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Very interesting. Since I am using the Trition method I need to measure the alk every day, and this would be a big help. Since I don't use any controllers, would your device give me the alk reading on the box with a probe in the water? Like the pinpoint ph monitors?
Dick Flanagan
Thanks for answer, i realize you are busy at the moment;-). Well, then I understand, you have made a "salifertrobot", aka, automatic titration device. Do you have a photosensor which tell colourshift and then count the amount acid to that point? and then convert this amount of acid to a voltage in the BNC?. That is very cool, and a smart way, excluding the need of infrared sensors measuring CO2. I still wonder why the measurement fluctuates during photoperiod? After realizing the main mechanism of you excellent invention, i guess this is due to KH and Ca consumption(and not CO2-consumption) by calcification that is more rapid during light period. If you can confirm this i am satisfied with my very first question and again: impressed work, and wish you all luck to getting this device on the market I am impressedI am not calculating dKH from other parameters.
Yes, you can treat waste and rinse lines as you suggest. I've dabbled with doing a similar Ca monitor, but put that idea on the "back burner" so that I could just focus on getting the Alkalinity prototype as ready as possible for MACNA in the short time I had.
Yes, Jonas, the diurnal swing I observe and describe is due to two factors: (1) I dose Randy's Recipe #1 in small increments evenly throughout the day, so alkalinity supplementation is constant, and (2) Alkalinity demand increases during the day when corals are actively calcifying, and is substantially reduced at night when this process slows significantly.Thanks for answer, i realize you are busy at the moment;-). Well, then I understand, you have made a "salifertrobot", aka, automatic titration device. Do you have a photosensor which tell colourshift and then count the amount acid to that point? and then convert this amount of acid to a voltage in the BNC?. That is very cool, and a smart way, excluding the need of infrared sensors measuring CO2. I still wonder why the measurement fluctuates during photoperiod? After realizing the main mechanism of you excellent invention, i guess this is due to KH and Ca consumption(and not CO2-consumption) by calcification that is more rapid during light period. If you can confirm this i am satisfied with my very first question and again: impressed work, and wish you all luck to getting this device on the market I am impressed
Regards
Jonas Roman
I was not aware of this limitation of the GHL Profilux controller. It could be addressed, however, by providing an option to report the units in meq/L instead of dKH. The lower limit of 3.5, when expressed as meq/L, translates to a value of 9.8 dKH, so there is an "overlap" between 9.8 dKH and 10.5 dKH where the user has the option to change units, so the entire range at which people tend to keep tanks could still be covered. The current device has the ability to output a pH probe voltage within a "pH" range of 0.0 - 14.0.However - I can see one limit – at least according to GHL profilux. Their pH controller does not measure higher pH than 10.5 and lower than 3.5. It means that you are only able to use the computer for regulation in the range of 3.5 – 10.5 in KH if I have understand the things right.
Holy crap, it took about 12 minutes to register a change from 7 to 11 dkh?!
Hmmm.... Perhaps it's not applicable to emergencies..
Holy crap, it took about 12 minutes to register a change from 7 to 11 dkh?!
Hmmm.... Perhaps it's not applicable to emergencies..
Most people that have a disaster like that happen while they are out to dinner for a couple of hours. For example you do a water change, clean your skimmer, and grab a meal. Your ATO full of kalkwasser dumps in a week's worth and you come home to a milky tank (true story that happened to a local club member). To have the Alkalinity Monitor measure THAT often to avoid any type of risk would be costly in reagent. If you had it set to run twice a day, odds are it wouldn't be testing while you're having dinner. Of course you could program it to run continuously and then set it back to normal when you get home. But how paranoid are you? hehehe I sleep every day and wake up to see how my reef is doing, and yes Murphy may strike at any time. Gotta find that happy medium, or go full on OCD and pay to have someone stand next to your tank ready to act.
Good point! It should spike in pH, yes.Wouldn't the PH probe catch that?
I was not aware of this limitation of the GHL Profilux controller. It could be addressed, however, by providing an option to report the units in meq/L instead of dKH. The lower limit of 3.5, when expressed as meq/L, translates to a value of 9.8 dKH, so there is an "overlap" between 9.8 dKH and 10.5 dKH where the user has the option to change units, so the entire range at which people tend to keep tanks could still be covered. The current device has the ability to output a pH probe voltage within a "pH" range of 0.0 - 14.0.
I love Jim's device
If you wouldn't mind PM'ing the link to said review I'd be eternally grateful.Thanks Dave. I will likely cover this in a publication hosted somewhere else. Please let me know if you change your policy about that kind of sharing of information.