorial but the app interface can do it all, the hard part of connecting is over!

 

[Scott.h]

I need a contact for customer support. Screwing with it all weekend and it still isn't right. It's connected but it loses connection fast. My router is a year old and an expensive unit. No other problems. Xbox, apex, etc, always fine. So I gave up on wifi and used USB. I think the pumps are calibrated, but given no instructions I'm not positive. Calibrating on default (fast -45 mil per min) I'm assuming that whatever it doses you type that number in the box its set? No "save button". I'm just assuming.

So I'm not too worried about wifi on the laptop, as I'm using my iPhone app. So the app doesn't allow a dosing schedule? It all has to be done through the pc? All it appears I can do with the app is hold the module icon for instant dosing (without knowing how much you are actually putting in) or double click the icon for a manual dosing per your instruction. So head one works fine manual. Double click head two, dose 10ml, and it doses head one AND head two. Head icons 3 and 4 won't allow me to double click to set a manual dose. I can't do anything with 3 and 4 except calibrate.

 

[minus9]

The save button looks like a floppy disc icon on the top right of the page (under myGHL and control center). The app does allow a dosing schedule, turn the phone on its side (landscape mode) and you'll see the tabs at the bottom. To get to this page just tap on the "bar" area that shows the amount of fluid on the left, this will take you to the schedule, overview page. I'll take a couple screen shots for you.

 

[minus9]

 

[minus9]

The top pic shows the "save" icon on the top right (next to the refresh button). The second pic is the home page of the app, here you tap on one of the green fill level area and it will take you to the next pic, which is where you would set your dosing schedule and amount. Hit save after entering info for each section and I always go back to "overview" and hit save again before hitting close. Hope this helps? If you're having issues staying connected over wifi, then you may have to change a few settings in Control Center first? I think I had a small issue connecting when I first set the doser up, but customer support helped with the issue. Try their sponsor forum here on R2R (or RC if you don't get a reply).

 

[Scott.h]

The top pic shows the "save" icon on the top right (next to the refresh button). The second pic is the home page of the app, here you tap on one of the green fill level area and it will take you to the next pic, which is where you would set your dosing schedule and amount. Hit save after entering info for each section and I always go back to "overview" and hit save again before hitting close. Hope this helps? If you're having issues staying connected over wifi, then you may have to change a few settings in Control Center first? I think I had a small issue connecting when I first set the doser up, but customer support helped with the issue. Try their sponsor forum here on R2R (or RC if you don't get a reply).

Ok thanks. I'll have to play more when I get time. It's been an exhausting weekend. On top of the dosing unit I custom made a bigger sump and upgraded everything in two days.

 

[Whipples]

If the wifi connection is giving you troubles you can set it to static IP instead of dynamic, that fixed a lot of my issues. It has been several months since my doser has given me any troubles and I refill/update dosing schedules every week :). I am sorry it is frustrating you, I promise it gets trouble-free soon enough!

 

[Scott.h]

The top pic shows the "save" icon on the top right (next to the refresh button). The second pic is the home page of the app, here you tap on one of the green fill level area and it will take you to the next pic, which is where you would set your dosing schedule and amount. Hit save after entering info for each section and I always go back to "overview" and hit save again before hitting close. Hope this helps? If you're having issues staying connected over wifi, then you may have to change a few settings in Control Center first? I think I had a small issue connecting when I first set the doser up, but customer support helped with the issue. Try their sponsor forum here on R2R (or RC if you don't get a reply).

If the wifi connection is giving you troubles you can set it to static IP instead of dynamic, that fixed a lot of my issues. It has been several months since my doser has given me any troubles and I refill/update dosing schedules every week :). I am sorry it is frustrating you, I promise it gets trouble-free soon enough!

So I'm getting close. I flipped my phone sideways and found where I can set up a dosing schedule. Watching and waiting I think it's working ok on my phone, so I don't really care about the laptop connectivity issue. So is there a place to confirm daily the amount actually dosed by the doser?

 

[Whipples]

Best way to confirm both your calibration and schedule are correct is to measure the dose you set when it doses, if possible. once you confirm it's accurate I would just check it occasionally to ensure you are staying steady. I found more frequent smaller doses to work better than one big dose for stability and accuracy.