automating my tank

ezcompany · 12/21/2006, 07:12 PM

currently there are a few things i do for my tank everyday.
1. 20ml of each 2 part (esv b-ionic) in the morning and in the night
2. nightly kalkwasser topoff half a gallon
3. feeding fish twice a day

24 gallon aquapod sps system.
if i was to go on a trip, what items will i need to fully automate this process? please describe what equipment i will need, thank you!

SimilanRocks · 12/21/2006, 07:27 PM

how long is your trip? i don't think you need to topoff kalk it will be fine. you need a timer feeder for fish, any LFS/petmarts have them.

ezcompany · 12/21/2006, 07:38 PM

trip is around 3 days.
i was thinking of the tunze osmolator 3155 for water topping off needs, and a nautilus ii for dosing the 2 parts. will this work? do i need any additional parts?

rxdi · 12/21/2006, 07:49 PM

For 3 days everything will be fine. Do a water change before you leave and feed your fish a little extra before you leave. Your adding a half gallon a day so in 3 days thats only 1.5 gallons, your tank will be able to handle that. I have an auto feeder that I let run all the time. When I leave for a week or more I'll set out a couple 5 gallon jugs of top off and have a friend come over and dump some in.

psidriven · 12/21/2006, 08:13 PM

Auto top off with Kalkswassar in the top off water. Timer feeder for the fish. If the b-ionic does not evaporate quickly, you can use the auto feeder with buckets to dump premeasured dose on a timer.

ezcompany · 12/21/2006, 08:15 PM

its the calcium and alkalinity fluctuation that worries me the most.

ezcompany · 12/21/2006, 09:54 PM

and this is a densely packed sps/clam nano.

818 · 12/21/2006, 10:06 PM

Leave a small resevoir of water/kalk at a steady evap/drip rate.

Yinger · 12/21/2006, 10:08 PM

if u need a nautilis 2, let me know. i have one that i used for 2 months.

bromion · 12/21/2006, 10:20 PM

For Kalk, I take a plastic bottle, poke a hole it in (side, not bottom, so you don't get the precipitate paste in the system), run airline tubing with a valve, and drip it into my sump. Very easy, steady rate, no risk of overdosing quickly. You can probably do the same with the ESV.

JeffersonReef · 12/22/2006, 09:11 AM

I built one of those DIY kalk drippers...
http://www.reefwebsites.com/agu/kalkdrip/
I made it from a one gallon bottle... and I set it to drip one drip per second or so. It takes 8-15 hrs to drip the entire gallon. You could do a 2... or even 5 gallon version! Or buy the kent marine 5g kalk dripper. If you just drip kalk, that will keep you from any ph swings, imho. when I went to hawaii for 9 days or so, I set up 3 of the diy kalk drippers, and just had a friend get one started every 2 or 3 days... and also add fresh water to acct for any additional evap. Used auto feeder. Worked fine!
GL!

rockindacheeks · 12/22/2006, 12:11 PM

i have a tank at work that i leave unattended for 3 days all the time. I just turn my lights back so i dont lose too much water, and i feed extra and top off on Friday. I wouldnt worry too much about it if i were you...

Jimbo327 · 12/22/2006, 12:17 PM

Good luck finding a Tunze Osmolator at this time. Most places are out of stock.

If I were you, I would quickly ghetto a gravity drip system for top off or borrow someone drip doser. You can add some calcium to the water and you should be fine for 3 days. Just feed before you leave.

HenryTran · 12/22/2006, 01:25 PM

Here is what i have for automation:

Get a topoff system to top off evaporated water.

As for dosing the 2 part- i use a 2 channel dosing pump like the one you stated. I have it set up to dose for 5 days, then i have to replace the container. I use a 1 gallon water container and add the amount of the 2 part i need and fill the remainder of the container with ro water. When I replenish the chemicals, I also test my calcium and alk, so i can tweak the amount needed. It is good to keep a journal when doing this, as to keep a record of what is changing in your tank. My calcium stays around 410-415 and my alk is around 8-8.5.

Hope this helps, if you want to ask any questions, feel free to pm me.

Corriander · 12/22/2006, 01:56 PM

Get a three bodied doser and set your rates. The constant drip from them is better than using the once or twice a day 'tidal' system of adding solutions anyway. I am pretty sure Aqua Medic makes one for around $300 with independent controlls.

If you have time, you can get constant rate metering/peristaltic pumps for cheaper but you have to do the math to match your required dose.

If you want to go ghetto, add a hose fitting to the side of any rigid container with a lid. Hook it up with some soft tubing and add either a needle pinch valve, a registered tubing clamp, or a ramp tubing clamp.

If you want to get real fancy, build a partitioned container based on the average dose volumes out of acrylic. If you have the tools, it should only take a few hours and MAYBE $15 in scrap acrylic. If you don't have the tools or time . . . well . . . maybe I could build one for you.

ezcompany · 12/22/2006, 02:40 PM

i have one of those diy ghetto gallon bottle rigged up for kalk drip at night. question is, the gallon bottles have to be above the tank right? for gravity feeding?

rockindacheeks: like i said, this is a sps/clam nano, i wouldn't be worried if it was my softies tank but stability is an issue for this one.

jimbo: can i add calcium AND alkalinity in the reservoir water?

Yinger: ygpm

reefguy714: i'll check out your system tonight

corriander: i have no idea what you're talking about lol what do you mean by a 3 bodied doser? can you link me? and again, if the reservoir is well below the tank, is it still possible with all the clams and valves to have water drip into the tank above from the rigid container?

sorry if some of these questions are noob, i appreciate all your help guys

Corriander · 12/22/2006, 02:43 PM

The doser is not something I can link to . . . it is something I can make FOR you. It exists in my brain. It is just adding fixed partitions in a box so you have three smaller containers in one box for easy filling.

gravity dosers would have to be able the tank, or at least above a sump, if you have one. A peristaltic pump lets you put it anywhere you want (within a reasonable distance at least)

HenryTran · 12/22/2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ezcompany

reefguy714: i'll check out your system tonight

i think you are thinking of reefer714, not the same guy.

ezcompany · 12/22/2006, 06:42 PM

woops lol
but you're both in the same location!

12/21/2006, 07:12 PM	#1
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	automating my tank currently there are a few things i do for my tank everyday. 1. 20ml of each 2 part (esv b-ionic) in the morning and in the night 2. nightly kalkwasser topoff half a gallon 3. feeding fish twice a day 24 gallon aquapod sps system. if i was to go on a trip, what items will i need to fully automate this process? please describe what equipment i will need, thank you!

12/21/2006, 07:38 PM	#3
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	trip is around 3 days. i was thinking of the tunze osmolator 3155 for water topping off needs, and a nautilus ii for dosing the 2 parts. will this work? do i need any additional parts? __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/21/2006, 08:13 PM	#5
psidriven Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Westside Taipei Posts: 1,292	Auto top off with Kalkswassar in the top off water. Timer feeder for the fish. If the b-ionic does not evaporate quickly, you can use the auto feeder with buckets to dump premeasured dose on a timer. __________________ Trying to learn to read Chinese. Current Tank Info: 24 cube a go, baby walks

12/21/2006, 08:15 PM	#6
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	its the calcium and alkalinity fluctuation that worries me the most. __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/21/2006, 09:54 PM	#7
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	and this is a densely packed sps/clam nano. __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/21/2006, 07:27 PM	#2
SimilanRocks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: La Habra, CA Posts: 473	how long is your trip? i don't think you need to topoff kalk it will be fine. you need a timer feeder for fish, any LFS/petmarts have them.

12/21/2006, 07:49 PM	#4
rxdi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: stanton ca. Posts: 611	For 3 days everything will be fine. Do a water change before you leave and feed your fish a little extra before you leave. Your adding a half gallon a day so in 3 days thats only 1.5 gallons, your tank will be able to handle that. I have an auto feeder that I let run all the time. When I leave for a week or more I'll set out a couple 5 gallon jugs of top off and have a friend come over and dump some in.

12/21/2006, 10:06 PM	#8
818 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,759	Leave a small resevoir of water/kalk at a steady evap/drip rate. __________________ I'll be back.

12/21/2006, 10:08 PM	#9
Yinger Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Yorba Linda Posts: 3,657	if u need a nautilis 2, let me know. i have one that i used for 2 months.

12/21/2006, 10:20 PM	#10
bromion Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 2,576	For Kalk, I take a plastic bottle, poke a hole it in (side, not bottom, so you don't get the precipitate paste in the system), run airline tubing with a valve, and drip it into my sump. Very easy, steady rate, no risk of overdosing quickly. You can probably do the same with the ESV.

12/22/2006, 09:11 AM	#11
JeffersonReef Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,698	I built one of those DIY kalk drippers... http://www.reefwebsites.com/agu/kalkdrip/ I made it from a one gallon bottle... and I set it to drip one drip per second or so. It takes 8-15 hrs to drip the entire gallon. You could do a 2... or even 5 gallon version! Or buy the kent marine 5g kalk dripper. If you just drip kalk, that will keep you from any ph swings, imho. when I went to hawaii for 9 days or so, I set up 3 of the diy kalk drippers, and just had a friend get one started every 2 or 3 days... and also add fresh water to acct for any additional evap. Used auto feeder. Worked fine! GL!

12/22/2006, 12:11 PM	#12
rockindacheeks Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Corona, California Posts: 2,072	i have a tank at work that i leave unattended for 3 days all the time. I just turn my lights back so i dont lose too much water, and i feed extra and top off on Friday. I wouldnt worry too much about it if i were you... __________________ My name is Dan, and I'm a closet reefer... Current Tank Info: 28g nanocube

12/22/2006, 12:17 PM	#13
Jimbo327 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,363	Good luck finding a Tunze Osmolator at this time. Most places are out of stock. If I were you, I would quickly ghetto a gravity drip system for top off or borrow someone drip doser. You can add some calcium to the water and you should be fine for 3 days. Just feed before you leave. __________________ "If sometimes you feel little, useless, offended or depressed or get that loser feeling, always remember that you were once the fastest and most victorious sperm out of hundreds of millions..." Current Tank Info: 6gal JBJ NanoCube, DIY LED Mod, 1/15 JBJ Chiller, Tunze Osmolator, Homemade Kalkwasser Chamber

12/22/2006, 01:25 PM	#14
HenryTran Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Westminster,CA Posts: 1,311	Here is what i have for automation: Get a topoff system to top off evaporated water. As for dosing the 2 part- i use a 2 channel dosing pump like the one you stated. I have it set up to dose for 5 days, then i have to replace the container. I use a 1 gallon water container and add the amount of the 2 part i need and fill the remainder of the container with ro water. When I replenish the chemicals, I also test my calcium and alk, so i can tweak the amount needed. It is good to keep a journal when doing this, as to keep a record of what is changing in your tank. My calcium stays around 410-415 and my alk is around 8-8.5. Hope this helps, if you want to ask any questions, feel free to pm me.

12/22/2006, 01:56 PM	#15
Corriander Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 633	Get a three bodied doser and set your rates. The constant drip from them is better than using the once or twice a day 'tidal' system of adding solutions anyway. I am pretty sure Aqua Medic makes one for around $300 with independent controlls. If you have time, you can get constant rate metering/peristaltic pumps for cheaper but you have to do the math to match your required dose. If you want to go ghetto, add a hose fitting to the side of any rigid container with a lid. Hook it up with some soft tubing and add either a needle pinch valve, a registered tubing clamp, or a ramp tubing clamp. If you want to get real fancy, build a partitioned container based on the average dose volumes out of acrylic. If you have the tools, it should only take a few hours and MAYBE $15 in scrap acrylic. If you don't have the tools or time . . . well . . . maybe I could build one for you.

12/22/2006, 02:40 PM	#16
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	i have one of those diy ghetto gallon bottle rigged up for kalk drip at night. question is, the gallon bottles have to be above the tank right? for gravity feeding? rockindacheeks: like i said, this is a sps/clam nano, i wouldn't be worried if it was my softies tank but stability is an issue for this one. jimbo: can i add calcium AND alkalinity in the reservoir water? Yinger: ygpm reefguy714: i'll check out your system tonight corriander: i have no idea what you're talking about lol what do you mean by a 3 bodied doser? can you link me? and again, if the reservoir is well below the tank, is it still possible with all the clams and valves to have water drip into the tank above from the rigid container? sorry if some of these questions are noob, i appreciate all your help guys __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

12/22/2006, 02:43 PM	#17
Corriander Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 633	The doser is not something I can link to . . . it is something I can make FOR you. It exists in my brain. It is just adding fixed partitions in a box so you have three smaller containers in one box for easy filling. gravity dosers would have to be able the tank, or at least above a sump, if you have one. A peristaltic pump lets you put it anywhere you want (within a reasonable distance at least)

12/22/2006, 06:42 PM	#19
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	woops lol but you're both in the same location! __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40