Timer & pH control on Ca reactor

[DaveWC]

This can't be that difficult, but I can't figure it out. How would you set a program to open a co2 solenoid for a ca reactor so it will only open during the day, but then have a pH probe in the reactor open/close the solenoid on the basis of a targe pH value? I tried with a timer program & pH program and it will work during the day but at night the pH program continues to open/close the solenoid even though the timer has set the solenoid to be shut off.

[ik2vov]

Hi DaveWC,
why do you want to close co2 in the night? I usually leave it open 24H.

You already programmed as I imagine to do in your case, I'm going to try right now and I'll tell you later if it works to me....

Bye

[DaveWC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8725687#post8725687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1diverdown
just to reiterate....the reason why you don't want to run the reactor 24/7 is if the unit is pumping out water at an 80+dKh range and you don't know it (or even if you do i guess), there is a good chance that you will get your reef dKh up around 18 or higher and end up with a snow storm in your reef. there are a few people who i know run it 24/7, but that is because they have an enormous sps load with a huge volume of water. it's mainly a safety precaution.


I may end up running it 24/7 as well. But I'm sure another instance will come up where you want something to be controlled by a timer and a device. For instance many people only run kalk at night. The only way I can think that they could do this is to set a timer for night time and run it in intervals of X seconds rather then controlling it by the pH.

[DaveWC]

p.s. does anyone know why the link to the original thread in the Quote doesn't work? I always seem to get it show up wrong.

[ik2vov]

Ok DaveWC,
pH programs override timers programs, I mean that for the controller the probe program have more importance then the timer program so let work the probe program.... (I hope to be understood)

Tomorrow I'll ask to Aquatronica if it's possible to choose the program that have to be more important or to give the possibility to use the timer programs on the XY programs.... I think this can be a future implementation, this would solve your request.

About reactor, I use it for 24H because I think it's better not to stop it so you can keep the calcium and kh at the same level continuously. I think that if you tune your reactor correctly you have the right output for all the 24H, if you let it work 12H you have to make it work harder for 12H and stop it for the other 12, for my experience I don't' like it.

Apologize for my bad english and explanation.

Bye

[RobbyG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8728421#post8728421 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveWC
This can't be that difficult, but I can't figure it out. How would you set a program to open a co2 solenoid for a ca reactor so it will only open during the day, but then have a pH probe in the reactor open/close the solenoid on the basis of a targe pH value? I tried with a timer program & pH program and it will work during the day but at night the pH program continues to open/close the solenoid even though the timer has set the solenoid to be shut off.

You cant do it, the pH probe is always going to have priority over the timer. The best suggestion I can make is that you use the timer and set the pH program to only turn off the co2 solenoid if the the pH gets to low

BTW IK2VOV is right, it's better to just let the pH probe run the Co2 and forget the timer. I leave mine on 24/7.

[RonBuck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8729211#post8729211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RobbyG
You cant do it, the pH probe is always going to have priority over the timer. The best suggestion I can make is that you use the timer and set the pH program to only turn off the co2 solenoid if the the pH gets to low

BTW IK2VOV is right, it's better to just let the pH probe run the Co2 and forget the timer. I leave mine on 24/7.

RobbyG is correct, Using the correct PH perameters is the best way to control your calcium reactor. It will keep your calcium at a constant and keep your Alk/DKH at a more consistant level.

[Dave_Pugh]

I ask this question on another forum and was given the following answer:-

>Took me a while to figure it out but it can be done. I think it is similar
>to what I do.

>I have my O3 controlled using the redox probe but only over night.

>The way to do this is to use the curve so I say between say 8am
>and11pm the target on the curve is 050, it will never go that low so it
> will never come on during those hours. Then between 11pm and 8am
> the target is 350 so if it is lower than 350 between those hours it will
> be on.

> Sounds like what you want to do but with ph?

Hope it helps

Dave