KH Guardian: Automatic Alkalinity Controller- My Experiences

ihavecrabs

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2014
Messages
2,792
Reaction score
3,679
Location
Illinois
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have ordered some potassium chloride and some calibration fluid as well as a secondary probe. I'll clean the existing one, store it, and see if the new one solves the issue and then begin cycling them.
 

lnevo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
232
Reaction score
54
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Past few days have been up and down regarding volatility. However, I do have a lot going on in my tank and I've really just started using the Guardian. My pH calibration fluid finally came in on Friday so I redid that. After that my readings were much higher (I expected them to be lower, but oh well, no biggie). I realized later that the ph probe was not in the right position. Fixed that, readings went down. Everything was reading well today, except for one way off reading at 2:30 in the AM. Then this afternoon I get a PW<_ERR. I tried to purge again and it didn't help (but didn't try holding button 4 to reset). Anyway, I rebooted a few times, tried the purge again. Same thing. I then tried to do a SW De-Gas which ended up in a SW>_ERR. Took the chamber apart, float switch is ok. I did the FWON and re-calibrated the level sensor. After finally doing RESET button, I have a good reading again.

Code:
 12/29 01:34:01 W.146 %0 KH :8.97
  12/29 03:53:10 W.143 %0 KH :8.97
  12/29 06:05:03 W.143 %0 KH :9.39
  12/29 08:17:02 W.148 %0 KH :9.00
  12/29 10:37:24 W.144 %0 KH :9.14
  12/29 12:56:57 W.145 %0 KH :9.01
  12/29 15:08:57 W.146 %0 KH :9.39
--- calibrated ph probe here ---
  12/29 16:33:06 W.139 %0 AK. 0.00 KH :8.42
  12/29 18:46:26 W.140 %0 KH :8.70
  12/29 21:05:21 W.141 %0 KH :8.56
  12/29 22:13:23 W.140 %0 KH :8.60
  12/30 00:24:56 W.140 %0 KH :8.55
  12/30 02:35:57 W.136 %0 KH :8.18 - one way off reading
  12/30 04:47:27 W.136 %0 KH :8.55
  12/30 07:06:13 W.137 %0 KH :8.42
  12/30 09:25:15 W.142 %0 KH :8.50
  12/30 11:44:18 W.136 %0 KH :8.45
  12/30 14:03:16 W.137 %0 KH :8.45
  12/30 16:05:04 PW
  12/30 16:05:04 W.0 KS=0D L%0 S%0 PW<_ERR KH :0.00
  12/30 17:08:57 W.176 KS=0D L%0 S%0 SW>_ERR KH :0.00
  12/30 17:15:35 RESET !
--- calibrated level sensor here ---
  12/30 17:34:01 W.142 %0 KH :8.81
  12/30 18:43:18 W.139 %0 KH :9.13

For the record, my alk is not yet stable at all. I've been working on increasing it (iDip and Hanna both read much lower than KHG) and have been working on adjusting my daily dosing. I think I'm close but need more data to figure out. For anyone who is just doing normal dosing at the moment, what type of daily fluctuation do you see?
 

lnevo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
232
Reaction score
54
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Here's mine. I ran hourly today to try and get a better idea.

So I'm either somewhere around 158ppm or up at 163ppm. That's +/- .3dKH. A little dizzying to be sure. I'm hopeful that it will improve over time.

12/31 19:35:47 W.142 %0 KH - 8.68 dKH / 155 ppm
12/31 18:24:55 W.144 %0 KH - 9.13 dKH / 163 ppm
12/31 17:13:55 W.139 %0 KH - 9.12 dKH / 163 ppm

12/31 15:54:55 W.139 %0 KH - 8.71 dKH / 156 ppm
12/31 14:36:28 W.141 %0 KH - 9.14 dKH / 163 ppm
12/31 13:25:35 W.143 %1 KH - 8.82 dKH / 158 ppm
12/31 12:14:16 W.144 %0 KH - 8.82 dKH / 158 ppm
12/31 11:02:57 W.140 %0 KH - 8.82 dKH / 158 ppm
12/31 09:52:00 W.140 %0 KH - 8.86 dKH / 158 ppm
12/31 08:33:20 W.141 %0 KH - 8.84 dKH / 158 ppm
12/31 07:14:39 W.142 %0 KH - 9.27 dKH / 166 ppm
1
2/31 06:03:34 W.138 %0 KH - 8.85 dKH / 158 ppm
 

lnevo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
232
Reaction score
54
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I also have this in my System Setup, which has come in and out of availability. :(

Force reverse calibration :

Unable to execute : Excessive deviation. 1
 

lnevo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
232
Reaction score
54
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So, right now I'm waiting for the new reaction chamber/level sensor/v2 accelerator motor. However, yesterday I installed the lab grade ph probe and today the results are pretty impressive:

Last 12 results:
01/05 20:46:41 W.151 %1 KH - 7.60 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 18:46:47 W.151 %1 KH - 7.60 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 16:46:45 W.147 %0 KH - 7.58 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 14:39:49 W.150 %1 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 12:39:56 W.151 %0 KH - 7.57 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 08:46:40 W.152 %0 KH - 7.32 dKH / 131 ppm
01/05 06:47:15 W.150 %1 KH - 7.48 dKH / 134 ppm
01/05 04:39:15 W.153 %0 KH - 7.19 dKH / 128 ppm
01/05 02:40:06 W.150 %0 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 01:08:02 W.150 %0 KH - 7.58 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 00:46:52 W.150 %0 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 00:02:37 W.149 %0 KH - 7.62 dKH / 136 ppm

If the newer parts make it any more consistent than that, I'd be really amazed.
 

ReefTeacher

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 4, 2017
Messages
272
Reaction score
216
Location
Bronx, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
So, right now I'm waiting for the new reaction chamber/level sensor/v2 accelerator motor. However, yesterday I installed the lab grade ph probe and today the results are pretty impressive:

Last 12 results:
01/05 20:46:41 W.151 %1 KH - 7.60 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 18:46:47 W.151 %1 KH - 7.60 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 16:46:45 W.147 %0 KH - 7.58 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 14:39:49 W.150 %1 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 12:39:56 W.151 %0 KH - 7.57 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 08:46:40 W.152 %0 KH - 7.32 dKH / 131 ppm
01/05 06:47:15 W.150 %1 KH - 7.48 dKH / 134 ppm
01/05 04:39:15 W.153 %0 KH - 7.19 dKH / 128 ppm
01/05 02:40:06 W.150 %0 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 01:08:02 W.150 %0 KH - 7.58 dKH / 135 ppm
01/05 00:46:52 W.150 %0 KH - 7.59 dKH / 136 ppm
01/05 00:02:37 W.149 %0 KH - 7.62 dKH / 136 ppm

If the newer parts make it any more consistent than that, I'd be really amazed.

Where did you get your new reaction chamber from? My is about a year old and It has suddenly started throwing a lot of errors. I wonder if replacing the chamber would help.
 

lnevo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
232
Reaction score
54
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
DVC advised me to request from Coralvue but they were out of stock so he sent me directly.

Between the lab grade probe and the new chamber (bigger mangetic stirrer, 9V accelerator motor, better float and level sensor) and results are really tight.

Last 12 results:
01/11 16:38:42 W.125 %0 KH - 6.47 dKH / 116 ppm
01/11 14:38:42 W.131 %0 KH - 6.48 dKH / 116 ppm
01/11 12:38:42 W.128 %1 KH - 6.48 dKH / 116 ppm
01/11 10:38:41 W.128 %0 KH - 6.44 dKH / 115 ppm
01/11 08:45:19 W.132 %0 KH - 6.40 dKH / 114 ppm
01/11 06:45:01 W.131 %1 KH - 6.37 dKH / 114 ppm
01/11 04:38:41 W.127 %0 KH - 6.34 dKH / 113 ppm
01/11 02:38:57 W.128 %0 KH - 6.75 dKH / 121 ppm
01/11 00:45:00 W.128 %0 KH - 6.35 dKH / 113 ppm
01/10 22:44:32 W.128 %1 KH - 6.51 dKH / 116 ppm
01/10 20:45:00 W.128 %0 KH - 6.36 dKH / 114 ppm
01/10 18:43:20 W.132 %0 KH - 6.34 dKH / 113 ppm

Now I'm just waiting for a replacement KS motor because I keep getting KS errors and I have to knock the motor to get it moving again...
 

justingraham

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 13, 2016
Messages
5,348
Reaction score
6,709
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Does anyone know how to test the khg like a 8 dkh standard so we know how far we are actually off?
 

LobsterOfJustice

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
1,274
Reaction score
1,326
Location
Cary, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My KHG is executing two tests every time it performs a test. I think it has been doing this since I bought the unit last spring. I didn’t think two much of it until I saw someone else mention it in another thread. Has anyone else noticed this or worked with support to fix the issue? Reagent is not cheap and I’d like to not burn through it twice as fast.
 

justingraham

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 13, 2016
Messages
5,348
Reaction score
6,709
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It does two to get a better reading of alk sometimes three u can turn it off but if u do u can’t turn it back on how to do it is in this thread
 

BZOFIQ

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
4,663
Reaction score
3,957
Location
NYC
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
There has been a lot of talk about other alk monitors but most are not yet available and the ones that are are new to market. KHG has been out the longest and is the least expensive.

I have mine connected to my classic apex, the setup works well. I get email notifications, a dashboard probe graph, and can disable my dosing pumps if alk is too high.


@LobsterOfJustice How is this interfaced with the apex?
 

BZOFIQ

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
4,663
Reaction score
3,957
Location
NYC
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Open ph port and the signals are calibrated. Works pretty well but because it goes from digital to analog back to digital again, the numbers are slightly different.

So a dKH number is displayed and graphed by apex, correct?
 
Back
Top