Constant Water Change System

Liquid360

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Just curious... I change my water at a rate of 5% a week on a 90g system. Why don't I read about more people creating a pump n dump system to fully automate water changes? Perhaps I just don't read enough posts or is it just not done for some reason?
 
The Litermeter one is nice because it is way more simple, it's just two remote module pumps, one pulls out and the other add in new saltwater. I think it does about a gallon at a time, or perhaps it does a constant small exchange throughout every day. The Genesis one seems kind goofy, lots of little parts, controllers, and bucket things involved. Not sure how I feel about that.
 
I agree! The litermeter does look like what I imagined! I see one in my future! Thanks for the link!!
 
Every bit of automation is a double edged sword - what if it sticks on or off, or breaks down? Some automations are worth it.

I know people who've spent bux (>$1000 in valves alone) on fully auto water change systems and after living with them a while never use them again.

I wouldn't say don't do it, but I would say to make sure you give it plenty of thought beforehand. Ease of use and fool proofing are paramount IME.

-Matt
 
A club member had pumps set on timers. A pump would come on for one minute to take water from his sump up to the quarantine tank providing cycled water. The Q tank would overflow down into a drain for waste water. A minute later the pump in his saltwater holding tank would come on and replace the water taken from the sump.
 
You might want to consider doing it yourself with an Apex (or other controller) and a Salinity probe. The main problem I would see is working it in with the ATO and maintaining a constant salinity. Between the ATO, Skimmer, Outflow, Inflow, evaporation, salt creep, and any dosing keeping the salinity in check may be a challenge. The weekly water change gives you a chance to manually adjust the salinity up or down slightly (usually up a little).

With the Apex you could dump X amount of gallons per day down the drain and then allow the ATO and salinity probe with a salt water reservoir to handle the replacement water and salinity up/down. I am sure there is some code already written to handle something like this, but if there isn't the code wouldn't be too complex.

Make sure you have a lab-grade probe. I have a pinpoint consumer level probe and it is a HUGE pain in the butt because it doesn't stay calibrated for a long time. The regular salinity probes aren't like pH probes where they are fine (or at least very close) for a really long time - I would hope the Lab-Grade probe would be a little better.

You could do it really simple with the 2 pumps like suggested above, but I would always be worried about timer inaccuracies, pumps not being consistent, something getting stuck, etc. And you could have to check salinity constantly to make sure it isn't way off.
 
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Great in theory
Poor execution in reality.

There's more things that can go wrong with it then there are benefits

IMO
 
Might want to equate into your thinking how long mixed saltwater will be stored for. With three large tanks and two small ones and auto top offs I consider me to be a constant water changer. I don't mix saltwater that isn't going to be used in two days max.
 
Id just have two pumps setup with the mixed saltwater ready to go and do it as part of weekly maint. U need to check and maintain the tanks at least once a week anyway. Its easy enought to flick a switch and watch tje water pump out and in for a few min and never have to worry about some mechanical failure when ir not around.:eek:

Sent from my GT-I9100M using Tapatalk 2
 
Liter meters are awesome. Ideally you want two holding tanks. One to mix salt water and one to hold mixed saltwater. You don't really want to be mixing in the tank that the auto water changer is in because it turns on about 150 times per day taking out and putting in water. Last thing you want is it to turn on when your holding tank isn't mixed. I know a few people that have them and try wouldn't do it any other way. I personally don't have one just because I don't have room for holding tanks.
 

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