Auto water change options

[docforestal]

Hi, hoping to simplify and less stress to the system with bigger water changes, I have a 55 gallon, still new and nitrates are in the 20’s , I feed heavy , just started a chaeto reactor, skimmer works ok, tried without and nitrates were higher- no sump
I found the auto aqua smart auto water change and top off ( not realizing they were discontinued), new out of box
Setup easy,manual water change at first worked but it seemed to freeze and not turn back on ato,
Tested the ato and it pumped then stopped before reaching correct water level,and beeped until I moved the sensor,repeat same thing, maybe as a backup that was a large amount to pump?
thinking I don’t want to trust this
I also don’t think I can afford to get a Neptune system, not planning on auto dosing,testing- at least for now I plan testing and dosing by hand, no corals (well just one test frag) until I work the bugs out, which seem to be continuous.
I have no programming knowledge so the reef pi soundscool but without my son in law (electrical engineer) helping me I doubt it would be for me
thoughts on options/cost for systems, or likely back to buckets- it is a short walk thankfully
Thanks for any input

 

[blaxsun]

Any 2-head dosing pump should work.

 

[docforestal]

Can you elaborate? I think I understand the concept on pulling from tank, one to the tank. My concerns are setting off the auto top off. I guess if flows were matched it would work.
Is there a brand preferred?
I will look into this thanks

 

[nuxx]

Used Neptunes DoS to do 5-10 gallon changes a day.

Worked fine for years.

 

[docforestal]

But the cost is an issue with Neptune so looking for cheaper

 

[cwerner]

There's not really many cheap options. I'm in the process of setting up a Hydros controller to do it for me, but if I'd decided against that I would have gotten the Kamoer X2SR

The AutoAqua is terrible. I had two units that broke back to back a few years ago and I decided to not trust them ever since.

 

[vetteguy53081]

There's not really many cheap options. I'm in the process of setting up a Hydros controller to do it for me, but if I'd decided against that I would have gotten the Kamoer X2SR

The AutoAqua is terrible. I had two units that broke back to back a few years ago and I decided to not trust them ever since.

Auto aqua is one of the worse and manufacturer does not stand behind the product.
I am awaiting a smart AWC ( hope its better than their ATO) used at a cost lower than rediculous $310

Currently, I bail 2 gallons a day which takes less than 5 minutes and refill with my mixing station

 

[Joe's Coral Reef]

GHL Maxi with two level sensors is what I use. 419 for the standalone doser, plus the cost of the sensors. You could use one basic float which is 40 and an optical for top off which is $90. Not super hard to setup.

 

[docforestal]

thanks all - my current setup is pump to waste 15 gallons and pump from 15 gallons - gonna try a dose pump set by volume and play with it to see as it is cheap and maybe eventually i will invest more especially if i ever get my 200 going again

 

[docforestal]

if using dosing pumps in and out - sounds simple - any thoughts without a pricey controller how to control for evaporation? -

 

[Crustaceon]

Use either a two head dosing pump or two separate dosing pumps and a timer for the ato. Use the timer to shut the ato off for a certain period of time. Within that window of time, have one dosing head remove X amount of tank water. Have the other dosing head add in the same volume of newly mixed salt water.

 

[docforestal]

ah, sweet and simple - thanks @Crustaceon

 

[AUTOAQUA]

There's not really many cheap options. I'm in the process of setting up a Hydros controller to do it for me, but if I'd decided against that I would have gotten the Kamoer X2SR

The AutoAqua is terrible. I had two units that broke back to back a few years ago and I decided to not trust them ever since.

Hi there, this is AUTOAQUA. It is our pleasure to know that you might have some feedback from our product.
May we understand more detail about the feedback from you about our product by mail: [email protected]? It is our honor to receive your mail. Thank you so much!