GHL Program Masters **Please Help**

[cpllongjk]

I posted this in the controller thread... I really need a Masters help.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ghl-doser-maintenance.883068/

 

[*Ruffian*]

I posted this in the controller thread... I really need a Masters help.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ghl-doser-maintenance.883068/

I am no Master but think I have figured out a way for you.

Set your maintenance mode to turn on two switch channels that are free.

Go to an available Maintenace option and click sockets(switch channels) and check the numbers and set the sliders to ON.

Go to switch channels and assign the switch function to dosing pump and assign your pump number for both channels.

You would have to calculate how much will be pumped based on the length of the maintenance and ml flow of the dosing pump. Set the maintenance mode time length based on this calculation.

Press the maintenance mode and the switches should turn on and the dosing pumps start pumping.

Steve

 

[cpllongjk]

I am no Master but think I have figured out a way for you.

Set your maintenance mode to turn on two switch channels that are free.

Go to an available Maintenace option and click sockets(switch channels) and check the numbers and set the sliders to ON.

Go to switch channels and assign the switch function to dosing pump and assign your pump number for both channels.

You would have to calculate how much will be pumped based on the length of the maintenance and ml flow of the dosing pump. Set the maintenance mode time length based on this calculation.

Press the maintenance mode and the switches should turn on and the dosing pumps start pumping.

Steve

Ok. I’ll give it a try. With your method the dosers will pump at their set speed for the time of maintenance? Also is there any way to change the speed of the pump. My AWC is set to fast but I would want slow or medium for this function.

 

[*Ruffian*]

From what i can see, you can't change the speed of the pumps.

I would use the spare doser pumps for the simpliest approach. If you don't want to do that, use one spare for the drip accumulation set to a slow speed. The fill would need to be activated using programming logic. The idea would be to delay the fill until it's runtime would fill what was drained.

There are examples in the resource guide about skimmer delays for feed pause.

Hope this helps.

 

[cpllongjk]

I am no Master but think I have figured out a way for you.

Set your maintenance mode to turn on two switch channels that are free.

Go to an available Maintenace option and click sockets(switch channels) and check the numbers and set the sliders to ON.

Go to switch channels and assign the switch function to dosing pump and assign your pump number for both channels.

You would have to calculate how much will be pumped based on the length of the maintenance and ml flow of the dosing pump. Set the maintenance mode time length based on this calculation.

Press the maintenance mode and the switches should turn on and the dosing pumps start pumping.

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the advice IT WORKS! However, there is only one slight problem... The pumps start pumping but at the end of the maintenance "time" the pumps keep going. Until I figure it out I can do a Maintenance "off button" for those two switches but they should not be stuck on.

When the maintenance schedule ended I had to go into "Manual Switch Mode" and manually turn on the two pump sockets I designated to run the doser heads.

Any reason why the pumps would be stuck on?

 

[*Ruffian*]

Let me play around with that one. I thought it would flip them off when it ended the maintenance.

Steve,

Thanks for the advice IT WORKS! However, there is only one slight problem... The pumps start pumping but at the end of the maintenance "time" the pumps keep going. Until I figure it out I can do a Maintenance "off button" for those two switches but they should not be stuck on.

When the maintenance schedule ended I had to go into "Manual Switch Mode" and manually turn on the two pump sockets I designated to run the doser heads.

Any reason why the pumps would be stuck on?

Take a look at the dosing pump at the bottom and make sure it is set to react to switch and the correct number.

 

[cpllongjk]

Ok, I just made a 2nd "maintenance" schedule to stop the pumps and that works.

So far this is what happens.

Maintenance 1 - starts both pumps at "set speed" but doesnt stop the pumps when maintenance ends.
Maintenance 2 - stops both pumps

I would like the ability for Maintenance 1 to stop on its own when the Maintenance ends.

 

[*Ruffian*]

Ok, I just made a 2nd "maintenance" schedule to stop the pumps and that works.

So far this is what happens.

Maintenance 1 - starts both pumps at "set speed" but doesnt stop the pumps when maintenance ends.
Maintenance 2 - stops both pumps

I would like the ability for Maintenance 1 to stop on its own when the Maintenance ends.

Does your switch channel shut off when the maintenace ends? My test does.

 

[cpllongjk]

Let me play around with that one. I thought it would flip them off when it ended the maintenance.

Take a look at the dosing pump at the bottom and make sure it is set to react to switch and the correct number.

The pumps are on the correct switch channel. They activate when the maintenance mode is enabled but are stuck on until I manually turn them off or use my "kill-maintenance" button.

 

[cpllongjk]

Does your switch channel shut off when the maintenace ends? My test does.

What firmware are you running? I am using 7.28 on my p4.

 

[cpllongjk]

Here are my settings, maybe I missed something.

 

[*Ruffian*]

Same here, I will see if I can get it to work tomorrow. Maybe someone will jump on with the answer before then.

 

[cpllongjk]

Same here, I will see if I can get it to work tomorrow. Maybe someone will jump on with the answer before then.

I figured it all out! We were sooooo close!

Here's what the problem was. In the "Switch Channel" the function needed to be set to "Always Off" so that the dosing pump will default OFF all the time, unless I enable maintenance mode "Channel On" which turns the pump on for that set amount of time.

So what is happening is I tell the dosing pump to turn on for 5 minutes at 37mL/minute (maintenance 1) the pump runs then the pumps natural state is Always Off. What was happening is that it would start and not stop because it was looping I think. Nothing was telling the pump to go back off.

What I did now is made 2 maintenance modes (Maintenance 1 is 5 minutes, Maintenance 2 is 50 minutes) Based on my 37mL/minute , button 1 changes about 185mL of liquid, which is great for small things. Maintenance 2 is like doing an AWC changing out 1850 liters over 50 minutes.

Both can be used for acclimating new fish, one doing nearly 200mL, and other other almost 1/2 a gallon over 50 minutes. Until someone chimes in and shows me how to enable my pumps to do my daily water change schedule and dose manually I will just have to settle for this and press a button every time I want to do a water change.

Thanks for the help Steve, I wouldn't have figured it out without you!

 

[Lasse]

This is an alternative way to do it - maybe easier and can be combined with an automatically WC. I show in GCC - its easier

NOTE - I have tested this by myself - its working for me but you need to test it before you run it your system before you run it sharp

Calibrate your two pumps - I have chose pump 1 for in and pump 2 for out,

Comments
ml/minute for pump 1 give 33 ml and for pump 2 - 36 ml (only examples)
Pump 1 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your in reservoirs volume)
Pump 2 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your out reservoirs volume)
Record - yes
Pump 1 respond to index 63 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))
Pump2 respond tor index 64 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))

Make a timer for the "in" pump- and one for the "out" pump. I have chose timer 1 for in and timer 2 for out. Chose automatically dosing.
Comments
ml/minutes - after your calibration of the different pumps.
Rate per dosing - should be around max 10 times the flow rate because the stepper motors should not be run to long time in each run - 10 minute is good.
With the dosing per day - you decide the total amount. In my case 7000 ml/day (7 L -around 1.85 G)
In daymode - you can chose either which days it should be active or periods of days. I chose every day and start today

Now we should do this automatically - we need to create virtual switches

Done. Now you have an automatic WC configured and it should work. Now to combine this with an acclimination feature

Make a maintenance button as describe but do NOT check any switches.

Comments

in this case it is difficult to compensate for that the pumps may have different flow rates - but it is small volumes - so it does not matter - IMO. Decide how many minutes it should be active - I chose 5 minutes

Now we should combine these features - the normal WC should run but you should also to be able to acclimate. When you acclimate with the maintenance button - your automatically WC should not happen. Create another maintenance button named total elimination - maintenance 2 in my case Check no switches

Now - the advanced part - go to PL programming

Create G1 in my case for in pump (1)

Comments

NOTE the inverted function

Create G2 for out pump (2)

Comments
Note the invert function of maintenance 2 even her

Now we have created a 2 functions there the automatically WC does not happen if maintenance 2 is active



Now we should combine this with the manual acclimation (maintenance 1)

Back to PL

G3

Comments -

Note the OR function

G4

Comments

Note the NOR function

Now we should update our virtual switches 63 and 64

Done

Now you will have an automatic WC configured and if you want to use it for acclimation purpose - you press maintenance 2 for deactivate the automatic WC for the whole acclimation period (in my case 2 hours (120 min) ) and you press maintenance 1 for each "drip" event during this period.

There is a possibility to use an automatic acclimation drip to but in that case you need a separate ADIN card

I have tested it and it have one drawback. If you use the timer function automatically dosing for timer 1 and 2 - by the basic program - timer two will be started with 5 minutes delay. It is in the basic programming of these functions. you will fill in 5 minutes before the out pump start and the out pump will work 5 minute after in pump have stopped, Not a problem if there is room for it in the sump.

If your calibration of the pumps is rather equal e.g they will give the same ml/minute - you can use the same timer for both pumps. The G1 and G2 looks like this

Otherwise - it works like a charm

Sincerely Lasse

 

[*Ruffian*]

This is an alternative way to do it - maybe easier and can be combined with an automatically WC. I show in GCC - its easier

NOTE - I have tested this by myself - its working for me but you need to test it before you run it your system before you run it sharp

Calibrate your two pumps - I have chose pump 1 for in and pump 2 for out,

Comments
ml/minute for pump 1 give 33 ml and for pump 2 - 36 ml (only examples)
Pump 1 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your in reservoirs volume)
Pump 2 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your out reservoirs volume)
Record - yes
Pump 1 respond to index 63 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))
Pump2 respond tor index 64 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))

Make a timer for the "in" pump- and one for the "out" pump. I have chose timer 1 for in and timer 2 for out. Chose automatically dosing.
Comments
ml/minutes - after your calibration of the different pumps.
Rate per dosing - should be around max 10 times the flow rate because the stepper motors should not be run to long time in each run - 10 minute is good.
With the dosing per day - you decide the total amount. In my case 7000 ml/day (7 L -around 1.85 G)
In daymode - you can chose either which days it should be active or periods of days. I chose every day and start today

Now we should do this automatically - we need to create virtual switches

Done. Now you have an automatic WC configured and it should work. Now to combine this with an acclimination feature

Make a maintenance button as describe but do NOT check any switches.

Comments

in this case it is difficult to compensate for that the pumps may have different flow rates - but it is small volumes - so it does not matter - IMO. Decide how many minutes it should be active - I chose 5 minutes

Now we should combine these features - the normal WC should run but you should also to be able to acclimate. When you acclimate with the maintenance button - your automatically WC should not happen. Create another maintenance button named total elimination - maintenance 2 in my case Check no switches

Now - the advanced part - go to PL programming

Create G1 in my case for in pump (1)

Comments

NOTE the inverted function

Create G2 for out pump (2)

Comments
Note the invert function of maintenance 2 even her

Now we have created a 2 functions there the automatically WC does not happen if maintenance 2 is active



Now we should combine this with the manual acclimation (maintenance 1)

Back to PL

G3

Comments -

Note the OR function

G4

Comments

Note the NOR function

Now we should update our virtual switches 63 and 64

Done

Now you will have an automatic WC configured and if you want to use it for acclimation purpose - you press maintenance 2 for deactivate the automatic WC for the whole acclimation period (in my case 2 hours (120 min) ) and you press maintenance 1 for each "drip" event during this period.

There is a possibility to use an automatic acclimation drip to but in that case you need a separate ADIN card

I have tested it and it have one drawback. If you use the timer function automatically dosing for timer 1 and 2 - by the basic program - timer two will be started with 5 minutes delay. It is in the basic programming of these functions. you will fill in 5 minutes before the out pump start and the out pump will work 5 minute after in pump have stopped, Not a problem if there is room for it in the sump.

If your calibration of the pumps is rather equal e.g they will give the same ml/minute - you can use the same timer for both pumps. The G1 and G2 looks like this

Thanks Lasse, I was hoping you would chime in.

Otherwise - it works like a charm

Sincerely Lasse

 

[cpllongjk]

This is an alternative way to do it - maybe easier and can be combined with an automatically WC. I show in GCC - its easier

NOTE - I have tested this by myself - its working for me but you need to test it before you run it your system before you run it sharp

Calibrate your two pumps - I have chose pump 1 for in and pump 2 for out,

Comments
ml/minute for pump 1 give 33 ml and for pump 2 - 36 ml (only examples)
Pump 1 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your in reservoirs volume)
Pump 2 will empty the container (I have filled the max her 30 L - you have to enter your out reservoirs volume)
Record - yes
Pump 1 respond to index 63 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))
Pump2 respond tor index 64 in my case (you have to enter your chose of switch - normally I prefer high numbers of these "virtual switches" - because it is not likely that you will need so many realt switches/outlets))

Make a timer for the "in" pump- and one for the "out" pump. I have chose timer 1 for in and timer 2 for out. Chose automatically dosing.
Comments
ml/minutes - after your calibration of the different pumps.
Rate per dosing - should be around max 10 times the flow rate because the stepper motors should not be run to long time in each run - 10 minute is good.
With the dosing per day - you decide the total amount. In my case 7000 ml/day (7 L -around 1.85 G)
In daymode - you can chose either which days it should be active or periods of days. I chose every day and start today

Now we should do this automatically - we need to create virtual switches

Done. Now you have an automatic WC configured and it should work. Now to combine this with an acclimination feature

Make a maintenance button as describe but do NOT check any switches.

Comments

in this case it is difficult to compensate for that the pumps may have different flow rates - but it is small volumes - so it does not matter - IMO. Decide how many minutes it should be active - I chose 5 minutes

Now we should combine these features - the normal WC should run but you should also to be able to acclimate. When you acclimate with the maintenance button - your automatically WC should not happen. Create another maintenance button named total elimination - maintenance 2 in my case Check no switches

Now - the advanced part - go to PL programming

Create G1 in my case for in pump (1)

Comments

NOTE the inverted function

Create G2 for out pump (2)

Comments
Note the invert function of maintenance 2 even her

Now we have created a 2 functions there the automatically WC does not happen if maintenance 2 is active



Now we should combine this with the manual acclimation (maintenance 1)

Back to PL

G3

Comments -

Note the OR function

G4

Comments

Note the NOR function

Now we should update our virtual switches 63 and 64

Done

Now you will have an automatic WC configured and if you want to use it for acclimation purpose - you press maintenance 2 for deactivate the automatic WC for the whole acclimation period (in my case 2 hours (120 min) ) and you press maintenance 1 for each "drip" event during this period.

There is a possibility to use an automatic acclimation drip to but in that case you need a separate ADIN card

I have tested it and it have one drawback. If you use the timer function automatically dosing for timer 1 and 2 - by the basic program - timer two will be started with 5 minutes delay. It is in the basic programming of these functions. you will fill in 5 minutes before the out pump start and the out pump will work 5 minute after in pump have stopped, Not a problem if there is room for it in the sump.

If your calibration of the pumps is rather equal e.g they will give the same ml/minute - you can use the same timer for both pumps. The G1 and G2 looks like this

Otherwise - it works like a charm

Sincerely Lasse

Thank you so much, I will definitely test this out!

I had a question. I have calibrated my pump several times and sometimes get 37ml/min and sometimes 38ml/min and sometimes 36ml/min... I have averaged them all and stick with 37ml/min... However, here is the problem... when dosing large amounts of water, like say 1 Liter, the dosing rate is much lower on average. Is there a more accurate way to calculate the flow rate? If not, how can I make my doses more precise?

Right now with so much variation in the doses I would rather do a manual dose by button then auto dose, that way I can keep a closer eye on salinity to ensure there isnt much of a swing over time.

 

[Lasse]

The way I normally do my calibrations is with a scale 0.1 g (or better) resolution. I do 3 - 5 test calibrations - measure the amount - divide with the amount of calibrations runs - get as an example an average of 35.5 g - convert that to 35.5 ml. Its time you learn the metric system over there - things is much easier that way

Sincerely Lasse

 

[cpllongjk]

The way I normally do my calibrations is with a scale 0.1 g (or better) resolution. I do 3 - 5 test calibrations - measure the amount - divide with the amount of calibrations runs - get as an example an average of 35.5 g - convert that to 35.5 ml. Its time you learn the metric system over there - things is much easier that way

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks I will do that, I can use an accurate scale from work. I was using what I had on hand and have plenty of beakers at work due to being a high school science teacher but completely forgot to measure based on weight. The only problem with how you are doing things is that natural water weighs 1g/mL but salt water is slightly different. However, I do agree that measuring weight is probably a better solution than measuring volume.

 

[Lasse]

you know the figure 1.026 can be helpful (its the relative density of sea water at 35 promille)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[cpllongjk]

you know the figure 1.026 can be helpful (its the relative density of sea water at 35 promille)

Sincerely Lasse

Correct the Sample in Grams divided by the density of the salt water should give me the amount of mL dosed. I will do that when I get home from work.. Thank you so much for the tip.... How many times do you think I should run the test and how many minutes should I run the sample for? My 2 programs that I set up are set to run for 6 minutes (small water change - 200 mL) and 60 minutes (large - 2100ish mL) What do you recommend I run to do the sample size for the calibration and how many calibrations per pump?