KH Guardian: Automatic Alkalinity Controller- My Experiences

[Rick.45cal]

Glad it got solved Jonathan. It will be worth the wait, and I doubt you will have to wait long! You're nearly there!

 

[justingraham]

The customer support from Carlos is amazing on this thread. If anyone is on the fence about buying one of these the way Carlos is helping out is amazing and should make u want to buy one. Good thread and good information. Thanks guys

 

[deaclauderdale]

Rick is calcium reduced as the Guardian doses the alk solution?

 

[Acorral]

I hope they are working on something to make this control the efluent on a calcium reactor

 

[Jonty]

Rick is calcium reduced as the Guardian doses the alk solution?

Why would adding ALK reduce Calcium?

 

[deaclauderdale]

Why would adding ALK reduce Calcium?

My understanding is that when one component- either alk or calc- the other is reduced. I guess what I'm getting at is the need to dose calcium still relevant with the device? I hope that makes sense.

 

[samparker]

Will only throw the balance out if your alk is high or low. Once you have stable alk, cal will be easy

 

[DarkSky]

The pH probe on the machine is NOT there to read the pH of your salt water. It is there to read the pH of the test solution as the reagent gets mixed in. There are two ways to read alkalinity. One is the human eye detecting a color change but the other is a chemical change where the pH changes from 4.5 to 4.0. Since the machine does not have an optical device (it would be too expensive to make) it uses the pH probe to detect the falling pH inside the testing solution. When the testing solution falls to 4.0, it is the equivalent of changing color from red to blue.

I just wanted to comment that it is actually pretty cheap to find a color sensor to detect color changes, and probably less complicated and more reliable compared to a pH probe (as far as needing to replace or calibrate a probe).

https://www.adafruit.com/product/1334

 

[63409]

I will be following this thread looks very interesting

 

[Angel53]

Samparker, that is so if your magnesium is at good level. Adding alkalinity without monitoring cal and mag is a band aid.

 

[samparker]

Not suggesting you can forget about testing them, quite the opposite actually. If the KHG identifies your alk consumption is increasing, you can increase your val reactor or other big three dosing.

 

[Angel53]

Simple is always better. A properly set cal reactor will accomplish a stable alkalinity and also add mag, cal and alk.
I have a MTC ProCal reactor controlled by an Aquarium Carbon Doser and I set it and forget it.

 

[samparker]

Glad to hear. Probably not the thread for you then

 

[Angel53]

Not just for me but for anyone with a good calcium reactor set up.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Yes, a CA reactor will do all of that, properly adjusted dosing of balling salts will too. The KHG works in conjunction with both.

It's a very simple concept. It monitors your current setup, if your consumption of alkalinity increases the KHG keeps it in line for you until you adjust your dosing/CA reactor to compensate. It's to help maintain stability, but also a failsafe to help prevent alkalinity crashes.

Some applications aren't suited to a Ca reactor, and a Ca reactor is still work and not something you can set up and walk away from. It takes tuning, learning, and adjusting too.

The KHG serves a niche purpose, and for that reason it isn't going to suit everyone's applications.

I've got a GEO 8"x18" calcium reactor, Carbon Doser Regulator and full 20# tank sitting in my spare bedroom. Once all my tiny frags become colonies I'll gladly throw it on there and we can use the KHG to fine tune it's use too! I promise it will be useful too me in that regard.

 

[Angel53]

It may be a very simple concept but it has a lot of moving unproven parts. Remember simple is always better in our hobby. Let me know how it works out with the cal reactor set up.

 

[Rick.45cal]

So does a reef tank!

 

[Angel53]

I agree but why make it more unpredictable and complicated with all of the KHG's moving parts.

 

[Jonty]

Not just for me but for anyone with a good calcium reactor set up.

I run a Dastaco reactor which is in my mind the best setup, I had a Masterflex, Geo reactor and carbon doser setup before the Dastaco and it was crap compared to the awesome Dastaco unit, but I don't think this will be a setup for you.

 

[Jonty]

On another note has anyone had issues with the SD log purging itself periodically?