Hydros setup and questions

[xxoczukxx]

I was thinking of going Apex on my latest build but after doing some reading and thinking, I am considering Hydros instead. I was hoping to get some input on my plans and if I could get some suggestions! This is with the assumption that the Maven is released hopefully within the next year and readily available

Here is what I want to be able to do with this:

• Automatically test alk and calc (just alk until the Maven)
• Monitor temp, pH, and salinity
• Dose alk and calc based off of tests
• AWC + ATO reservoir refill

Here is what I was planning to purchase to get this done:

• Hydros X10 - two pumps for AWC, two for filling and draining the iV Pro
• iV pro for testing of alk + salinity
• 3x Dosing pumps (2 for alk and calc, one for reagent for the iV pro)
• Salinity probe kit
• Second pH probe to keep in my sump for redundancy/continuous pH monitoring
• Rope leak sensor
• 4x Water level sensors (Two to check maximum and minimum water height I want in the sump, one for my ato reservoir level, and one for a simple ato on a tank next to this one)
• Hydros X3 to handle the second pH probe + the sense ports needed for all 6 sensors
• A single smart plug for redundancy for my heater (will be using an IM Helio but redundancy is always good. Lighting + pumps are all Ecotech and will be controlled separately)

When the Maven comes out I can probably drop the iV pro and cut down on the dosing pumps as that would free up 2 pumps on the X10 for dosing alk and calc, as well as running the salinity prob in my sump (ignoring potential stray voltage issues). This means I can also cut out the second pH probe as the one in the iV pro will no longer be used for alk testing. Dropping that probe plus the two sense ports on the Maven itself mean I can also drop the X3 as the Maven + the X10 should cover all 6 of my sense port needs + salinity and pH.


Is this overkill? Am I covering all my bases or is there something I can cut out?

After writing this out it seems like if the Maven came out soon it seems like I could save myself like $7-800 in gear + the trouble of selling them after!

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

You will need 3 dosing pumps to test for alkalinity. 1 for pumping in, 1 for pumping out, and 1 top add the reagent.

I personally really like the X10. I wouldn't get rid of it even if you get the Maven. The reagent is really cheap and it is totally user-serviceable.

 

[n2585722]

I was thinking of going Apex on my latest build but after doing some reading and thinking, I am considering Hydros instead. I was hoping to get some input on my plans and if I could get some suggestions! This is with the assumption that the Maven is released hopefully within the next year and readily available

Here is what I want to be able to do with this:

• Automatically test alk and calc (just alk until the Maven)
• Monitor temp, pH, and salinity
• Dose alk and calc based off of tests
• AWC + ATO reservoir refill

Here is what I was planning to purchase to get this done:

• Hydros X10 - two pumps for AWC, two for filling and draining the iV Pro
• iV pro for testing of alk + salinity
• 3x Dosing pumps (2 for alk and calc, one for reagent for the iV pro)
• Salinity probe kit
• Second pH probe to keep in my sump for redundancy/continuous pH monitoring
• Rope leak sensor
• 4x Water level sensors (Two to check maximum and minimum water height I want in the sump, one for my ato reservoir level, and one for a simple ato on a tank next to this one)
• Hydros X3 to handle the second pH probe + the sense ports needed for all 6 sensors
• A single smart plug for redundancy for my heater (will be using an IM Helio but redundancy is always good. Lighting + pumps are all Ecotech and will be controlled separately)

When the Maven comes out I can probably drop the iV pro and cut down on the dosing pumps as that would free up 2 pumps on the X10 for dosing alk and calc, as well as running the salinity prob in my sump (ignoring potential stray voltage issues). This means I can also cut out the second pH probe as the one in the iV pro will no longer be used for alk testing. Dropping that probe plus the two sense ports on the Maven itself mean I can also drop the X3 as the Maven + the X10 should cover all 6 of my sense port needs + salinity and pH.


Is this overkill? Am I covering all my bases or is there something I can cut out?

After writing this out it seems like if the Maven came out soon it seems like I could save myself like $7-800 in gear + the trouble of selling them after!

The iV requires three dosing pumps but it also has 2 drive ports one ill be used for the iV but you can use the unused one to power a Hydros simple doser and use that for the drain pump. I did that for a while and used two of the X10 pumps for dowing. I dosed All For Reef with one and a KH buffer with the other. I used dynamic dosing with the KH buffer based on the alkalinity test results. The X10 has no AC outputs but you can get an XP8 with 8 of them and create a collecive with the controllers but will need a command bus cable and 2 terminators to create the collective. The pH port on the X10 will be used for the iV testing so you will not have realtime pH without another pH port and probe. The pH probe is used in the iV for the alkalinity test but it does do a pH reading at the beginning of each test so you would have that. You can also get a salinity probe and connect it to the X10 and use it in the iV also if you want. The X10 also has 4 sense ports so you can connect a temp sensor to one and have three left for other sensors.

 

[xxoczukxx]

You will need 3 dosing pumps to test for alkalinity. 1 for pumping in, 1 for pumping out, and 1 top add the reagent.

I personally really like the X10. I wouldn't get rid of it even if you get the Maven. The reagent is really cheap and it is totally user-serviceable.

Yep that is covered in my plans, two from the X10 for filling and draining and a third standalone for the reagent.

I wasn't planning on getting rid of the X10, I would be keeping it with the Maven and removing the X3

The iV requires three dosing pumps but it also has 2 drive ports one ill be used for the iV but you can use the unused one to power a Hydros simple doser and use that for the drain pump. I did that for a while and used two of the X10 pumps for dowing. I dosed All For Reef with one and a KH buffer with the other. I used dynamic dosing with the KH buffer based on the alkalinity test results. The X10 has no AC outputs but you can get an XP8 with 8 of them and create a collecive with the controllers but will need a command bus cable and 2 terminators to create the collective. The pH port on the X10 will be used for the iV testing so you will not have realtime pH without another pH port and probe. The pH probe is used in the iV for the alkalinity test but it does do a pH reading at the beginning of each test so you would have that. You can also get a salinity probe and connect it to the X10 and use it in the iV also if you want. The X10 also has 4 sense ports so you can connect a temp sensor to one and have three left for other sensors.

I feel like no one actually read my post :( I plan to pick up the X3 with another pH probe to cover continuous pH tracking and other sense ports I need + I will be getting a single Hydros wifi smart plug for redundancy for my heater (could get the four port one to control my skimmer and reefmat as well) as my lights and pumps are all Ecotech and will be controlled through Mobius

 

[n2585722]

Yep that is covered in my plans, two from the X10 for filling and draining and a third standalone for the reagent.

I wasn't planning on getting rid of the X10, I would be keeping it with the Maven and removing the X3



I feel like no one actually read my post :( I plan to pick up the X3 with another pH probe to cover continuous pH tracking and other sense ports I need + I will be getting a single Hydros wifi smart plug for redundancy for my heater (could get the four port one to control my skimmer and reefmat as well) as my lights and pumps are all Ecotech and will be controlled through Mobius

If you get an X3 controller only no issue just make sure and get enough command bus cables to connect the controllers you get together and 2 terminators, one for each end. Without those there will be no communications on the command bus between the controllers. The X10 will also power the X3 via the command bus so if you do get a starter kit instead of controller only don't use the power supply that comes with it since those are not compatible with any other source of power on the command bus which the X10 would be. The reagent pump requires a precision dosing pump that will run at 3ml a minute or near that. The Simple Hydros dosing pump is only 43ml a minute flow rate. So it would probably be best to use one of the X10 dosing pumps for the reagent and a simple doser for the drain pump.

 

[xxoczukxx]

If you get an X3 controller only no issue just make sure and get enough command bus cables to connect the controllers you get together and 2 terminators, one for each end. Without those there will be no communications on the command bus between the controllers. The X10 will also power the X3 via the command bus so if you do get a starter kit instead of controller only don't use the power supply that comes with it since those are not compatible with any other source of power on the command bus which the X10 would be. The reagent pump requires a precision dosing pump that will run at 3ml a minute or near that. The Simple Hydros dosing pump is only 43ml a minute flow rate. So it would probably be best to use one of the X10 dosing pumps for the reagent and a simple doser for the drain pump.

good to know for the reagent pump! thank you

 

[n2585722]

good to know for the reagent pump! thank you

I used a simple doser connected to the second drive port for a drain pump for quite a while without any issues. The drain pump can be less precise since as long as it empties the beaker each time it is ok. So set it to 43ml a minute flow rate and watch and make sure it runs till the line s sucking air when it runs during the testing and you should be good on it. I also run the fill pump at 75ml a minute instead of 100ml a minute. I had one of the pump heads crack so I slowed it down after changing the pump head out and I have not had another issue with a pump head.

 

[xxoczukxx]

I used a simple doser connected to the second drive port for a drain pump for quite a while without any issues. The drain pump can be less precise since as long as it empties the beaker each time it is ok. So set it to 43ml a minute flow rate and watch and make sure it runs till the line s sucking air when it runs during the testing and you should be good on it. I also run the fill pump at 75ml a minute instead of 100ml a minute. I had one of the pump heads crack so I slowed it down after changing the pump head out and I have not had another issue with a pump head.

that reminded me of another question I had actually, how much water does it take out for testing? Do you have another pump refilling the same amount to the tank?

 

[n2585722]

that reminded me of another question I had actually, how much water does it take out for testing? Do you have another pump refilling the same amount to the tank?

I send the drain back to the sump. It has not been an issue and I do 4 test a day every 6 hours. The reagent is a mild sulfuric acid. You can get the concentrate and mix it with 4 parts DI to 1 part concentrate also. The concentrate is a mild sulfuric acid. I am not sure the ratio on it.