Auto matic water change

gonewild34 · Jan 25, 2017

Has any body ever set up pumps to have the pumps drain and fill with fresh salt water on a daily bases if so how did it work for u thinking of doin think on my new setup

Diesel · Jan 25, 2017

Yes there are a few and the most trust worth one on the market is the genesis.

http://genesisreefsystems.com/products/automatic-water-change-systems/

You can do it yourself as there are programs for that on a controller like a Neptune APEX but you need to know how to fix it if something goes wrong.

Rick.45cal · Jan 25, 2017

I use a DÕS to do automatic continuous water changes. Very simple and elegant system. It's only been running about 3 weeks but it's worked very well so far. (It isn't silent, but mine isn't in a place where it is obnoxious). In the short time it has been running I have never seen one singular change make such a huge impact in the entire tank like AWC has. Totally worth every penny.

My only regret is not setting it up sooner

Jbod77 · Jan 25, 2017

I use a stenner dual head peristaltic pump. It's rated fixed at 170 gpd. I have it set up to come on for 30 mins every morning. Best thing I ever did. Ever.

gonewild34 · Jan 26, 2017

I was goin to install a pump in the sump where the water comes in from the display tank and a pump in the the fresh salt tank to pump it in to the chamber where the return pump is have the pumps on a apex to come on at the same time

Diesel · Jan 26, 2017

gonewild34 said:
I was goin to install a pump in the sump where the water comes in from the display tank and a pump in the the fresh salt tank to pump it in to the chamber where the return pump is have the pumps on a apex to come on at the same time

What's your secure fail save?

Jbod77 · Jan 26, 2017

I would be concerned about the pumps operating at different rates. I.e. One pumping more or less that the other. That's the benefit of peristalic pumps. It's one motor driving 2 heads so they are perfectly in sync.

Diesel · Jan 26, 2017

Jbod77 said:
I would be concerned about the pumps operating at different rates. I.e. One pumping more or less that the other. That's the benefit of peristalic pumps. It's one motor driving 2 heads so they are perfectly in sync.

That's only if the tubing you use are the same length due to frixion.
If the return is longer than the drain tubing in the long run you will see a difference.
But yeah it's always better than just two pumps.

SethOF · Jan 26, 2017

I have been using the Neptune DOS for a year without any problems.

I remove and replace 150 mls every 15 minutes from 3:00 am to 6:00 am, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 10: pm. The total removed/replaced is 2700 mls daily. The 2 pumps run at different times, I remove first and then replace. For example 3:01 to 3:15 am remove, 3:16 to 3:30 am replace. I have an Osmolator ATO that I turn off during the water exchange.

I have now incorporated a kalk reactor that is lowering my salinity, so I plan to experiment with a second salinity controlled AWC from a container that has hyperosmolar new salt water. The plan is to remove a little more than being replaced with my desired NSW, but with fresh RO/DI water lowering salinity make it up from another container with a higher than the target salinity for example regular NSW will have a salinity of 1026, but the hyperosmolar NSW will have 1035.

Keeping fingers crossed.

BlueCursor · Jan 26, 2017

+1 on Neptune DOS and 1% daily water changes. Every two weeks I have to file the new saltwater reservoir, and that's it for 2 weeks! The rest is automatic.

monkiboy · Jan 26, 2017

gonewild34 said:
Has any body ever set up pumps to have the pumps drain and fill with fresh salt water on a daily bases if so how did it work for u thinking of doin think on my new setup

yes, there's lots of folks that have and feedback in this thread - https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/automatic-water-changes-it-doesnt-get-any-better-then-this.141619/

i've used stenners on maybe ten or so setups without issue. great service, easily replaceable parts (wear & tear parts are even included in for replacement/maitenance with each) , very affordable solution, and reliable company.