Switching Controllers from Apex to GHL

[Kyl]

Do you have the reference solution for the checker? If not, there is no way to really validate if it's drifting out of calibration or not. As well, is that a new batch of checker reagents? Hanna have stated air exposure can eventually throw off testing accuracy, it's why the reagent container is so small for ~25 doses. I believe there are DIY recipes for making your own alk test reference from RHF using baking soda, might also be an option if you have a gram scale that reads decimals.

 

[chefjpaul]

@Ditto do you have a tutorial for setting up pump 4 of the KH Director/Doser to automatically dose Alkalinity solution based on what the KH Director tests?

This, plus another dosing head to correspond with CA dosing at equal amount as KH, but at a different time.

 

[Ditto]

@Gonzo74 - the director :) But you can confirm the director with the calibration fluid from GHL. (I have the Hanna also and it was off, but with the GHL calibration fluid was spot on)

I do not have a tutorial, but not that hard to do it works the same if on a normal doser.

Do you already know your alkalinity consumption?

If so they you would begin using doser 4 your daily consumption. If your not sure if your daily consumption then at the same time each day measure your alkalinity and then depending on your solution your using determine how many ml it will take to put your alkalinity back to where you want it.

If you have the doser set up already to dose then it is which form you want to use for KH stabilization? I been using adaptive.

 

[Gonzo74]

Can you tell me more what adaptive is?

I was hoping that the doser would automatically dose when the KH dropped to a certain level. If that function is not available, I will have to experiment on how often to dose to maintain my level at 9.

Should I dose small amounts all day long or does anyone have a better recommendation?

 

[Gonzo74]

How many ML of water sample are you guys using when testing? I saw that the more you use, the more accurate it is

 

[Ditto]

@Gonzo94 -You should first determine your overall Alkalinity consumption before enabling adaptive. What Adaptive will do is increase or decrease your existing dosing amounts due to the KH. I dose 24 times time on both tanks, one is using one doser the other is using two dosers to dose alkalinity, (testing something :))

My Water sample on one is 100ml and on the other is 50ml. Since I have AWC taking place throughout the day the 100ml has not affected my salinity at all. The beauty is you can set it.

 

[Gonzo74]

I changed the amount of sample from 80 to 100 ml and now it is reading my KH at 7 when it was 9 last night and this morning. Hanna says 9.2.

Any ideas?

 

[Ditto]

No, I am not sure why the sudden drop/. Do another test and see if it reads the same.

 

[Gonzo74]

Tested, now it’s 7.2. I’m going to calibrate the PH probe and the pumps one more time.

Is there a reason we were supposed to add 4 inches to the length of the hose to account for the beige hose coming out of the pumps?

It does not look like 4 inches.

Does anyone know what we are supposed to add up when figuring out the amount of fluid in the sample hose. From the pump to the tank, it is 40 inches and from the pump to the sump and then 6.2 inches from the pump to the KH Director.

Maybe that is throwing it off?

 

[Lasse]

I use to calibrate with a scale that meassure in 0.1 grams (0.1 grams = 0.1 ml) Do 3 to 4 calibrations - sum it up and divide with the amount of samples.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Gonzo74]

So I changed the amount of sample from 100 to 70 and now it reads 11.2.

I think it is safe to say that the amount is important.

I am going to keep changing the amounts until I get one that is comparable to my Hanna and use that.

Kind of defeats the purpose of having a KH Director though.

 

[Oberst Hajj]

Great thread! Thanks to everyone that contributed to it.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Subscribed for future reference.

 

[WWIII]

So I changed the amount of sample from 100 to 70 and now it reads 11.2.

I think it is safe to say that the amount is important.

I am going to keep changing the amounts until I get one that is comparable to my Hanna and use that.

Kind of defeats the purpose of having a KH Director though.

something isn't quite right? The sample size shouldn't effect the result that much, unless you're dosing head isn't calibrated correctly and/or tube volume? The reagent dosing head calibration is usually the one that can throw off results like you're describing, but even then the calibration would have to be pretty far off.

Do you have your doser heads set to speed 3 (fast) for the water sample intake and also for the waste head? Do you have the reagent dosing head set to 0 (slowest)? If you have all those set correctly, what are your calibration ml for each head? What type of hose are you using for the sample intake and how long is it?

I can move my sample size from 70 ml to 100 ml with no change in result?

 

[laverda]

I am coming up to my two year mark since the switch-out, and I get asked all the time do you have any regrets. The answer is NO, this was and is still the best decision I ever made. When I started the conversion the web interface, and the GCC Connect Phone app was just coming out, and I did most if not all the configuration utilizing the Desktop Application. Two years later you can configure 99.9% of the features within the phone app or within the web interface. The product has been rock solid, I have gone through 2 Doser Blue caps (Covered by warranty), a optical switch(Covered by warranty) and one salinity probe (My Fault I dropped it). I am 100% converted on both tanks to GHL, including Mitras LX7206 lighting on both. A new Frag tank is now underway also utilizing the GHL product line also.

Many have asked do you miss a feature or a function? In the beginning, I would have said the log files were big to me. I like reading the log files (I am a techie) to see everything my tank was doing, but fast forward today and no there is nothing I miss since the switch out. I get my every 2 hours tank messages, and know everything that is going on with my tanks without utilizing the app. I log into the app once per day, to use the feed mode on my tank, and on Saturday's to log all my tank parameters inside the log books and to performs maintenance. It is funny how my attitude has changed, that I let my controller do it job, and no longer worried about when it was going to fail. I have had 3 power failures, and all three times the units worked flawlessly, in power cut mode. And return to normal operation when the generator kicked on, and then to full power once street power was restored. I have been at remote customer sites at least 50 times in the last two years, sometimes weeks on end, and the units have worked without issue. I been able to use the GCC phone app and check in on the tank, while friends and family took care of the tank all commenting how much easier it was to do things use the GHL display. (It pretty easy when the icon's on the display look like feed fish or a wrench that shows maintenance with the label filter sock)

The probes have all been spot on, with the every 6 months calibration, and I have had to replace my dosing tubes this year for the first time more just as part of my upcoming two year maintenance. The KH director has been spot on, keeping both tanks within .2. I am testing 6 times a day on one tank and on my larger tank 12 times a day. The KH Director has been rock solid and can not speak highly enough about the product. I am dosing 3 part on one tank, also utilizing the adaptive settings on the 3 part allowing it to be adjusted also based on the Alkalinity consumption. I test my Mag and Ca once per month manually and log them into the log books and then compare it to the KH graphs. While the other tank is using a Cx Reactor. Even with only testing Alkalinity I have had no issues keeping everything in check. I can not wait for the ION to come out, but believe just having the Alkalinity monitor and keeping those parameters stable has been one of the best things for both my tanks along with Lighting, and Water flow.

I have yet to have to pull off my flow sensors and clean them, and they are showing the same flow rates as they did the day I pulled them out of the box, which just a testament on the design of the flow device.

The GHL Maxi dosers have been solid on doing the ATO, and AWC on the tanks, without fail, they been doing 17 gallons changes per week on one tank and 35 gallons on the other tank. Both utilizing sensors to ensure they pull the same amount of water per day.

I have multiple video's showing how to accomplish these steps not using the GHL desktop app but through the GHL Connect App on my Iphone. Below is a comprehensive list of those video's, and I will update this thread as I produce more. I want to thank Reef2Reef moderators also for posting them also in the aquarium controller sticky thread.

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config a Kessil Light with the use of a GHL 1-10V Breakout Box

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Install/Config 1-10V Tunze Powerhead

GHL Profilux 4e Controller - Quick Easy Steps on Installing an Expansion Card

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure A Heater

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Notifications/Alert Sending

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to configure your Refugium Light

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Power Cut

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – How to Configure Feed Pause for Your Skimmer

GHL ProfiLux Controller (4/4e) – Quick Tutorial – Advance Program Logic Delayed On

GHL Connect - LogBook Option

GHL Connect - Adding and Configuring a new PAB Device to your GHL ProfiLux Controller

In close I also want to thank reef2reef, as being one of the best reefing forums out here. The community, the information, and help from all the members make this one of the best forums out here.

Very informative thank you. Have not watched all the videos yet, but the ones I did make it clear things are easy to do.

 

[Ditto]

@laverda - thank you for the kind comments.

I have more in the works :)

 

[bubblemytip]

In terms of email alerts, does anyone else get mutiple emails come through from a single event? E.g. I have a cyclic status email set up to occur every 12 hours, but I will receive approx 10-20 separate emails, all one minute apart. The last email for the alert will have no content. I'm not too fussed, as it is better than receiving no alerts, but it would be better to have just one come through, especially if I were to set up an SMS system, as that would chew through the $.

The email notification settings are:

Message:

• Sensors
• Switches

Mailing conditions:

• Always
• Cyclic
• Send interval: 12 Hours

Thanks!

 

[Ditto]

Did you download the latest WiFi firmware? This was corrected in the latest one listed on the website.

 

[bubblemytip]

Did you download the latest WiFi firmware? This was corrected in the latest one listed o.mb the website.

Thanks. I'll check this when I get home. I'm running Wi-Fi firmware 6961.

 

[Doostur]

Great thread. I am setting up my 180g and torn between Apex or GHL system.