RKL + Doser Question

[Bill Nye]

I need to dose 20 ml per day split up between 12 doses (every 2 hours). I am using BRS dosers with a RKL. My BRS dosers pump 1.2 ml vs the 1.1 ml for some reason.

 

This is what my current program looks like...I collected the output and I got about 15 ml...Just for reference this dosing schedule was for about 17.5 ml but my consumption went up recently.

 

Timer 1
SMTWTFS
Start: 12:00 AM
On: 00:01:11
Off: 1:58:49
Repeat: 11
Random: NO
Oscillate: no

 

What do I need to change to get this thing to work right!

[VW_TDI_02]

Here are a few threads that might be helpful. The second one shows the exact set up that someone is running for their 2 part. You would simply have to adjust the duration and repeat count in order to fine tune the output.

 

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2240558

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2240043

[Bill Nye]

Hmm Ok.

 

I do have one question now as it seems if you use my schedule the 11th repeat will fall on 12:00 and not run? Does this mean its only running 11 times a day not 12 with this programing?

 

Anyway I redid the the math. I think this programing will get me about 20 ml assuming it is dosing the full 12 times I think.

 

Timer 1

SMTWTFS

Start: 12:00 AM

On: 00:01:25

Off: 1:58:35

Repeat: 11

Random: no

Oscillate: no

[VW_TDI_02]

If that doesn't work, do you really need it to be 12 times? You're only dosing 20 ml total so it isn't like that's all that much anyways. Just doing some quick math, if you're getting 1.2 ml per minute, you need 16 minutes and 40 seconds of "on" time for a total of 1000 seconds. 10 "on" periods of 100 seconds would get you the total 20 ml amount and that puts you at 2 ml at a time spread out over the 100 seconds.

 

From looking at those threads, they say that your dosing pumps need to be in channels 1 and 4. It has something to do with the mechanical relays that they run on but honestly I'm not really sure of the details.

[Bill Nye]

Yep thanks for simplifying it! That will work perfectly.

 

Timer 1
SMTWTFS
Start: 12:00 AM
On: 00:01:40
Off: 1:58:20
Repeat: 9
Random: no
Oscillate: no

[VW_TDI_02]

No problem! Got a bit lucky that it came out to a total of 1000 seconds exactly. I actually have a RKL and have been looking at getting some BRS pumps for mine. As of now, kalk is sufficient for my Ca and I only dose twice a week (Wednesday and Thursday) for Alk since that's right in between my weekly water changes. Once I get more corals and what not I'll probably set something up similar to yours.

[Tinpanva]

I use a RKL and two BRS 1.1ml dosing pumps(calc & alk). Here's how I have mine set up. I dose every 4 hours but offset one pump by two hours so that both additives don't dose at the same time. For example calc would dose at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, etc. Alk would dose at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, etc. I have each pump set up on 2 timers (12 hours each) because if for some reason the RKL loses power (storm, power blip) the timers will not start again until the next time it's set to begin. So if you had a timer start at 8am and you lost power at 10am, it wouldn't dose again until the following day at 8am. Having mine on two timers means (as long as power came back on) the most I would loose is a half a days dose because the next timer would start 12 hours earlier.

[Circle_City_Bill]

I recently setup a spectrapure basic dosing pump on a timer (with the RKL) as an ATO. I thought the oscillate option seemed the easiest to work with since it simply repeats the on/off cycle indefinitely.