automatic salt doser

marcin11379 · 10/01/2010, 08:32 PM

I like to do my water change automatic.I set up all ready pumps for water change , but i steal have to ad salt manually to my mixing bracket.Anyone can help my with something what i can use to ad one cup of salt every day.This mast by electric 110 .Something like automatic feeder, but large.

Dustin1300 · 10/01/2010, 09:01 PM

Automation is nice but comes a point where it becomes too much. This sounds like a place where lots of errors can happen and can really keep you from keeping up with the tank. I personally automate automatic water changes daily as well as top off but just use two 44 gallon Brute trash cans which does not require a lot of mixing. This maintenance is minmal and I'd look to invest your time/money otherwise.

marcin11379 · 10/01/2010, 09:36 PM

How you adding salt to your RO?Manually?

Lynnmw1208 · 10/01/2010, 10:45 PM

i'm pretty sure almost everyone adds their salt manually. i know i'd like to be sure it's the correct salinity rather than relying on a machine.

Dustin1300 · 10/02/2010, 06:57 AM

Yeah....Since RO/DI water is better to make in large batches here is my process for my saltwater mixture:

- Turn off my two pumps on LMIII doing my automatic water changes
- Start RO/DI and let fill my brute (Use float valve in my Brutes)
- By end of day I have a full Brute and add the salt and have a pump in the brute that keeps the water moving.
- I then check the salt a couple times and adjust the next day to make sure it is 1.025 like my DT
- Turn LMIII pumps back on for the automatic water changes

Not manually adding your salt could be a real disaster. I know fish can deal with a drop in salinity but a large spike in salinity can be a disaster. Coral just not liking a change either way.

marinelife · 10/02/2010, 08:48 AM

Try this:
http://www.GenesisReefSystems.com

Dustin1300 · 10/02/2010, 09:00 AM

Those are some nice unites marinelife. I use the LMIII and it works perfectly but maybe I can do one of these and use the LMIII for my two part dosing and mag?

I think this poster was looking for an automated way to add the salt itself and already has a way that it is automated.

marcin11379 · 10/07/2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

Those are some nice unites marinelife. I use the LMIII and it works perfectly but maybe I can do one of these and use the LMIII for my two part dosing and mag?

I think this poster was looking for an automated way to add the salt itself and already has a way that it is automated.

Thank you Dustin for catch . Yes I looking for adding salt to my R/O water . I got pumps set up for automatic water change. But salt i want add automatically.I can install a salinity probe in R/o water where salt lending

FearTheTerps · 10/07/2010, 10:30 PM

wouldnt it make better sense to have a large batch of new salt water for your water change and only use a portion of it for your water change? it sounds like you are planning to do small waters changes everyday, something like 1%. if you put your new salt water in something like a 30 gallon brute, and you were doing 1 or 2 gallons a day, you would only need to make new salt water once or twice a month. mixing the water yourself rather then mixing it automaticly would give you some peace of mind that all your levels are in order, and it wouldnt take much effort only being done a few times a month.

Dustin1300 · 10/08/2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearTheTerps

wouldnt it make better sense to have a large batch of new salt water for your water change and only use a portion of it for your water change? it sounds like you are planning to do small waters changes everyday, something like 1%. if you put your new salt water in something like a 30 gallon brute, and you were doing 1 or 2 gallons a day, you would only need to make new salt water once or twice a month. mixing the water yourself rather then mixing it automaticly would give you some peace of mind that all your levels are in order, and it wouldnt take much effort only being done a few times a month.

Exactly as I earlier stated. I use a 44 gallon Brute for my top off lime water and another for my saltwater. My LMIII does the remainder of the work

Dwyer · 10/08/2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearTheTerps

wouldnt it make better sense to have a large batch of new salt water for your water change and only use a portion of it for your water change? it sounds like you are planning to do small waters changes everyday, something like 1%. if you put your new salt water in something like a 30 gallon brute, and you were doing 1 or 2 gallons a day, you would only need to make new salt water once or twice a month. mixing the water yourself rather then mixing it automaticly would give you some peace of mind that all your levels are in order, and it wouldnt take much effort only being done a few times a month.

I think this is the safest/best method.

marcin11379 · 10/10/2010, 09:15 PM

Thank you for Ideas .But my R/O i connected with 35 gallon brute and when water change is down is feeling up automatically then my salinity is lover .so i have to keep adding salt every day to keep salinity in level.

GhostCon1 · 10/10/2010, 09:25 PM

Your salinity should be raising with evaporation.

ahud · 10/10/2010, 10:05 PM

He said his RO/Di unit is connected, so when he does a water change the RO/DI unit kicks on and dilutes his salt water.

Why not just mix up a batch and cut off your RO/DI connected to your brute? Use all the water and cut it back on.

FearTheTerps · 10/10/2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahud

He said his RO/Di unit is connected, so when he does a water change the RO/DI unit kicks on and dilutes his salt water.

Why not just mix up a batch and cut off your RO/DI connected to your brute? Use all the water and cut it back on.

+1

I dont like the idea of having my RODI unit on all the time, Ive flooded my floors enough forgetting that I left it on. Even having a float switch to shut it off is still worrisome if it fails. I always turn the water supply line off. I only used about 50 gallons of water a month so it doesnt take much time for my RODI unit to fill my brute up with water and then mix up my salt water.

Also, if you do plan to have your salt added automaticly, I would worry about the salt not fully dissolving in the water. Unless you have the flow really high I would think that some of the salt would settle on the bottom of the brute. Whenever I mix my salt I always have a ton of salt that settles to the bottom, but I dump 30 gallons worth of salt in at once. I have to reach in and stir the salt around to get it fully dissolved. Not sure if it would have the same effect on a small amount of salt.

lordofthereef · 10/11/2010, 12:46 AM

In my eyes, the above suggestion is the best. Even if you had an automatic doser, unless it was measuring the amount of salt added itself, you would still need to measure out one cup batches of salt at some point. What I would do in your situation is add a float valve to the Brute (you may already have done this). Also add a manual shutoff valve to the line connected to the brute. When you mix up your 40 gallons of water, do it all at once. When you get down to the minimum level of water that needs to be in the bucket for the pump to work, open that valve. Your water will fill slowly but be shut off once it gets high enough by the float valve. At some point that day you will need to dump your salt into the container and switch that valve off so that the RO doesn;t keep flowing into the system.

It sounds like you are doing two gallon water changes per day (based on your 1 cup of salt measurment per day). Automating your system the way I have described would get you at least two weeks where you don't have to do anything with your water change system.

You can even get clever and add some electronic float switches to turn things on/off based on how low the "clean" saltwater receptacle gets (in case you forget to fill it back up on your two week schedule).

lordofthereef · 10/11/2010, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearTheTerps

+1

Also, if you do plan to have your salt added automaticly, I would worry about the salt not fully dissolving in the water. Unless you have the flow really high I would think that some of the salt would settle on the bottom of the brute. Whenever I mix my salt I always have a ton of salt that settles to the bottom, but I dump 30 gallons worth of salt in at once. I have to reach in and stir the salt around to get it fully dissolved. Not sure if it would have the same effect on a small amount of salt.

An easy fix for this is to have a powerhead pointing directly at the bottom of the tub. I like to use a koralia since they are inexpensive and easy to attach with the magnetic mounts.

Dustin1300 · 10/11/2010, 04:14 AM

I agree with the two posters above. I have mine set up exactly how lordofthereef mentioned where I have a float valve to my Brute. Float valves WILL fail and I only have it should I forget about the RO/DI unit going at the times that I make a new saltwater mix....

Another point I'd like to add is that it is better for your RO/DI unit to run in large batches rather than starting and stopping all the time.

marcin11379 · 10/13/2010, 08:33 PM

it is so simple. With my setup i think i need only something what i connect to power bar connected with Profilux controller and salinity probe in brute. After water change and new feel up with R/O Profilux will pick low level of salinity and will turn on "something " what can add two caps of salt in 24 hours time.This was my plan.I was thinking about something like this

http://www.brookstone.com/Programmab...:referralID=NA

What you think?

marcin11379 · 10/13/2010, 08:34 PM

ti is only $110.00

10/01/2010, 08:32 PM	#1
marcin11379 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 84	automatic salt doser I like to do my water change automatic.I set up all ready pumps for water change , but i steal have to ad salt manually to my mixing bracket.Anyone can help my with something what i can use to ad one cup of salt every day.This mast by electric 110 .Something like automatic feeder, but large.

10/02/2010, 08:48 AM	#6
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	Try this: http://www.GenesisReefSystems.com __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

10/10/2010, 09:25 PM	#13
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	Your salinity should be raising with evaporation. __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

10/11/2010, 12:46 AM	#16
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	In my eyes, the above suggestion is the best. Even if you had an automatic doser, unless it was measuring the amount of salt added itself, you would still need to measure out one cup batches of salt at some point. What I would do in your situation is add a float valve to the Brute (you may already have done this). Also add a manual shutoff valve to the line connected to the brute. When you mix up your 40 gallons of water, do it all at once. When you get down to the minimum level of water that needs to be in the bucket for the pump to work, open that valve. Your water will fill slowly but be shut off once it gets high enough by the float valve. At some point that day you will need to dump your salt into the container and switch that valve off so that the RO doesn;t keep flowing into the system. It sounds like you are doing two gallon water changes per day (based on your 1 cup of salt measurment per day). Automating your system the way I have described would get you at least two weeks where you don't have to do anything with your water change system. You can even get clever and add some electronic float switches to turn things on/off based on how low the "clean" saltwater receptacle gets (in case you forget to fill it back up on your two week schedule). __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Automatically Feeding Evansi Anthias	inktomi	Reef Fishes	15	09/07/2010 06:35 AM
What can I use for automatic feeding?	strike2867	Reef Discussion	1	08/14/2010 03:37 PM
Water Heater and Salt Question for Noob	tengquen	New to the Hobby	7	01/02/2010 04:23 PM
Thinking of buying automatic drip doser system (How many things should I be dosing)	saltman1	Reef Discussion	1	03/04/2008 10:36 AM

10/01/2010, 09:01 PM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Automation is nice but comes a point where it becomes too much. This sounds like a place where lots of errors can happen and can really keep you from keeping up with the tank. I personally automate automatic water changes daily as well as top off but just use two 44 gallon Brute trash cans which does not require a lot of mixing. This maintenance is minmal and I'd look to invest your time/money otherwise.

10/01/2010, 09:36 PM	#3
marcin11379 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 84	How you adding salt to your RO?Manually?

10/01/2010, 10:45 PM	#4
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	i'm pretty sure almost everyone adds their salt manually. i know i'd like to be sure it's the correct salinity rather than relying on a machine.

10/02/2010, 06:57 AM	#5
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Yeah....Since RO/DI water is better to make in large batches here is my process for my saltwater mixture: - Turn off my two pumps on LMIII doing my automatic water changes - Start RO/DI and let fill my brute (Use float valve in my Brutes) - By end of day I have a full Brute and add the salt and have a pump in the brute that keeps the water moving. - I then check the salt a couple times and adjust the next day to make sure it is 1.025 like my DT - Turn LMIII pumps back on for the automatic water changes Not manually adding your salt could be a real disaster. I know fish can deal with a drop in salinity but a large spike in salinity can be a disaster. Coral just not liking a change either way.

10/02/2010, 09:00 AM	#7
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Those are some nice unites marinelife. I use the LMIII and it works perfectly but maybe I can do one of these and use the LMIII for my two part dosing and mag? I think this poster was looking for an automated way to add the salt itself and already has a way that it is automated.

10/07/2010, 10:30 PM	#9
FearTheTerps Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hagerstown, Maryland Posts: 87	wouldnt it make better sense to have a large batch of new salt water for your water change and only use a portion of it for your water change? it sounds like you are planning to do small waters changes everyday, something like 1%. if you put your new salt water in something like a 30 gallon brute, and you were doing 1 or 2 gallons a day, you would only need to make new salt water once or twice a month. mixing the water yourself rather then mixing it automaticly would give you some peace of mind that all your levels are in order, and it wouldnt take much effort only being done a few times a month.

10/10/2010, 09:15 PM	#12
marcin11379 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 84	Thank you for Ideas .But my R/O i connected with 35 gallon brute and when water change is down is feeling up automatically then my salinity is lover .so i have to keep adding salt every day to keep salinity in level.

10/10/2010, 10:05 PM	#14
ahud Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 519	He said his RO/Di unit is connected, so when he does a water change the RO/DI unit kicks on and dilutes his salt water. Why not just mix up a batch and cut off your RO/DI connected to your brute? Use all the water and cut it back on.

10/11/2010, 04:14 AM	#18
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I agree with the two posters above. I have mine set up exactly how lordofthereef mentioned where I have a float valve to my Brute. Float valves WILL fail and I only have it should I forget about the RO/DI unit going at the times that I make a new saltwater mix.... Another point I'd like to add is that it is better for your RO/DI unit to run in large batches rather than starting and stopping all the time.

10/13/2010, 08:33 PM	#19
marcin11379 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 84	it is so simple. With my setup i think i need only something what i connect to power bar connected with Profilux controller and salinity probe in brute. After water change and new feel up with R/O Profilux will pick low level of salinity and will turn on "something " what can add two caps of salt in 24 hours time.This was my plan.I was thinking about something like this http://www.brookstone.com/Programmab...:referralID=NA What you think?

10/13/2010, 08:34 PM	#20
marcin11379 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 84	ti is only $110.00