My Honest Opinion About The Alkatronic

[tgbaby]

Looks like everyone is sold out. Any idea when they will be available in US?

 

[strike2867]

I'm surprised, it was available early this week. Just put some email alerts out there.

 

[strike2867]

Any reviews on how corals reacted to using the Alkatronic?

 

[mitch91175]

Any reviews on how corals reacted to using the Alkatronic?

Not necessarily a review of how my coral are reacting, but I definitely have more stability with my tank and my SPS are encrusting beautifully and I have good growth as well. To give you an idea, I can no longer use my kalk stirrer because it no longer can keep up with the calcium usage. So I guess that's a good sign of things going in the right direction.

Just think about it, the main aspect to a thriving system is stability. With the Alkatronic it will help you maintain one of the most critical components in a reef tank, dKH.

 

[uncle luke]

Does the reagent come with an Alkatronic or is that separate purchase?

 

[mitch91175]

Does the reagent come with an Alkatronic or is that separate purchase?

It comes with some but do yourself a favor and buy the 4L

 

[JDtimk]

Well... I went through the whole process of physically setting up the unit and calibrating everything and ran a test. Then the mixing bar stopped working... I have run several tests since then and the mixing bar still doesn't move. Of course this completely makes the tests inaccurate and the unit unusable. I contacted the seller by phone and they said they don't really know much about this since it is so new and that I should contact CoralVue for any warranty issues. CoralVue phone support is closed on the weekends and I can submit a ticket online and they will get back to me within one business day. Not a good start to a $900 product.
Anyone else have a unit where the mixing bar stopped working already?

 

[mitch91175]

Well... I went through the whole process of physically setting up the unit and calibrating everything and ran a test. Then the mixing bar stopped working... I have run several tests since then and the mixing bar still doesn't move. Of course this completely makes the tests inaccurate and the unit unusable. I contacted the seller by phone and they said they don't really know much about this since it is so new and that I should contact CoralVue for any warranty issues. CoralVue phone support is closed on the weekends and I can submit a ticket online and they will get back to me within one business day. Not a good start to a $900 product.
Anyone else have a unit where the mixing bar stopped working already?

I have been following the thread since the beginning and this is the first I’ve heard of this issue. The unit itself is easy to open so if your brave you can open it and see if it is a simple fix.

 

[JDtimk]

I have been following the thread since the beginning and this is the first I’ve heard of this issue. The unit itself is easy to open so if your brave you can open it and see if it is a simple fix.

Thanks. I could try that but I would worry about doing that if it would somehow void the warranty. I guess I will see what CoralVue support says when I hear back from them.

 

[BrianReefer]

Thanks. I could try that but I would worry about doing that if it would somehow void the warranty. I guess I will see what CoralVue support says when I hear back from them.

Message Alkatronic on Facebook for suggestions. There’s an auto response to go to the reseller but they are amazing at getting back to you regardless. Support from them has been outstanding and I’m confident they’ll help get you fixed or replaced. I’ve been using it since it first came out and a few minor hiccups but overall rock solid stability.

 

[JDtimk]

Thanks. I might be one of the last people not on facebook Maybe I can start an account just for them if they respond to FB messages still.

 

[JDtimk]

When I do get this up and running, this is going to be how I use the BT socket. Let me know if people are also doing it this way or if anyone sees a problem with my proposed strategy.
I run two part dosed with an aquarium controller as the majority of the supplements for ALK and CAL. Estimate maybe 60-70% if the tank’s uptake is replenished this way. I set these to a balanced ratio and rely on this as an unchanging quantity.
Then on top of that I run a Kalk reactor and dose that separately from the top off water using a peristaltic pump and aquarium controller. I adjust the quantity of the Kalk dose manually based on alk measurements for now, but plan to run the Kalk dosing on the slightly high side of demand and use the alkatronic and the BT socket to shut off power to the Kalk pump if it reaches the high side of the alkatronic parameter.
Then the alkatronic can dose straight alk from the two part reservoir for the low parameters.
Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[Makers Marc]

Is Coralvue the only retailer I can buy this from? I'm in the US.

 

[mitch91175]

Premium Aquatic has them too

 

[Richyreefer]

Can i use the Red Sea Foundation kh/alkalinity right out of the bottle with this unit?

 

[mitch91175]

Can i use the Red Sea Foundation kh/alkalinity right out of the bottle with this unit?

Yes you can

 

[Richyreefer]

Yes you can

Thanks Mitch, Had my unit for about three months now. Two months in the box and one mounted by my tank. I am finally going to get in running tomorrow. I will post my progress.

 

[mitch91175]

Thanks Mitch, Had my unit for about three months now. Two months in the box and one mounted by my tank. I am finally going to get in running tomorrow. I will post my progress.

Dang bro get that thing setup already

 

[mitch91175]

Well a great product just got even better. Just received my first dKH push notification. Sweet!!!!

 

[mitch91175]

Ok so I have been using my Alkatronic pretty frequently I'd say and I just a few minutes ago had to mix some reagent. I have gone through approximately a gallon of reagent since March 2018. That's 8 freaking months and I still believe that I can make at lease another 3-4 gallons.