Has anyone stopped using an alkalinity auto-tester?

[TastyScrants]

I added a Kamoer KH manager to my system back in November.

I’ve enjoyed using it, and it’s helped me avoid a crisis on two occasions. Both of which have enabled me to make changes to my system to prevent it happening again. It’s also helped me understand what my daily alkalinity curve looks like and I’ve been able to adjust my dosing schedule to keep it as flat as possible.

However I’m finding that I’m having to spend too much time maintaining it - I have to clean it down every 2 weeks due to build up of biofilm on the pH probe and stirrer bar. Cleaning results in the need to recalibrate, and I also make up new reagent at the same time.

All in the maintenance takes about 1hr every 2 weeks. However I travel for work, my weekends are precious and this is adding an additional hour to what is already a lengthy maintenance schedule on a Sunday as I have to get it all done in one hit.

Ultimately I could test manually with a salifert kit in two minutes, and do this a few times a week.

Just wanted to hear thoughts from those who’ve used it and later removed it from the system. I think it’s a great bit of equipment, but the maintenance is starting to outweigh the benefit for me.

Cheers

FTS

 

[gbroadbridge]

I added a Kamoer KH manager to my system back in November.

I’ve enjoyed using it, and it’s helped me avoid a crisis on two occasions. Both of which have enabled me to make changes to my system to prevent it happening again. It’s also helped me understand what my daily alkalinity curve looks like and I’ve been able to adjust my dosing schedule to keep it as flat as possible.

However I’m finding that I’m having to spend too much time maintaining it - I have to clean it down every 2 weeks due to build up of biofilm on the pH probe and stirrer bar. Cleaning results in the need to recalibrate, and I also make up new reagent at the same time.

All in the maintenance takes about 1hr every 2 weeks. However I travel for work, my weekends are precious and this is adding an additional hour to what is already a lengthy maintenance schedule on a Sunday as I have to get it all done in one hit.

Ultimately I could test manually with a salifert kit in two minutes, and do this a few times a week.

Just wanted to hear thoughts from those who’ve used it and later removed it from the system. I think it’s a great bit of equipment, but the maintenance is starting to outweigh the benefit for me.

Cheers

FTS

I'm not sure what is special about the device you're using, but I spend less than 5 minutes every 4 weeks maintaining a Kh keeper+.

It can go 6-8 weeks with reduced accuracy as the results drift.

As I travel a lot (6 weeks away at a time occasionally, the peace of mind given by auto testing makes that time worthwhile.).

The entire dosing for the tank is controlled by the results from that unit unless I manually override it.

 

[elysics]

2 weeks sounds excessive, do you have the device standing under a light or window for biofilm to cause problems so fast?

 

[TastyScrants]

I'm not sure what is special about the device you're using, but I spend less than 5 minutes every 4 weeks maintaining a Kh keeper+.

It can go 6-8 weeks with reduced accuracy as the results drift.

As I travel a lot (6 weeks away at a time occasionally, the peace of mind given by auto testing makes that time worthwhile.).

The entire dosing for the tank is controlled by the results from that unit unless I manually override it.

I wouldn’t trust any auto tester to control my dosing, personally. I do agree they offer peace of mind while away.

 

[TastyScrants]

2 weeks sounds excessive, do you have the device standing under a light or window for biofilm to cause problems so fast?

It happens with or without light protection as I 3D printed a black cover for the reaction area. The only light in my sump anyway is when I open the door to do something in there.

I also check my sample line filter weekly and it’s always clean and samples from fast moving water.

I’ve noticed at around the 2 week point my results start to become imprecise which seems to correlate with the biofilm growth.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I wouldn’t trust any auto tester to control my dosing, personally. I do agree they offer peace of mind while away.

Been doing auto dosing for over 2 1/2 years - no problems yet.

The pH probe does develop a white film visible after 2 weeks, but the measurement error after 4 weeks is only about 0.5 dKh, after 6 weeks about 1dKh which is insignificant over that time period.

I just raise the Alkalinity back over about 7 days when I return and clean the probe.