KH Guardian: Automatic Alkalinity Controller- My Experiences

[andrew james]

I'm using the double junction bulk reef supply probe.

 

[andrew james]

I have a few questions and apologize if they've been asked already.

1- For apex owners, which one do you think is better the kh controller or the monitor? I have a DOS and a DDR. I like to control how much alk I add to my tank based on my consumption.

2- How can you view the results of the kh online?

My system-
I've been dosing Aqua Forest Comp123. The Aqua Forest system requires each part to be dosed equally. I use 3 DOS pumps for this. Right now they are set to dose 55ml spread out over 24 hours. I have the KH Guardian Monitor which is attached to my Apex. This is decent at giving me an dKH reading right on my Apex screen and to help keep the current dose where it should be. I have some basic programming that uses the the dKH reading as a safeguard to turn dosing pumps off and alert me if the number is too high. I also have a more complex idea of what I'd like to do with the added info but mostly doing adjustments manually still since it's such a critical component.

I can also access the KHG interface from anywhere using port forwarding. Basically my home IP address:KHG port. This gives me full control over the KHG monitor from anywhere.

 

[CuseReefer]

I'm using the double junction bulk reef supply probe.

How far in the probe holder do you have the BRS probe set?

 

[deaclauderdale]

Dr. Bridge just announced the CAG (Calcium Guardian) on Facebook.

Measurement range: 300 ~ 55 mg/l
Resolution: < 6.5 mg/l
Precision < 20.6 mg/l
No Correction Required
Electrical durability 3 year
Use three regent solution

Agent can you provide anymore info as my FB search turned up some basic stats? I'm hoping to be an early adopter or even beta tester of the CAG.

 

[agent462]

Agent can you provide anymore info as my FB search turned up some basic stats? I'm hoping to be an early adopter or even beta tester of the CAG.

I really don't have a ton more info. They are going to showcase it at CIPS (China International Pet Show) in November and the plan is to start shipping mid-late November. They are not having them built on a production line due to the sensors so they are busy building the units/sensors. The design in some ways is similar to the KHG which is good because the KHG has been in use for years; they claim the CAG measurement process has been practice for up to 5 years. Pricing is set for the unit and 3 months reagent (pm for details). Interfacing with the Apex is proving to be a challenge but they are working on it. No calibration needed from what I understand.

The Apex really needs a REST API that any company/device with internet connectivity can interface with.

* Disclaimer: some of that info may be inaccurate but that's what I've gathered so far. The guys in Taiwan browse the forum so maybe they'll chime in.

 

[andrew james]

The Apex really needs a REST API that any company/device with internet connectivity can interface with.

* Disclaimer: some of that info may be inaccurate but that's what I've gathered so far. The guys in Taiwan browse the forum so maybe they'll chime in.

They really do. The single biggest problem with using the khg is not being able to have my Apex tell it to run a test.

 

[eltonw]

09/29 12:05:48 W.A 176 K2：65 ERROR ! KH :11.00
09/29 12:12:34 W.A 176 K2：66 ERROR ! KH :11.11
09/29 12:14:10 W.137 %0 AK. 0.00 KH :11.11

For mass production KHG it has max value for testing, it is 11 dkh. The value over 11 dkh KHG will alarm it.
If you need real high dkh, we do have the new firmware for customer update. Please contact coralvue for this firmware or send the inquire to [email protected]

 

[eltonw]

Of course, I am the first user of CAG.

 

[Jonty]

I wish you guys would come up with a better package/form factor, i.e enclosure. It is not sump/under-stand friendly and is one of the big shortfalls on this product.
I look at the CAG and just shake my head trying to figure out where you can put it and all the bottles of reagent and the IV bag combined with water sensitive electronics in a package with no protection from water intrusion. I assume this cannot be dumped in the tank, what is the volume of effluent and the estimated daily testing frequency?
Will there be an AIM interface.
Jon

 

[3mm3]

Okay finished testing alk.
all tests completed in last 10 minutes
Coralvue kh monitor 9.7dkh
red sea alk pro 7.6dkh
hanna colorimeter 8.0dkh
can the kh monitor be that far off? or are the other 2?

Is the consensus to buy a new lab grade probe if this?

 

[Ridgeway]

Is the consensus to buy a new lab grade probe if this?

I recently ran a KHG test and then took a sample at the same time and sent it for ICP testing, the results were very very similar:

ICP: kH 9.0
KHG: kH

 

[deaclauderdale]

I wish you guys would come up with a better package/form factor, i.e enclosure. It is not sump/under-stand friendly and is one of the big shortfalls on this product.
I look at the CAG and just shake my head trying to figure out where you can put it and all the bottles of reagent and the IV bag combined with water sensitive electronics in a package with no protection from water intrusion. I assume this cannot be dumped in the tank, what is the volume of effluent and the estimated daily testing frequency?
Will there be an AIM interface.
Jon

+1 as I have similar questions. I'd also like to know when is the soonest I can get my hands on one?

 

[CoralFragZ]

Is the consensus to buy a new lab grade probe if this?

Good Question and hoping to hear more feedback.- mine is measuring 1.75 higher than my Hanna. I calibrated the probe twice. Will a BRS Lab Grade probe yield better results?

Thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I recently ran a KHG test and then took a sample at the same time and sent it for ICP testing, the results were very very similar:

ICP: kH 9.0
KHG: kH

You probably realize this, but alkalinity at an ICP company is not actually done by ICP, but by titration exactly as this device does. :)

 

[Ridgeway]

Yes correct although having visited several times both Triton and Fauna Marin's labs I could see that their titration tests are much more tightly controlled vs a Hanna pocket checker process. I know where I'd put my money in terms of accuracy.

 

[neupane00]

Did anyone here have problems powering on? I bought a KHG 2 weeks ago. worked fine until today. I tried to connect the AIM to my apex, all of a sudden the system turned off. Now even if i remove the AIM connection (like it was working before) the system doesnt power on. I tried both power input on the side, nothing.. i think this unit is dead in 2 weeks... anyone know why there are 2 power inputs in the first place.

 

[CJBuckeyes]

My KH Monitor has been set up for about 3.5 months now, and up until recently has performed well. However for the last 10 days or so my readings have been trending upward overall, and occasional wild readings up by up to +1dkh. I've been double checking against both hanna and salifert, and those have both maintained steady readings.

I've calibrated the ph probe several times following the instructions (7.0 followed by 4.0), but that has no impact. Any ideas what might be going on here? Clogged tube? Ph probe going bad?

 

[CJBuckeyes]

@neupane00 did you get your power issue fixed?

 

[samparker]

Did anyone here have problems powering on? I bought a KHG 2 weeks ago. worked fine until today. I tried to connect the AIM to my apex, all of a sudden the system turned off. Now even if i remove the AIM connection (like it was working before) the system doesnt power on. I tried both power input on the side, nothing.. i think this unit is dead in 2 weeks... anyone know why there are 2 power inputs in the first place.

The second power input is just there to allow you to share the power input with something like a wifi access point

 

[neupane00]

@neupane00 did you get your power issue fixed?

i did.. they had to send me a new unit.