programming apex for an osmolator

[Art2249]

Can someone please post the code for an apex outlet to run an osmolator And what is the best shut off value for conductivity?

 

[Reefing Madness]

bump

 

[Art2249]

reposting

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Hopefully someone else has more information than I do regarding a code you can use, but I would never use the Apex conductivity reading to control an ATO, even if it's just a fail safe. The Apex Salinity probe is notoriously unstable. I only use it as a guide to check my salinity on my refractometer if there's a crazy drop or jump on the Apex reading. That being said, I have my osmolator plugged into an Apex outlet, and added an optical sensor to completely shut it down if the water rises to that level in the sump. This gives me an additional level of safety after the Osmolator float switch.

 

[Art2249]

Hopefully someone else has more information than I do regarding a code you can use, but I would never use the Apex conductivity reading to control an ATO, even if it's just a fail safe. The Apex Salinity probe is notoriously unstable. I only use it as a guide to check my salinity on my refractometer if there's a crazy drop or jump on the Apex reading. That being said, I have my osmolator plugged into an Apex outlet, and added an optical sensor to completely shut it down if the water rises to that level in the sump. This gives me an additional level of safety after the Osmolator float switch.

I finally got my conductivity reading to stabilize by moving the probe. It's been working pretty good.

 

[CindyKz]

I second the notion of not using the salinity probe to control your ATO. All it takes is one episode and you could flood your tank. The second optical sensor (or a plain old float switch) would be a better option if you are looking for a safety.

I had my ATO plugged into my energy bar, so the apex still shut it off during feed modes.

Here is an example of what that might look like without any built in redundancy. This programming has your ATO outlet turned on all the time, so it can run when it needs to but turns it off for 5 minutes during Feed modes A and C.

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 005 Then OFF
If FeedC 005 Then OFF

 

[Bigfudge]

Similar to @CindyKz I have my outlet programmed the following for use with various Feed Modes I programmed to use with physical buttons I attached to my breakout box. For a standard Feed Mode accessed through Fusion take out everything below the 4th line of code. I just have mine defer 45 minutes for my pumps GPH to level out, you could set it to whatever you'd like.

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
Defer 045:00 Then ON
If Output Feed_A = ON Then OFF
If Output Coral_Feed = ON Then OFF
Defer 045:00 Then ON
If Output EmergencyOff = ON Then OFF

 

[shred5]

Similar to @CindyKz I have my outlet programmed the following for use with various Feed Modes I programmed to use with physical buttons I attached to my breakout box. For a standard Feed Mode accessed through Fusion take out everything below the 4th line of code. I just have mine defer 45 minutes for my pumps GPH to level out, you could set it to whatever you'd like.

Fallback ON
Set ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
Defer 045:00 Then ON
If Output Feed_A = ON Then OFF
If Output Coral_Feed = ON Then OFF
Defer 045:00 Then ON
If Output EmergencyOff = ON Then OFF

Yea I second what most are saying not to use salinity probe to control ATO.
I would only tie any ATO device to the apex for shut off during feed mode so it does not alarm like shown above..
Only issue with this is some ATO are not made to be turned on and off several times a day and I guess can damage them.
There was another thread recently where someone had a ATO unit fail and that was stated as the reason by support.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Yea I second what most are saying not to use salinity probe to control ATO.
I would only tie any ATO device to the apex for shut off during feed mode so it does not alarm like shown above..
Only issue with this is some ATO are not made to be turned on and off several times a day and I guess can damage them.
There was another thread recently where someone had a ATO unit fail and that was stated as the reason by support.

Hey Dave, do you know what ATO unit that was? I would hate to find out that I'm potentially damaging mine everytime I feed my fish.

 

[shred5]

Hey Dave, do you know what ATO unit that was? I would hate to find out that I'm potentially damaging mine everytime I feed my fish.

I think it was Icecap.

 

[Art2249]

Hey Dave, do you know what ATO unit that was? I would hate to find out that I'm potentially damaging mine everytime I feed my fish.

Ok I can see that. The osmolater has a sensor eye and a float switch for backup. I just wanted the extra safety of conductivity in case the first 2 fail. Plus it could be linked to feed mode. Also i need to run my sump pump off the energy bar, but I don't know the coding for it to have a delay in case of power failure. it's a dc pump and needs to have a 2 minute delay?

 

[Art2249]

I was thinking of trying this as a backup to the Osmolator safety features. Does anybody know if this will work or do I need to make a virtual outlet?

 

[ReefTeacher]

One of the nice things about the Osmolator is it has so many safety features built in. There is a timer setting so that it will not run for more than a set number of minutes and then it shuts off permanently, until power is cut and the head unit is restarted. This is to prevent, not only drops in salinity, but also spills from dosing lines coming lose. I am on my second Osmolator now; my first lasted a decade before it gave out. I used it 24/7 during that time. It is most reliable.

Just a reminder, that every time the Osmolator is powered up it runs for a short time. So if your Salinity probe is jumpy (and I hear many are) this could cycle the Osmolator on and off repeatedly and dose a small amount of water every time. Just something to keep in mind.