Reefkinetics Reefbot

[Balz3352]

Anyone know what kind of head pressure these things can handle? I'd like tk put this on a shelf above my sump in my basement. Just want to know how high I can go.

 

[ESH]

I'm trying to determine best placement myself right now. The guide doesn't say specifically, but on page 20 it says

• The Tank & RODI water should be at the same level of the ReefBot

The pumps on this unit look similar to what's being used in my alkatronic, which recommends at the same level, or just above. I have that one set above, but within the acceptable tube length (I think it was 3-4 ft max).

 

[ESH]

Got it setup and calibrating right now. Appears priming the lines is part of the calibration process.

Setup is pretty straight forward.

I noticed is the website states it supports the Tropic Marin Phosphate test, however it is not an option in the dashboard. I sent a message through their support so hopefully will get an answer on this.

They do have a pretty detailed support Q&A on the site. https://reefkinetics.freshdesk.com/support/solutions

 

[ESH]

Appears the RO and testing chamber have a pump assist for clearing them out.

This Q&A is helpful. The setup guide doesn't specifically say to add the stirrers to the RO and testing chamber, so if you didnt come across this you might miss it.

Dos and Don'ts
Created by: Info Reef
Modified on: Sat, 2 Feb, 2019 at 10:42 AM

Dos

• Connect “WASTE” to waste container with the 2 meter silicon sample tube and connect “RODI” and “TANK” with the 1 meter silicon sample tube.
• Make sure the RO is full and waste is empty by checking them through the App.
• Shake the reagents from 2-4 minutes or as indicated by the test kits before emptying them in our glass vials.
• Label all the vials with the correct parameter and reagent names before placing them in the ReefBot vial’s rack.
• Make sure the glass vials has one magnetic stirrer placed inside before emptying the reagents.

Don’ts

• Don’t remove the PTFE from the glass vials.
• Don’t run a test while the cover is removed.
• Don’t restart or turn the power off while you are running a test.
• Don’t run tests before placing magnetic stirrers in both the testing and RO chambers.
• Don’t switch caps or vials between different reagents.
• Don't connect the RODI straight to an RODI filter. Always use a DI container.

 

[geekengineer]

pretty neat tool but feels above my pay grade at the moment. :( Sort of wish I could make one myself instead.

 

[rushbattle]

Got it setup and calibrating right now. Appears priming the lines is part of the calibration process.

Setup is pretty straight forward.

I noticed is the website states it supports the Tropic Marin Phosphate test, however it is not an option in the dashboard. I sent a message through their support so hopefully will get an answer on this.

They do have a pretty detailed support Q&A on the site. https://reefkinetics.freshdesk.com/support/solutions

Appears the RO and testing chamber have a pump assist for clearing them out.

This Q&A is helpful. The setup guide doesn't specifically say to add the stirrers to the RO and testing chamber, so if you didnt come across this you might miss it.

I noticed all the same exact things. So far I like the device, but each test takes a long time and I don’t like API kits, really poor accuracy. Ready for some affordable reagents that provide good accuracy, hopefully that happens somewhat soon. Sucks to buy test kits with all sorts of syringes, tubes, etc that we don’t need.

 

[rushbattle]

pretty neat tool but feels above my pay grade at the moment. :( Sort of wish I could make one myself instead.

Making one yourself seemed easy before I saw the device in person. This required all sorts of research, systems engineering, design consideration, logic mapping, hardware selection and design, many expensive 3D printed parts, huge amounts of software and firmware development time/cost, etc. I co-founded an engineering and manufacturing business, and through that lens this product approximates a nightmare. No doubt an individual could get something to make measurements like this, but it wouldn’t be cheaper, I’m guessing, and wouldn’t be anywhere near as functional without hundreds of hours of effort.

 

[JimWelsh]

Making one yourself seemed easy before I saw the device in person. This required all sorts of research, systems engineering, design consideration, logic mapping, hardware selection and design, many expensive 3D printed parts, huge amounts of software and firmware development time/cost, etc. I co-founded an engineering and manufacturing business, and through that lens this product approximates a nightmare. No doubt an individual could get something to make measurements like this, but it wouldn’t be cheaper, I’m guessing, and wouldn’t be anywhere near as functional without hundreds of hours of effort.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. :rolleyes:

 

[geekengineer]

Making one yourself seemed easy before I saw the device in person. This required all sorts of research, systems engineering, design consideration, logic mapping, hardware selection and design, many expensive 3D printed parts, huge amounts of software and firmware development time/cost, etc. I co-founded an engineering and manufacturing business, and through that lens this product approximates a nightmare. No doubt an individual could get something to make measurements like this, but it wouldn’t be cheaper, I’m guessing, and wouldn’t be anywhere near as functional without hundreds of hours of effort.

Well I have a 3D printer so that helps a little bit. If I ever did anything myself I would probably just start with doing something that is easy to test say alkalinity. Its a lot easier if its a test that you can titrate which gives you a binary end state that's fairly easy to detect and calculate. I don't deny there is a TON of effort has to be put into something like this that can do multiple types of tests and to do it right. So don't get me wrong that's why $900 is actually pretty cheap to be honest for what this thing does. Its just more than I want to spend at the moment on a robotic tester at the moment.

 

[puffy127]

I noticed all the same exact things. So far I like the device, but each test takes a long time and I don’t like API kits, really poor accuracy. Ready for some affordable reagents that provide good accuracy, hopefully that happens somewhat soon. Sucks to buy test kits with all sorts of syringes, tubes, etc that we don’t need.

Have you tested it with API reagents yet? I thought that part of the reason for the API accuracy issues was due to difficulty in deciphering colors, which I was hoping this would solve. In their sponsor forum they stated that they are currently testing the Hanna alk reagent.

Also how long does each test take? How does that compare to the time it takes for you to do the same test manually?

 

[ESH]

First 2 tests done. Pretty cool system.
Red Sea Magnesium results look like this.

API Nitrate look like so - personally I would prefer another test kit for this, but I don't know what else is supported as a liquid nitrate test.

The magnesium test took a while. I want to say between when I clicked test, to when it started washing out the chamber, about 6 minutes before it even started. Could just be the command functions going through the cloud to the system. The test did take some time. I ran the Nitrate test while I was sleeping.

The system does count the # of tests you run to alert you when to change the syringe out. It is preset to 60, though the user manual says to change out at 50 tests. You can also set the # of ml that you fill each specific vial with. I will have to measure what the vials hold max to the rim with RO water, as some regeants are going to have extra in the bottle, others like the Red Sea Magnesium A & B drops are going to only fill about half.

 

[Balz3352]

I personally plan on running a test between api and the redsea kits to test of accuracy. I do believe that api's issue is reading the result correctly but this take the human error out of it. Id love to get alk, phos, CA, nitrate test kits for $23! As long as they are accurate!

 

[puffy127]

I personally plan on running a test between api and the redsea kits to test of accuracy. I do believe that api's issue is reading the result correctly but this take the human error out of it. Id love to get alk, phos, CA, nitrate test kits for $23! As long as they are accurate!

Nice. Keep us posted on the results.

I plan on comparing the following:

Reefbot: API alk and Salifert alk
Manual: Hanna alk

Reefbot: API Ca, Mg, NO3, and PO4
Manual: Salifert Ca, Mg, NO3; Hanna ULR Phosphorous

But I don't get my reefbot until Tuesday.

I'm hoping API gets me close enough results since they are so cheap.

 

[Balz3352]

Trying to plan where this thing is gonna go.... Man you don't realize how short 3 feet is until you have that limit on things. Especially when it's supposed to be about the same height at the tank.

 

[ESH]

I had the same challenge setting this up. Where to place it? I ended up moving a cabinet that was about the same level as the sump and it worked out.

I kind of wish they put the plug for the power supply on the same side as the tubes as now I have things poking out from both sides of the robot. On a side note, the power supply does say it is "moisture sealed", which is good to hear since that was a concern I had early looking at it.

 

[MyReefRobbedMe]

I’m more concerned about stability in same test after test than it matching other test . Have you ran multiple test to see if it stays on point with previous tests . Mine comes Tuesday also . Pretty quick shipping (knock on wood ) never know about Customs Though Lol.
I ordered couple Red Sea Mg refill kits and couple API Nitrate/Phosphate Test . I couldn’t find reviews on Giesemann or Tropic Marine Test kits gonna wait on some reviews before trying them out .

 

[MyReefRobbedMe]

Also I was checking Amazon for more vials and caps to make switching out easier .. pretty sure that I found some but I don’t want to link unless positive

 

[puffy127]

12 vials

So 8 vials for testing and 4 extra vials? Do those 4 extra vials come with magnetic stirrers or would you have to take the magnetic stirrers out of the other vials?

 

[rushbattle]

I’m more concerned about stability in same test after test than it matching other test . Have you ran multiple test to see if it stays on point with previous tests . Mine comes Tuesday also . Pretty quick shipping (knock on wood ) never know about Customs Though Lol.
I ordered couple Red Sea Mg refill kits and couple API Nitrate/Phosphate Test . I couldn’t find reviews on Giesemann or Tropic Marine Test kits gonna wait on some reviews before trying them out .

Red Sea, Tropic Marin and Geismann are good, API is total trash except for Ca.

 

[rushbattle]

So 8 vials for testing and 4 extra vials? Do those 4 extra vials come with magnetic stirrers or would you have to take the magnetic stirrers out of the other vials?

They come with stirbars in each vial. Except the test and rinse chambers as noted.