Alkatronic setup location advice please

[Rst]

I just received my Alkatronic. To all those who have their alkatronic working, can you please give me some advise about the location that I am thinking of placing this unit. Currently I have my 18” high sump tank sitting on a table top with enough extra room to place the Alkatronic on to as well. But if the unit is sitting in this location beside the sump upright on the table top, it means that the alkatronic unit’s supply/return lines will need to go up along long way (likely 9-16”) from the side nozzles (depending on which nozzle) to the top rim of of sump tank and then need to go back down 5” just to reach the top of my sump’s water level. Also I am concerned that if there are any spills, the Alkatronic might be too close for safety.
My location options are quite limited. The one wall is already packed with tons of Apex and the sump tank already blocks easy access to this wall (the sump is 24” wide). So will this contemplated location on the sump’s tank table top work ok with the Alkatronic?

 

[DSC reef]

I dont have any experience with the alkatronic but I'm sure there's members on here that do. Here's a bump.

 

[mitch91175]

If you can, make a small table so to speak in your stand like I did.

Be sure to not have the water in line pull from the same section of your sump where you dose dKH.

 

[markstubb]

Mine sits on the floor next to my sump and fuge. Hasn’t been an issue.

 

[Rst]

Do the horizontal and vertical distances of the dosing tubes have a distance limit or recommended maximums?

 

[mitch91175]

Do the horizontal and vertical distances of the dosing tubes have a distance limit or recommended maximums?

I do recall in the manual that there is a suggested limit, but I didn’t break out the tape measure when setting mine up and haven’t run into any issues with get accurate measurements.

 

[markstubb]

I do recall in the manual that there is a suggested limit, but I didn’t break out the tape measure when setting mine up and haven’t run into any issues with get accurate measurements.

same. it's in the manual but I think it's pretty reasonable. the general rule is to keep them as short as reasonably possible, but not entirely sure what impact it has other than possibly raising or lowering the test result by some factor - but that factor should be constant, which is all you really care about when getting test results. Most folks get entirely too hung up on the number of the result, but as long as all of your different test kits put you in the range you're wanting to be in, the main thing you should be concerned about long term is the variability of the test results and not the number itself. I know my dKh is around 9 all the time, but depending on the test kit I use, it may be higher or lower than that number. All I care about is that the result is consistent at this point.

 

[Rst]

Mine sits on the floor next to my sump and fuge. Hasn’t been an issue.

Hi Mark,
So do you think I shouldn’t worry about my lines needed to draw up to 15” higher to the to of my sump will be any concern? Kind of nervous about my long distances. Thanks for your input & reply.

 

[Rst]

I do recall in the manual that there is a suggested limit, but I didn’t break out the tape measure when setting mine up and haven’t run into any issues with get accurate measurements.

Mitch, thanks for responding. Maybe I am a bit too worried about getting this right.

 

[mitch91175]

Mitch, thanks for responding. Maybe I am a bit too worried about getting this right.

Honestly think you'll be fine with with 15". I have about that same length for drawing in my water line in. The unit actually has a wash out mode too:

 

[mitch91175]

Hi Mark,
So do you think I shouldn’t worry about my lines needed to draw up to 15” higher to the to of my sump will be any concern? Kind of nervous about my long distances. Thanks for your input & reply.

 

[mitch91175]

Absolutely shouldn't be worried about 15" with this conversion below:

 

[Rst]

Mitch, your posts are making me much more comfortable. Really appreciate your input.
Thanks, Ron

 

[mitch91175]

Mitch, your posts are making me much more comfortable. Really appreciate your input.
Thanks, Ron

If you are wanting the best unit on the market, hands down it is the Alkatronic. Don’t know much about the others in actual use cases (beside the KH Guardian - support is lacking), but I personally am happy with my decision for the Alkatronic. You can see from my review thread that I was highly upset at first, but they stepped up and did right by us early adopters. Is the unit perfect, I’d say no. Are those imperfections deal breakers, I say no again. Little stuff like getting it setup can be somewhat frustrating (but once done you’re like that was actually easy, lol) and minor iOS/Android app tweaks (which are all being worked out).

 

[Rst]

If you can think of any specific setup advise that you think should be emphasized before or while I or others go thru this process, let us know. Really good to hear that Alkatronic is now working well for you. Hope I can repeat your success. I currently don’t expect to begin the setup process for at least mid week.
Thanks