Setting up first time calc & alk auto dose

Dingo Dog · 07/01/2007, 10:44 AM

So, I'm entering uncharted waters here and would appreciate any pearls of wisdom from the crew of Reef Central. I'll be using a Sentry. AAaaarrrr!!

drummereef · 07/01/2007, 12:48 PM

What exactly are you doing, Dingo? Do you have a two-channel dosing pump for a 2-Part additive?

Dingo Dog · 07/01/2007, 04:29 PM

Sorry, the Sentry unit I ordered has: two separate channels, dark-activated dosing, pH controller and float switch. At this point I think I just want to dose calc and alk. I've never used one of these before and I only have a 46 gal. tank. I'm thinking I won't be neededing the other options but wanted the options if I ever decide to get a better tank.

drummereef · 07/01/2007, 06:23 PM

Cool. Should be fairly easy then. All you need to know is how much alkalinity and calcium your tank is consuming in a 24 hour period. As long as your parameters are within the recommended ranges then you can test for consumption. Test for 2 days, without dosing anything, to find out this value. Once you know, you can enter the test results into the calculator below and it will give you a value in mL (milliliters) that you can program into the Sentry. I manually dose Randy's 2-Part and the calculator dials in the appropriate dosing amounts perfectly. For you it's all in the automation. Hope this helps!

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

07/01/2007, 10:44 AM	#1
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Setting up first time calc & alk auto dose So, I'm entering uncharted waters here and would appreciate any pearls of wisdom from the crew of Reef Central. I'll be using a Sentry. AAaaarrrr!!

07/01/2007, 12:48 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	What exactly are you doing, Dingo? Do you have a two-channel dosing pump for a 2-Part additive? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/01/2007, 06:23 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Cool. Should be fairly easy then. All you need to know is how much alkalinity and calcium your tank is consuming in a 24 hour period. As long as your parameters are within the recommended ranges then you can test for consumption. Test for 2 days, without dosing anything, to find out this value. Once you know, you can enter the test results into the calculator below and it will give you a value in mL (milliliters) that you can program into the Sentry. I manually dose Randy's 2-Part and the calculator dials in the appropriate dosing amounts perfectly. For you it's all in the automation. Hope this helps! Reef chemicals calculator http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/01/2007, 04:29 PM	#3
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Sorry, the Sentry unit I ordered has: two separate channels, dark-activated dosing, pH controller and float switch. At this point I think I just want to dose calc and alk. I've never used one of these before and I only have a 46 gal. tank. I'm thinking I won't be neededing the other options but wanted the options if I ever decide to get a better tank.