I have one of these and the instructions stink. Anyone give me a better version as to how to go about setting it up and what attaches to the calcium reactor?
Milwaukee SMS122 pH Monitor/Controller
- Thread starter GregAW
- Start date
I don't know what type of calcium reactor you have so the exact description might be a little different. I have a Corallife reactor. The pH electrode fits in the top cap of the reactor with the rubber gasket. The plug-end of the electrode plugs into the middle connector at the bottom of the controller.
The power supply for the controller plugs into the left connector at the bottom of the controller.
The cable coming out of the right side of the bottom of the controller (permanently attached) should be connected to a large rectangular box with a plug on one side and an outlet on the other. Plug this box into an outlet.
Assuming you're using the controller to turn on and off the CO2 to the reactor, you will have a solenoid valve that connects to the outlet of the CO2 valve. Plug the power cord for the solenoid valve into the outlet on the black box that you plugged in in the previous step.
The power supply for the controller plugs into the left connector at the bottom of the controller.
The cable coming out of the right side of the bottom of the controller (permanently attached) should be connected to a large rectangular box with a plug on one side and an outlet on the other. Plug this box into an outlet.
Assuming you're using the controller to turn on and off the CO2 to the reactor, you will have a solenoid valve that connects to the outlet of the CO2 valve. Plug the power cord for the solenoid valve into the outlet on the black box that you plugged in in the previous step.
Thanks Dolfans1. I have the Korallin 1502 package. Sounds like they connect up the same way. I do have a solenoid switch valve for the CO2 bottle. I've got to calibrate the controller now.
I'd post a picture of my setup, but that area is so cluttered all you would see is a mass of wires.
If you're going to add a magnesium supplement to the reactor in addition to the regular calcium reactor media (I think ZeoMag is the stuff I use) you want to set the controller's pH cutoff a bit lower - like 6.7 or 6.6 instead of 6.8. The lower pH is needed to dissolve the magnesium.
If you're going to add a magnesium supplement to the reactor in addition to the regular calcium reactor media (I think ZeoMag is the stuff I use) you want to set the controller's pH cutoff a bit lower - like 6.7 or 6.6 instead of 6.8. The lower pH is needed to dissolve the magnesium.
I haven't gotten that far yet. Just want to get what I have set up so when I start adding water later today, all is ready. May just do Mag supplement as needed.
Getting ready to calibrate. Do I use the low range solution first and then do the high range, or just the high?
I would test both and see what the readings are. The high range is adjusted on front (easy) and the low on the back (challenging to get driver and head aligned IMO). Once month I check and calibrated my setup on a FW planted tank. As the probe ages you will find it harder to calibrate the low end. I've gotten as long as 3 years life outa some probes.
Thanks. What make of probe do you use? These instructions kind of suck. This will be controlling my CO2 tank as well as checking the PH.
I don't know what brand pH probe I have - it came with the controller. The brand of probe shouldn't matter.
If you're going to be using the probe to measure pH in your tank you'll definitely want to calibrate at both ranges.
If you're going to be using the probe to measure pH in your tank you'll definitely want to calibrate at both ranges.
