When I started my dwc project I battled ph issues early on, driving me almost insane. with my long work hours and living alone my project went through periods where ph correction simply wasn't feasible. And I can't shell out the 800 minimum for an auto ph control.
One of things I love most about this hobby is the DIY engineering, seriously, I have a DIY addiction. So I set about tinkering and it wasn't til I talked with a buddy who's into Aquariums and he was showing me his calcium reactor. I saw his controller for his co2 and how it was set up with a relay to control a co2 solenoid to drop his ph. Bells started going off in my head and even though I'm entertaining the idea of using co2 to rise ph in my hydro setup, right now I'm playing with the usual hydro up and down chems.
I'm using the mc122 from Milwaukee and a simple 12vdc perastoltic pump, using a rheostat to control the speed of the pump. I have the discharge tube zip tied to the sensor and angled towards the sensor "eye" so when the pump activates it spurts right onto the sensor dropping the ph on the meter giving time for the bubbles to mix With the rest of the solution, the ph sensor readout goes up and if it is still over the preset ph it'll give another squirt, and I'm talking drops at a time. my first prototype used an air pump as an airlift to move the acid solution but it proved untrusting and erratic dosing. I'm still playing with the best ph for the acid Rez. This is my second prototype and I think I have it dialed in now, later tonight I'm going to move it into an actual 5 gallon bucket w/ airstone and see how it does with a larger Rez.
One of things I love most about this hobby is the DIY engineering, seriously, I have a DIY addiction. So I set about tinkering and it wasn't til I talked with a buddy who's into Aquariums and he was showing me his calcium reactor. I saw his controller for his co2 and how it was set up with a relay to control a co2 solenoid to drop his ph. Bells started going off in my head and even though I'm entertaining the idea of using co2 to rise ph in my hydro setup, right now I'm playing with the usual hydro up and down chems.
I'm using the mc122 from Milwaukee and a simple 12vdc perastoltic pump, using a rheostat to control the speed of the pump. I have the discharge tube zip tied to the sensor and angled towards the sensor "eye" so when the pump activates it spurts right onto the sensor dropping the ph on the meter giving time for the bubbles to mix With the rest of the solution, the ph sensor readout goes up and if it is still over the preset ph it'll give another squirt, and I'm talking drops at a time. my first prototype used an air pump as an airlift to move the acid solution but it proved untrusting and erratic dosing. I'm still playing with the best ph for the acid Rez. This is my second prototype and I think I have it dialed in now, later tonight I'm going to move it into an actual 5 gallon bucket w/ airstone and see how it does with a larger Rez.
Attachments
Last edited:
