Alkatronic Users Thread
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Silver14SS
Valuable Member
https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/alkatronic-alkalinity-controller-batch-3-focustronic/
Shows in stock here. I ordered from here and with their rewards got a free ICP test.
Shows in stock here. I ordered from here and with their rewards got a free ICP test.
Wasatch.Wired
New Member
I have not heard of a single defective unit so far, and for that reason I'm going to keep trying with mine. Hanna Checker says 9.7, Red Sea alk check says 10, and Salifert says 10.3. I'm pretty sure that my Alkalinity is around 10. Alkatronics unit setup Last Friday night started at 15. And after a retest, "please restart". I haven't dosed since setting it up. The Alkalinity started falling and got down to 11.5. But whenever it did a scheduled test, the results were out of range 13+. The only time I get a maybe normal result is when I manually initiate a test. Troubleshooting so far.
Verified length of tubing. Water In: 18" up and over the lip of the tank. Filter on, zip tied to my salinity probe. Water out is 12" into a jug. The jug is lower than the unit. Reagent tube is the same length it was when I pulled it out of the box. It is pushed through a hole in a plastic jug. Water in Calibration always hit 52ml. Reagent Calibration always hits 10.5. Water out tube is touching the bottom of the beaker. Reagent in is snapped into place. And Water in tubing is snapped in and resting at the stop point. pH probe calibrated twice. I have made 2 batches of reagent with a priming/calibration between switches. Ideas?
Verified length of tubing. Water In: 18" up and over the lip of the tank. Filter on, zip tied to my salinity probe. Water out is 12" into a jug. The jug is lower than the unit. Reagent tube is the same length it was when I pulled it out of the box. It is pushed through a hole in a plastic jug. Water in Calibration always hit 52ml. Reagent Calibration always hits 10.5. Water out tube is touching the bottom of the beaker. Reagent in is snapped into place. And Water in tubing is snapped in and resting at the stop point. pH probe calibrated twice. I have made 2 batches of reagent with a priming/calibration between switches. Ideas?
mitch91175
2500 Club Member
I have not heard of a single defective unit so far, and for that reason I'm going to keep trying with mine. Hanna Checker says 9.7, Red Sea alk check says 10, and Salifert says 10.3. I'm pretty sure that my Alkalinity is around 10. Alkatronics unit setup Last Friday night started at 15. And after a retest, "please restart". I haven't dosed since setting it up. The Alkalinity started falling and got down to 11.5. But whenever it did a scheduled test, the results were out of range 13+. The only time I get a maybe normal result is when I manually initiate a test. Troubleshooting so far.
Verified length of tubing. Water In: 18" up and over the lip of the tank. Filter on, zip tied to my salinity probe. Water out is 12" into a jug. The jug is lower than the unit. Reagent tube is the same length it was when I pulled it out of the box. It is pushed through a hole in a plastic jug. Water in Calibration always hit 52ml. Reagent Calibration always hits 10.5. Water out tube is touching the bottom of the beaker. Reagent in is snapped into place. And Water in tubing is snapped in and resting at the stop point. pH probe calibrated twice. I have made 2 batches of reagent with a priming/calibration between switches. Ideas?
Have you tried to make sure that the reagent you mixed is correct? I know there are some instructions to confirm the mix some where. Here is the Facebook group too:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/168117720788273/
I have a few questions. Going to set up my Alkatronic this weekend.
1. I use Apex Dos using Bulk Reef Supply Alk & Cal. Can I use the BRS ALK to dose from the Alkatronic?
2. I currently Dose 110ml a day of ALK with Apex Dos. Can the Alkatronic dose that much Daily?
3. Should I continue to use Apex Dos and just have Alkatronic monitor Alk?
4. What is the Max distance the unit can be from the sump?
Thanks
1. I use Apex Dos using Bulk Reef Supply Alk & Cal. Can I use the BRS ALK to dose from the Alkatronic?
2. I currently Dose 110ml a day of ALK with Apex Dos. Can the Alkatronic dose that much Daily?
3. Should I continue to use Apex Dos and just have Alkatronic monitor Alk?
4. What is the Max distance the unit can be from the sump?
Thanks
I am by no means an expert, but here is what I understand...
1. Yes. That is what I'm doing.
2. Probably, but that is not the intent. Use the DOS for your main Alk additions, let the Alkatronic add a little more if you are low.
3. See #2. You can use the Alkatronic to monitor, or to add a little extra Alk. Up to you.
4. Directions say tubing to be no longer than 3 feet. The reason I believe this is as follows:
Alkatronic in resting state has tank water in the testing beaker to keep pH prob wet. To begin a test, it pumps the water in the beaker to "backflush" the filter. Then it draws new tank water into the beaker. If the line is too long, it might not get all the old water out of the tubing, which may affect the test result.
Coralvue has a nice setup video which I found to be very helpful.
Good Luck. I've only had mine for two months, but I like it so far.
1. Yes. That is what I'm doing.
2. Probably, but that is not the intent. Use the DOS for your main Alk additions, let the Alkatronic add a little more if you are low.
3. See #2. You can use the Alkatronic to monitor, or to add a little extra Alk. Up to you.
4. Directions say tubing to be no longer than 3 feet. The reason I believe this is as follows:
Alkatronic in resting state has tank water in the testing beaker to keep pH prob wet. To begin a test, it pumps the water in the beaker to "backflush" the filter. Then it draws new tank water into the beaker. If the line is too long, it might not get all the old water out of the tubing, which may affect the test result.
Coralvue has a nice setup video which I found to be very helpful.
Good Luck. I've only had mine for two months, but I like it so far.
Yes the manual says up to 1.5 meters, but shorter is better. Carlos says 3 feet in the video. I'm drawing water from the display tank as its closer to where I was able to put the Alkatronic. I used an airstone I broke in half and connected it to the filter with a short length of airline to weigh it down. I'd send you a link, but it is currently unavailable from Amazon.
I have a Redsea 750. The alkatronic is being placed on right compartment of stand. Sump water going to the unit has to climb/suctioned around 2’ and then down to unit another 2’. Do you think that will be an issue?
LimestoneCowboy
Community Member
Does anyone know how to turn off the reminder to "calibrate pump D"? We only use our Alkatronic for measuring alk. Thx
LimestoneCowboy
Community Member
I think I just found it.
When the latest firmware updated, it turned action mode back to "on". I just turned it off again and will see if that stops it in case that helps anyone else. Thank you
LimestoneCowboy
Community Member
I think I just found it. When the latest firmware updated, it turned action mode back to "on". I just turned it off again and will see if that stops it in case that helps anyone else. Thank you
BrianReefer
Well-Known Member
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I've had the same, if i unplug/plug back in, then open up the app without first connecting to the wifi URL, it reconnects via Bluetooth for me.
smartwater101
Valuable Member
Yes, Alkatronic puts out a signal that Apex can read through the PH/ORP port.
This os from my Apex dashboard.
I'm curious why your readings are so stair-steppy. Is that just because you're daily readings are so stable?
