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DIY CO2 Controller

Matt @ ScapeEasy said:
You could do auto top off and/or automatic water changes, timed dosing of ferts. These the sorts of suggestions you want?
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Hi,

Anything that users find would be better automated, my old controller already had auto top up and dosing timers, though not sure about auto water changes, thought that was more an independent unit that you just hooked on and ran at the time or have things progressed these days ?

Basically just updating the hardware and software , eg from my old fashioned lcd display to a more modern tft colour touch screen and using more modern hardware, as the pics below show, my original large ph amplifier board compared to the small one on the Barbaras opening post.

Loads of ready made controllers on the market for folk to choose , just that for me the electronics is an interesting extension of fish keeping.


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Matt @ ScapeEasy said:
See the King Of DIYs recent video on auto water changes on YouTube
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Hi,

Well yes there is always a way to automate most things though doubt the average user would go to those extremes KofDiy shows.

Is it something you are after for your own tanks ?

Seems plenty of ready made solutions already for those wanting such systems; not really something I could use or test/develop properly on my small tank.

http://www.reefloat.com/index.php/p...er-units?SID=90d9485b15a741d532962325deb52486

https://reefhacks.com/smart-awc-by-autoaqua-review-simplifying-tank-water-changes/
 
I was pretty disappointed with the results I got from the pH sensors, even averaging out 1000 readings they were still all over the place.. and not even predictably. At some point with a expensive sensor and see if the results are any better.
I had two from different manufacturers and I would swap either for a chocolate tea pot.
 
Barbara Turner said:
I was pretty disappointed with the results I got from the pH sensors, even averaging out 1000 readings they were still all over the place.. and not even predictably.
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Sounds like you have electrical interference issues. The voltage levels from pH probes are in the mV range and very easily affected by interference.

  • Try measuring pH at different places in the tank.
  • Try measuring pH with all tank electrics off and unplugged.
  • Try measuring pH of a cup of water wall away from your tank.
Some people locate their pH sensors remotely, normally in their tank plumbing as far away from their tank, in order to keep them away from interference sources.
 
I never got to the point of putting it in the tank. You can see the setup below.
Each blue point was 100 readings and then the result was averaged. I came to the conclusion that the sensors were faulty or cheap rubbish.
As I ran a fluke multimeter in series and got the same MV readings when I back calculated it.
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Hi,

It could be down to the cheap ph probe though a similar far east one I tried was reasonably good.

Did you have the ph amplifier well insulated ? because of its high gain, humidity can really affect it as can the slightest stray voltage , eg from your hand.

Not sure of the time scale but the falling temperature in the glass can also affect the reading.

Plenty of reviews around, have used the little yellow ebay ones and not too bad though not designed for in tank

https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.../articles/2016/7/28/aquarium-ph-tests-on-test

Always used a Pinpoint meter as my reference, though like anything, you gets what you pays for :)

http://www.reefdreams.co.uk/acatalog/Reefdreams-pH-Meters.html
 
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