High volume auto water change pumps?

Enderg60 · May 10, 2022

I recently got a DOS to do AWC's on my 60 gallon QT system and decided Id like to do the same for my display. The problem is the system is 800 gallons and I would like to do 10-15 gallon daily changes and using a DOS it would take running non stop to do a 15 gallon change. (15g in, 15g out, not running in and out at the same time) This just seems like a good way to burn out a pump.

So what is the best option for a higher volume AWC system? I saw the X2SR on BRS but it seems to have issues lasting more than a year.

BanjoBandito · May 10, 2022

The reef beef guys were talking about this....Ben is using a STENNER brand perstaltic pump for this very type of setup. I'm sure you could email him and ask about it. I guess it's for swimming pools.

BZOFIQ · May 10, 2022

BanjoBandito said:
The reef beef guys were talking about this....Ben is using a STENNER brand perstaltic pump for this very type of setup. I'm sure you could email him and ask about it. I guess it's for swimming pools.

Head's up, they are loud so unless it's a basement setup I can't recommend it.

New&no clue · May 10, 2022

I use the Kamoer. I do 22 gallons spread out over a day, it runs for 15min every 2 hours. If you did 10-15 gallons at one time it would take 40-60mins.

X2SR Auto Water Change Pump

The Kamoer X2SR is a WiFi-controlled, peristaltic pump designed for auto water changes and auto top-offs in your aquarium. Instead of manually transferring large buckets of water on maintenance days, you can program your X2SR to replenish water at whatever time or speed you like. You can change...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Enderg60 · May 10, 2022

I have a basement fish room so unless its stupid loud it shouldnt be an issue. But who is reef beef?

New&no clue,

how long have you been using the Kamoer?

Sean Clark · May 10, 2022

You could use two sicce ultra zero pumps with the apex or digital timers and float switch cut-offs.

WVNed · May 10, 2022

I use a Hydros XS with a WIFI power bar. You run AWC and ATO through controlled AC outlets. You can use any pump you want that runs on AC. I use 2 Maxijet 1200s to change 6 gallons a day.
But they don't have to even be the same pumps.

ZombieEngineer · May 10, 2022

The DOS can do up to 30 gallons per day with no risk to burning up the pump. It limits you to 33% duty cycle automatically as a safety precautions.

Sean Clark · May 10, 2022

ZombieEngineer said:
The DOS can do up to 30 gallons per day with no risk to burning up the pump. It limits you to 33% duty cycle automatically as a safety precautions.

But... this kind of setup requires tubing replacement maintenance. Standard pumps do not have that issue (at the cost of accuracy).

Enderg60 · May 10, 2022

Id like to stick with peristaltic pumps. I tried a float switch/maxijet system with a 10 gallon tank a few years ago and could not get it to be consistent.

And yes I know a DOS could do this, but what if I decide I want to do more per day? What if I dont want my ATO off for 23.5 hours a day. If you have to max a unit out its not the right one for the job and since I have not purchased anything yet Id rather get something that will work better.

ZombieEngineer · May 10, 2022

Enderg60 said:
Id like to stick with peristaltic pumps. I tried a float switch/maxijet system with a 10 gallon tank a few years ago and could not get it to be consistent.

And yes I know a DOS could do this, but what if I decide I want to do more per day? What if I dont want my ATO off for 23.5 hours a day. If you have to max a unit out its not the right one for the job and since I have not purchased anything yet Id rather get something that will work better.

Check out the way I have my DOS coded in this build thread. I do not shut off my ATO while my DOS is running and I have done it this way for 5 years straight without issue.

There are higher volume options that are a lot more but still very reliable like Cole Palmer if you need something that's more like 60+ gallons per day

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New&no clue · May 10, 2022

Enderg60 said:
I have a basement fish room so unless its stupid loud it shouldnt be an issue. But who is reef beef?

New&no clue,
how long have you been using the Kamoer?

I just started to use it, so I can't give a full review. But so far so good. It is a little loud, but my sump is also in the basement, and I don't hear it. I picked this one for the amount of water and the distance it can pump; I needed something that would pump water across the basement to be drained.

SPS2020 · May 10, 2022

New&no clue said:
I use the Kamoer. I do 22 gallons spread out over a day, it runs for 15min every 2 hours. If you did 10-15 gallons at one time it would take 40-60mins.

X2SR Auto Water Change Pump

The Kamoer X2SR is a WiFi-controlled, peristaltic pump designed for auto water changes and auto top-offs in your aquarium. Instead of manually transferring large buckets of water on maintenance days, you can program your X2SR to replenish water at whatever time or speed you like. You can change...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

If I had known how long it would take to do a 10 gallon change via DOS, I would have strongly considered the Kamoer. The only caveat I see is there are no readily available replacement heads...yet. I've heard (no pun intended) that it is more quiet than DOS also.

Enderg60 · May 10, 2022

ZombieEngineer said:
Check out the way I have my DOS coded in this build thread. I do not shut off my ATO while my DOS is running and I have done it this way for 5 years straight without issue.

There are higher volume options that are a lot more but still very reliable like Cole Palmer if you need something that's more like 60+ gallons per day

XenForo 1.5.14 - Errors | XenForo

Yeah you guys have it coded for simultaneous in/out. I was hoping to do full volume out then in. Doing it at the same time ends up being an equivalent water change of about 15% less that "out then in" When youre doing 300-400 gallons of water changes a month that adds up.

ZombieEngineer · May 10, 2022

Enderg60 said:
Yeah you guys have it coded for simultaneous in/out. I was hoping to do full volume out then in. Doing it at the same time ends up being an equivalent water change of about 15% less that "out then in" When youre doing 300-400 gallons of water changes a month that adds up.

That is in comparison to monthly changes. Daily change is would have 87.59% original water after 7 days. Continuous will have 87.7% original after 7 days.

Actually 8% more usage not 15.

Enderg60 · May 10, 2022

ZombieEngineer said:
That is in comparison to monthly changes. Daily change is would have 87.59% original water after 7 days. Continuous will have 87.7% original after 7 days.

Actually 8% more usage not 15.

Im an engineer and I hate when I get out mathed. Especially by a dead engineer.

Touche' sir. I would still rather it not take 10-15 hours to do a water change. But at least a DOS could work.

ZombieEngineer · May 10, 2022

Enderg60 said:
Im an engineer and I hate when I get out mathed. Especially by a dead engineer.

Touche' sir. I would still rather it not take 10-15 hours to do a water change. But at least a DOS could work.

At that size tank, it's definitely a hard choice of speed vs integration. I prefer the DOS myself because it's easier to integrate, but you could come close with a cole palmer or kamoer if you plugged it into an Energy bar and applied similar failsafes to stop the process for low sump high sump conductivity out of range for tank and NSW barrel.

YOYOYOReefer · May 10, 2022

my oldest kid is 21 and still have 4 litermeter 3 pumps doing auto water chang and feeding nielson and calcium reactors all still working that are older than him by far. the steiner suggested is also solid but way louder, way way way louder. my tanksize has been 300-700 gallons over the years with moving homes so significant usage on water changes.. the calcium reactor is the biggest mrc makes with twin 8 inch diameter 32 tall chambers and a 6 by 24 final chamber.its a healty amount of pressure to pull thru it. i think it would burn a dos pump up.

i have one of the kamoer (their $300 version, on my magnesium 6x20 reactor) it works work fine. if your more techie the kamoers are internet based.

BZOFIQ · May 11, 2022

YOYOYOReefer said:
my oldest kid is 21 and still have 4 litermeter 3 pumps doing auto water chang and feeding nielson and calcium reactors all still working that are older than him by far. the steiner suggested is also solid but way louder, way way way louder. my tanksize has been 300-700 gallons over the years with moving homes so significant usage on water changes.. the calcium reactor is the biggest mrc makes with twin 8 inch diameter 32 tall chambers and a 6 by 24 final chamber.its a healty amount of pressure to pull thru it. i think it would burn a dos pump up.

i have one of the kamoer (their $300 version, on my magnesium 6x20 reactor) it works work fine. if your more techie the kamoers are internet based.

LiterMeter is a great option but their pricing has increased drastically along with warranty taking a cut.

LMIII are nearly impossible to find used because whoever has them keeps onto them - yep, they are that good.