Pics of my ATO setup

1SickReefer · 08/19/2006, 09:15 AM

Some pics of my ATO setup, I had an inquiry from another thread asking for pics of my setup. So here they are

I used to mix my kalk in the 44g and dose from that. I wanted to try the GEO Kalk rx so that is what I'm using now. the 44g holds RODI water.

Here is the tank

Here is the rx sitting next to the tank to the left, you can see the clear 1/4 line with the check valve going down behind the ballast

Here is my 44g in the basement and the IKS above it. Tank is right above.

A wider shot showing the other 32g Brute on the bottom I mix up my saltwater in. I have a mag 18 that pumps the fresh new water up to the tank with the flick of a switch at the tanks power strip. You can see the 3/4 rigid in the pics. the one that goes up the wall goes to the tank. the other that breaks off to the left goes to the main house drain so I can empty the brute if I need to.

Here is shot of the Float switch that controls the IKS pump via the ACIII, the ACIII also controls the PH as well with a high of 8.3 setpoint.

The RODI that is connected to the 44g and 32g brute with float valves in each brute (because I forget to shut off the JG ball valves lol) Yes it is a cheap ebay unit, but I have replaced all filters with quality ones from PurelyH2o, I also ditched the cheap horz DI and bought a real DI add-on unit from purely.
[IMG][IMG]

jnarowe · 08/19/2006, 09:32 AM

Nice setup. So when you use the doser, you have to estimate evaporation and then do small make-ups as needed?

1SickReefer · 08/19/2006, 10:05 AM

No, the IKS dosing pump is controlled by that float switch in the sump and the ACIII, so when when the sump level drops the float switch turns on the IKS which in turn feeds the kalk rx. The IKS is connected to 1 of 2 DC8 popwer strips.

Its completely automated. except for the monthly addition of new kalk. I can leave the tank for weeks and travel for work with a lot less worry. If something goes wrong the ACIII will send me a text msg, I have many ALM conditions setup so I can call home and have the wife be my hands and eyes

although her eyes will be replaced with 2 highend IP camera with remote pan tilt and zoom soon.

jnarowe · 08/19/2006, 10:12 AM

Yeah I am looking into the cameras too, but for my store so I can see what is going on while I am at home screwing around with my reef. So if the doser is signaled by a float switch, how do you protect against and over-dose of RO/DI kalk mix?

The reason why I ask is that I have a straight gravity feed float switch for my top-off and it has bit my a-s-s more than once, like when the skimmer over-skimmed or some other problem. I have fixed the skimmer issue with an auto-shutdown, but I am still interested in a safety feature to keep from lowering the salinity too much in the event of a failure like a leak.

1SickReefer · 08/19/2006, 10:34 AM

Well my ACIII has statement for the IKS pump and float switch. it states that if the PH is above 8.3 to shut down the IKS which in turn will shut down the kalk drip.

My second way is that the IKS is almost tuned to match my evap exactly. So if it was to get stuck on (which it almost runs 24/7 anyway) it will not make an impact. the kalk rx is set to stir 4 mins every 4hours. ALK is 10 CA is 420 MG 1200. no co2 in Ca reactor yet, saturated Kalk is handling my low demand. also weekly 15% wc's with TM helps too with that.

jnarowe · 08/19/2006, 10:41 AM

OK, so the doser is actually set to just deal with makeup and if the water volume were to drop for some unknown reason. it could not over dose the system by any harmful amount. I think I may get an IKS and put it in my TO loop. Where did you get yours?

1SickReefer · 08/19/2006, 11:00 AM

If the sump level were to drop more than usual the ACIII would shut the IKS pump off when PH got to 8.3 even if the sump needed water, it does that in the fall and spring when the windows are open and evap is higher and ambient Co2 is lower. Than the sump level is returned to normal at night when evap is low and PH is falling. I can see it in the graphs in Aquanotes.

I bought that pump from a fellow reefer here on RC about a year ago, I think I paid 100 for it, new they can be bought here.
http://www.iks-usa.com/pumps.html

I mounted this pump to the wall one year ago and have not touched it once for any reason expect to dial it up or down. Very nice pump IMO pricey though. I've used a masterflex peri pump in the past and this pump compares to that. Check ebay for a good but cheap peri pumps, you can definitely get one for less than 315. also here is link to a site that has several different peri pumps some for OEM apps. DC and AC model, fixed and variable flow models. I haven't tried one personally but they look nice.

IMO a peri pumps is a reef necessity.

Regards,

http://www.aptinstruments.com/Mercha...tegory_Code=P2

1SickReefer · 08/19/2006, 11:11 AM

Pretty crappy FT shot...

bond007069 · 08/19/2006, 11:37 AM

the Aquamedic SP3000 dosing might be an alternative

jnarowe · 08/19/2006, 05:12 PM

Thanks for the tips and links! I will look into it as I think it would increase my safety level.

purelyh2o · 08/24/2006, 09:15 PM

Looking good man!!!

I need to get mine back up. Now Im jealous!!

1SickReefer · 08/24/2006, 09:17 PM

Thanks Bryan

1SickReefer · 08/24/2006, 09:20 PM

Yah know, now that I look at my pics, I see that I have a 1/4 rodi line running directly above my dryers 220v receptacle. I think I shall reroute that first thing tomorrow morning.

jnarowe · 08/24/2006, 09:28 PM

what's the fun in that???

purelyh2o · 08/24/2006, 09:55 PM

lol

Like early in the morning I hope

08/19/2006, 09:15 AM	#1
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Pics of my ATO setup Some pics of my ATO setup, I had an inquiry from another thread asking for pics of my setup. So here they are I used to mix my kalk in the 44g and dose from that. I wanted to try the GEO Kalk rx so that is what I'm using now. the 44g holds RODI water. Here is the tank Here is the rx sitting next to the tank to the left, you can see the clear 1/4 line with the check valve going down behind the ballast Here is my 44g in the basement and the IKS above it. Tank is right above. A wider shot showing the other 32g Brute on the bottom I mix up my saltwater in. I have a mag 18 that pumps the fresh new water up to the tank with the flick of a switch at the tanks power strip. You can see the 3/4 rigid in the pics. the one that goes up the wall goes to the tank. the other that breaks off to the left goes to the main house drain so I can empty the brute if I need to. Here is shot of the Float switch that controls the IKS pump via the ACIII, the ACIII also controls the PH as well with a high of 8.3 setpoint. The RODI that is connected to the 44g and 32g brute with float valves in each brute (because I forget to shut off the JG ball valves lol) Yes it is a cheap ebay unit, but I have replaced all filters with quality ones from PurelyH2o, I also ditched the cheap horz DI and bought a real DI add-on unit from purely. [IMG][IMG]

08/19/2006, 09:32 AM	#2
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Nice setup. So when you use the doser, you have to estimate evaporation and then do small make-ups as needed? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

08/19/2006, 10:12 AM	#4
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Yeah I am looking into the cameras too, but for my store so I can see what is going on while I am at home screwing around with my reef. So if the doser is signaled by a float switch, how do you protect against and over-dose of RO/DI kalk mix? The reason why I ask is that I have a straight gravity feed float switch for my top-off and it has bit my a-s-s more than once, like when the skimmer over-skimmed or some other problem. I have fixed the skimmer issue with an auto-shutdown, but I am still interested in a safety feature to keep from lowering the salinity too much in the event of a failure like a leak. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

08/19/2006, 10:41 AM	#6
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	OK, so the doser is actually set to just deal with makeup and if the water volume were to drop for some unknown reason. it could not over dose the system by any harmful amount. I think I may get an IKS and put it in my TO loop. Where did you get yours? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

08/19/2006, 05:12 PM	#10
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Thanks for the tips and links! I will look into it as I think it would increase my safety level. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

08/19/2006, 10:05 AM	#3
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	No, the IKS dosing pump is controlled by that float switch in the sump and the ACIII, so when when the sump level drops the float switch turns on the IKS which in turn feeds the kalk rx. The IKS is connected to 1 of 2 DC8 popwer strips. Its completely automated. except for the monthly addition of new kalk. I can leave the tank for weeks and travel for work with a lot less worry. If something goes wrong the ACIII will send me a text msg, I have many ALM conditions setup so I can call home and have the wife be my hands and eyes although her eyes will be replaced with 2 highend IP camera with remote pan tilt and zoom soon.

08/19/2006, 10:34 AM	#5
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Well my ACIII has statement for the IKS pump and float switch. it states that if the PH is above 8.3 to shut down the IKS which in turn will shut down the kalk drip. My second way is that the IKS is almost tuned to match my evap exactly. So if it was to get stuck on (which it almost runs 24/7 anyway) it will not make an impact. the kalk rx is set to stir 4 mins every 4hours. ALK is 10 CA is 420 MG 1200. no co2 in Ca reactor yet, saturated Kalk is handling my low demand. also weekly 15% wc's with TM helps too with that.

08/19/2006, 11:00 AM	#7
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	If the sump level were to drop more than usual the ACIII would shut the IKS pump off when PH got to 8.3 even if the sump needed water, it does that in the fall and spring when the windows are open and evap is higher and ambient Co2 is lower. Than the sump level is returned to normal at night when evap is low and PH is falling. I can see it in the graphs in Aquanotes. I bought that pump from a fellow reefer here on RC about a year ago, I think I paid 100 for it, new they can be bought here. http://www.iks-usa.com/pumps.html I mounted this pump to the wall one year ago and have not touched it once for any reason expect to dial it up or down. Very nice pump IMO pricey though. I've used a masterflex peri pump in the past and this pump compares to that. Check ebay for a good but cheap peri pumps, you can definitely get one for less than 315. also here is link to a site that has several different peri pumps some for OEM apps. DC and AC model, fixed and variable flow models. I haven't tried one personally but they look nice. IMO a peri pumps is a reef necessity. Regards, http://www.aptinstruments.com/Mercha...tegory_Code=P2

08/19/2006, 11:11 AM	#8
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Pretty crappy FT shot...

08/19/2006, 11:37 AM	#9
bond007069 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,193	the Aquamedic SP3000 dosing might be an alternative

08/24/2006, 09:15 PM	#11
purelyh2o Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Altamonte Springs, FL Posts: 454	NICE!! Looking good man!!! I need to get mine back up. Now Im jealous!!

08/24/2006, 09:17 PM	#12
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Thanks Bryan

08/24/2006, 09:20 PM	#13
1SickReefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Perryville, MD Posts: 1,048	Yah know, now that I look at my pics, I see that I have a 1/4 rodi line running directly above my dryers 220v receptacle. I think I shall reroute that first thing tomorrow morning.

08/24/2006, 09:28 PM	#14
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	what's the fun in that??? __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

08/24/2006, 09:55 PM	#15
purelyh2o Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Altamonte Springs, FL Posts: 454	ZAPPPPPPP lol Like early in the morning I hope