Ramp down for Feed mode, then ramp up

[SuncrestReef]

An Apex user sent me a PM with this question. I'm posting it and my reply here so anyone else looking for this solution can find it:

Question:

I have a Various 8 Return Pump and some time ago I bought the 0-10V cable but I have never connected it because I have not known how to program what I need. What I want is when I am going to feed the Fish and Corals manually, I press FeedA so that the pump decreases gently until it turns off and when the 30 min of Feeding is over, for example, the pump turns on and increases gently as well. Currently this is the programming that I have a while ago in the pump and the Skimmer.​

​

"Pump Programming"​

Fallback ON​

Set ON​

If FeedA 000 Then OFF​

If FeedB 000 Then OFF​

If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF​

If Output vFeed = ON Then OFF​

​

"Skimmer Programming"​

Fallback OFF​

Set ON​

If pH < 8.30 Then ON​

If pH > 8.30 Then OFF​

If Output RetPump_3_3 = OFF Then OFF​

Defer 001:00 Then ON​

My solution:

The first step is to create two Ramp profiles. Go to the Profiles page and select an unused profile. Rename it to RampDown, choose Ramp as the profile Type, and configure it with the desired ramp time (in minutes) and Start & End intensities (in %). In my example here, it will ramp down from 100% to 0% over a 1 minute period:

Do the same to create a RampUp profile, with the percentages reversed:

Use this code on the return pump:

[RetPump_3_3]
Fallback ON
Set RampUp
If FeedA 000 Then RampDown
If FeedB 000 Then RampDown
If Output vFeed = ON Then RampDown
If Output Maintenance = ON Then OFF

Any time the pump is turned on, it will go from 0% to 100% over a 1 minute span due to the Set RampUp command, then it will remain at 100% indefinitely. When you click Feed, the pump will do a slow, 1-minute ramp down to 0% and remain at 0% until the Feed timer expires. It will then apply the RampUp profile when the pump comes back on.

You'll need to make a small adjustment to the skimmer program. Since the pump is not actually off as it's ramping down and up, you should control the skimmer based on the speed of the pump. If it's running slower than 100%, then it will turn off the skimmer:

[Skimmer]
Fallback OFF
Set ON
If pH < 8.30 Then ON
If pH > 8.30 Then OFF
If Output RetPump_3_3 Percent < 100 Then OFF
Defer 001:00 Then ON

Happy reefing!

 

[blaxsun]

The screenshots aren't viewable, just FYI.

 

[SuncrestReef]

The screenshots aren't viewable, just FYI.

How about now? Maybe because I originally copied them from my PM inbox which would have limited permissions.

 

[MPCReefer]

Just to clarify, if I have the pump controller set at a specific % or watts, etc. Apex will ramp down to whatever % of the pump settings I have specified on the controller, correct? Just want to make sure I am understanding correctly.

 

[vetteguy53081]

screenshots seem about right and especially when feeding coral- Good practice. To assure you are on correct schedule, ill send someone your wat

@SuncrestReef

 

[SuncrestReef]

Just to clarify, if I have the pump controller set at a specific % or watts, etc. Apex will ramp down to whatever % of the pump settings I have specified on the controller, correct? Just want to make sure I am understanding correctly.

This programming is applied to the 0-10v output on the Apex which is plugged into the Varios 8 return pump's controller. I don't own this pump, so I cannot verify if or how the Apex interacts with the pump's controller settings. My understanding is that when using the 0-10v feature, that overrides the native controller. Maybe someone can chime it to verify?

 

[cybrook1421]

@SuncrestReef I am trying this programming and have come across a problem. I did as you followed with the two ramp profiles. These were set at 74% because that is what I have the variable speed (10v) for the return pump set at. When I changed the "Set" line to RampUp instead of On, the return pump turned off and did not seem to be ramping. Not sure what to do from here.

 

[David Cher]

i noticed that the ramp up is at 100% but if the Vortech program is at 45% , will it run at 100%?