My Apex Tunze Settings and Profile examples. Help for others and feedback appreciated
 

I thought I would post this for those who are setting up variable speed pumps. I got a pair of 6205's to replace 2 of my 4 Koralia pumps. Initially I fired them up with the Tunze 7096 controller to get a feel for what pattern worked best for my tank in order to get a wave motion. Once I figured that out and found the 7096 to not be flexible enough, I ditched it. It took all but 12 hours to decide that I needed to get hopping on Apex control and to my surpise, it was very easy.

I started programming my pair of 6205's yesterday. I couldn't have done it without the information I got from this forum as well as the Unofficial guide and figured I would post this to help others.

My tank is 4' wide x 8' long. Currently I have 2 6205's at one end of the tank and will likely add a couple more pumps in the future.

My idea was to have a decent wave current during the light on period. Lights start to come on at 11AM and turn off at 7:30PM I was able to get a pretty decent pulse that reaches the far end of the tank and makes all my corals dance.
This profile was named Wave1.

Prior to light and light off on I wanted to slow things down in prep for night mode so I created a profile called DuskDawn. Its similar to Wave1 but less power at a max of 70%.

I wanted to create an intermittant current that changed things up over the course of the day. Based on my readings here, creating a flush cycle that was on a timer was the easiest way to do it. I created Flush1 and Flush2. Flush1 is used by 1 of the Tunze pumps and Flush2 is used by the other. This allows for the pumps flow to alternate back and forth during the flush cycle. I probably could have used Synchronize Disbale to do the same thing using one profile instead of 2. The flush cycle turns on every 60 minutes for 10 minutes. I will likely adjust this.

I think I have covered most if not all of it. Below are the Outlet setups as well as the profiles for the pump modes. Any feedback or comments would be appreciated. Everything works like a charm which was a real surpirse considering this was my first attempt at variable speed pump programming.

Variable Speed Pump 1 and 2

Stream Rt (This is my Tunze pump on the right side of tank. VS1)

Set Wave1
If Time 10:00 to 10:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 11:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Outlet Timer = ON Then Flush1
If Time 20:01 to 09:59 Then Night
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Stream Lt (This is my Tunze pump on the left side of tank. VS2)

Set Wave1
If Time 10:00 to 10:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 11:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Outlet Timer = ON Then Flush2
If Time 20:01 to 09:59 Then Night
If FeedA 000 Then OFF


Pump Profiles:
Wave 1 (This keeps a constant surge going that makes the corals dance)
Synchronize Enabled
Divide by 10 Enabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 7
Off time (Seconds) 4
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 100


Night (This mode allows for less erratic flow at night)
Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 10
Off time (Seconds) 15
Minimum intensity 30
Maximum intensity 50

Flush 1 (This mixes things up throughout the day)
Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 30
Off time (Seconds) 30
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 100

Flush2 (This mixes things up throughout the day)
Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 30
On time (Seconds) 30
Off time (Seconds) 30
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 100

DuskDawn
Synchronize Enabled
Divide by 10 Enabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 7
Off time (Seconds) 4
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 50


Timer (Used to control the flush cycle)
OSC 060:00/010:00/000:00 Then ON


Any feedback would be appreciated. I am always interested in learning new ways to simplify things or do them better. This is a work in progress and I plan on making more changes and profiles to improve flow in my tank. I also plan on adding a couple more Tunze pumps in the near future.

This is a video I shot yesterday after getting my wave motion dialed in.
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I made a minor change to my timer in order to limit the flush cycle to only run when the lights are on and not at night during my night mode.
The timer is now programmed as:
OSC 060:00/010:00/000:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF

I decided to make another change. During light hours I had it set to create a constant wave motion with the power heads varying from 0-100 percent (Wave1) and a timer that would kick in every hour for 10 minutes that would kick it into Flush mode.

I decided to add a second Timer (Timer2) which will kick it it to duskdawn mode with a lighter wave mode that varies from 0 to 50% power.

When I created the timer2, I added a line to the original timer that shuts the original timer off when Timer2 is on. I also adjusted the timing.

My programming now looks like this:

Virtual Outlets:

Timer: (Controls Flush cycle on every 120 minutes for 10 minutes unless timer2 is on)
OSC 120:00/010:00/000:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then OFF
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF

Timer2: (Controls intermittant dawndusk cycle on every 45 minutes for 15 minutes)
OSC 045:00/015:00/000:00 Then ON
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF

Pump:Stream LT
Set Wave1
If Time 10:30 to 11:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 12:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Outlet Timer = ON Then Flush1
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then duskdawn
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Time 20:01 to 10:29 Then Night
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Pump: Stream RT
Set Wave1
If Time 10:30 to 11:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 12:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Outlet Timer = ON Then Flush2
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then duskdawn
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Time 20:01 to 10:29 Then Night
If FeedA 000 Then OFF


With it programmed the way it currently is, from 10:30 to 11:59AM, it should have duskdawn flow.
From 12:00PM to 7PM, it should have Wave1 flow but every 45 minutes it will run in duskdawn flow mode for 15 minutes and every 120 minutes it should go into flush mode for 10 minutes.
From 7PM to 8PM its back to dawndusk flow mode and from 8PM to 10:30AM its in night flow mode.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
I will use this thread as a bit of a log to keep track and share my changes as well as in hopes to get feedback that can stream line my programming or impove things.

My programming for these things has gotten pretty complex. It leads me to believe that there might have been a more simple approach but since I have not received any feedback, maybe this is the best approach.

My goal is/was to create a choatic flow during hours that the lights are on with a wind up and wind down period before and after the lights go on or off. Additionally, I wanted a calm period when the lights are off. What I have done is created a number of profiles that include various chaotic flow patterns as well as a calm pattern when the lights are off and the wind up and wind down pattern.



I added additional profiles for more flow patterns.
My current profiles are:

Wave1 (This is my main daylight wave pattern)

Synchronize Enabled
Divide by 10 Enabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 7
Off time (Seconds) 4
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 100

Wave2 (Similar pattern to the above but Syn is disabled which creates a bit more chaos)

Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Enabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 7
Off time (Seconds) 4
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 100

Lt_Flush (This is for the left side 6205 flush)

Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 30
Off time (Seconds) 30
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 90


Rt_Flush (Rt 6205 alternate interval of LT_Flush alternates one on while the other is off)

Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 30
On time (Seconds) 30
Off time (Seconds) 30
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 90

DuskDawn (This is a lower flow wave pattern used intermittantly during the light hours as well as before and after lights go out)
Synchronize Enabled
Divide by 10 Enabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 7
Off time (Seconds) 4
Minimum intensity 0
Maximum intensity 30

Night (Sets a constant 30% flow during light off hours)
Synchronize Disabled
Divide by 10 Disabled
Initial off time (Seconds) 0
On time (Seconds) 10
Off time (Seconds) 15
Minimum intensity 30
Maximum intensity 30

I am up to 3 timers. My use for the timers is to create short random periods of different flow during daylight hours. This is one area where I cant help but think there may be an easier approach. I could use some feedback here.

Timer1 (turns on every 120 minutes for 10 minutes. If timer 2 is on at that time, it should remain off.

OSC 120:00/010:00/000:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then OFF
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Timer2 (turns on every 45 minutes for 15 minutes except if timer 3 is on)
OSC 045:00/015:00/000:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer3 = ON Then OFF
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

Timer3 (turn on every 15 minutes for 5 minutes except if timer 1 is on)
OSC 015:00/005:00/000:00 Then ON
If Outlet Timer1 = ON Then OFF
If Time 19:30 to 11:30 Then OFF
If FeedA 000 Then OFF

These are the variable speed pumps and their programming:
StreamLtSet Wave1
If Time 10:30 to 11:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 12:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Time 20:01 to 10:29 Then Night
If Outlet Timer1 = ON Then Lt_Flush
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then duskdawn
If Outlet Timer3 = ON Then Wave2
If FeedA 000 Then OFF


StreamRt
Set Wave1
If Time 10:30 to 11:59 Then duskdawn
If Time 12:00 to 19:00 Then Wave1
If Time 19:01 to 20:00 Then duskdawn
If Time 20:01 to 10:29 Then Night
If Outlet Timer1 = ON Then Rt_Flush
If Outlet Timer2 = ON Then duskdawn
If Outlet Timer3 = ON Then Wave2
If FeedA 000 Then OFF



I think thats it for now. As I said, any expert advice would not only be welcomed but also appreciated. I am trying to mix things up as much as possible and it seems to be working great but if there is a better way or more efficient way of doing this, I would love the advice.

For those that are just diving in to variable speed pumps with the Apex, I hope this helps you out!

This helps quite a bit, thanks for posting. I plan to purchase a apex and run 4 6105 off of it.

I know you are running 2 pumps on this program but will the apex run four of these pumps with the standard controller or do you need extra ports to hook up the pumps?

Thanks

Yes. There are 2 ports on the Apex. You just need 2 of the Apex to Tunze cables as each cable supports 2 pumps.

Scott:

I have a 5x2x2 display tank. On left I have a 6105 and a 6205, on the right a 6105.

I want the two on the left to create a wavebox-like wave, and the one on the other side to provide random turbulence. I also incorporated your idea to have the wave kill periodically in favor of random turbulence. Great idea.

Thing is, I have tried everything I can think of and don't get a wave. I get ripples up top but no rocking wave. It has to be in the wave profile. I've tried 7 and 4, 6 and 3, 5 and 3, 5 and 4. Other than faster pulses and more ripples no difference in terms of creating a big resonant wave.

I thought I'd have to ask how you get the pumps to pulse at the same time but they seem to be doing that, best I can tell (if you have hints there, that will help). I have synch enabled. Divide by 10 enabled.

Going by the manual it seems smaller tank should have shorter pulses so that's why I go under 7/4. I tried 8/4 and 8/5 and nothing.

Can't get my head around what is missing.

Any thoughts? I had rather thought I'd get a good wave with just the 6205.

Are you running 0-100%? Each tank is different. With opposing Tunze's, I would imagine the timing between the left 6105 and 6205 and the right 6105 will be very critical.

The 6105 on the right is just random flow with a separate profile and outlet settings.

The 6105 and 6205 on the left have the same settings.

Except, I have the 6205 going 0-100 and the 6105 going 30-100 because at 0 there is a distinct click otherwise. But I will play with that and see.

I have even shut down the one on the right (I had it there when I had the wavebox though and it was fine) and still don't get a real wave.

That's why I'm puzzled.

In my tank, I found that the 30-100 setting didnt produce a wave. Starting from 0 on the other hand did regardless of whether I went from 0-30 or 0-100. They key for me was that "0".. The higher the percentage after the 0 just made a bigger wave.

My tank is 8' long by 4' wide. I have 2 of the 6205's on the back 48" side and with both of them turning on and off at short intervals, I get a decent wave.

My 6205 is doing that, though. the 6105 was just for added "oompf" and when I tried without the 6105 it didn't produce one anyway. the 6205 is 0/100. I had thought that the 6205 alone in a 5x2x2 would produce a good wave. Can't figure this out.

Settings for 5' tank
 

Ok, in case anyone ever reads this!

For the 5x2x2 tank, here's what I needed to get a good wave:

Initial Off Time: 0
On Time: 4
Off Time: 3
Minimum Intensity: 0
Maximum Intensity: 100

Yes, 4 and 3. No idea why so fast, but the wave is huge ... much bigger with the single 6205 than with the Wavebox.

Now, I complicated it a bit because I have both a 6105 and a 6205. The 6105 makes a pretty audible click when you do 0/100. So I set a second wave profile for that one. The only difference is that it is 30/100.

Well, and to synchronize the pumps I have to have synch disabled on Wave 1 (profile 1) and enabled on Wave 2 (profile 2). That gets the pumps going together.

I'll post a video at some point if I can. I'm still tinkering, and if anyone wants I'll post my settings in full as I have a third pump -- 6105 -- on the opposite wall for chaotic flow.

Hi Guys

I also have an apex controlling tow 6105. I am not so good programming, this post definitely will help me to do so.

The only thing that I am afraid about is to set these pumps at "O". This won’t break the pump at short time?

I really like the wave effect, but I don't want to buy a tunze again

My experience is that the 6105 produces an audible click when you set at 0. The 6205 does not.

But there is no reason why it would damage the pump -- they are controllable pumps and Tunze's own controllers have the ability to shut the pump off and on every second (though not less than that, as the Apex allows).

Ostrow:

You are almost right, but if you see Apex instruction, they reccommend that tunzes should be run at 30-100%.

The manual says:

"WARNING" Tunze recomends an intensity of 30% or higher for Tunze Streams Pumps. For best results and longevity of your pumps, never set the Minimum Intensity lower than 30%."

Page 56 of the manual.

0 is ok. 1-29 is not.

See here for confirmation that off/on is fine for these pumps. The rest of the discussion is on a slightly different subject, but the point is clear enough. It will require more frequent cleaning....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ight=pulse+off

Alright

I got the point. You are completely right :). If Roger says, I don't have any problem with that.

Thanks so much for clarify and post that link.

Hey guys,

this is a very awesome programming thread! Congrats Slief!
I have some noob questions!!

1 - Can i use a Koralia 4 in this programming?
2 - How can i know if a pump is controlable or not?

Ricardo,
We covered this subject in your other thread.. The Koralia's wont work or at least they wont last. They are not designed to be turned on and off like that.

The only controllable power heads as also mentioned in your previous thread are Tunze and Vortech. Tunze requires a cheap cable adapter to connect to the Apex and the Vortech requires a module from Neptune.

Hello Slief,

You´re right! I forgot the other thread!
In the matter of fact, i forgot that i´ve posted the thread here!
Sorry and tks again!

:beer:

Hi Slief

Let me let you know you that you are help me a lot to program my tunzes. I really appreciate this post.

I have my Apex some time ago and now I take the time to change some parameters, thanks to you.

Could you clarify somethig? Do you have the pumps connected to the same channel? (V1/V2) or (V3/V4) or diferents channels? (V1 with V3) somethig like that?

Glad it helped you!
One cable in port V1/V2 with tunze's connected to each din on that cable.

As a side note for those who are finding the din cable to be loose where it plugs into the Tunze, if you grasp the round metal body that is around the pins and pull the plastic sleeve back away from the edge of the din so that you expose more of that round metal body, it will insert further into the Tunze box and eliminate the loose connection. You only need to pull it back about a milimeter or so as it can only go back so far before the plastic sleeve hits the locking tab on the din plug. From what I have read, many have noted this issue and resorted to taping the din to the Tunze. I found this fix to be pretty simple and doesn't require any tape as it make a solid connection.

Thanks Slief

But I see some difference with my tank. Your tank has the pumps directed to the same direction, but mine has the pumps one against the other one. How could I switch one pump while the other one is off?

Also I am trying to set the timers, but I am confused to do so.

I could do it. It is very easy.