FAQ

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Alkatronic is going off and on line when everything else is stable?

Alkatronic is going off and on line when everything else is stable? Before IOS13, killing the app is fine. But with ios13, they implemented an auto reconnection of Bluetooth device if it is dropped suddenly. When you kill app, ios will try to help you reconnect but the app isn't doing this as it is killed already. So while IOS tries to connect to AT, AT is not responding and therefore this goes in a forever loop. At any one time, AT will only have either 1 connection (Bluetooth or wifi). I...

Alkatronic is constantly” retesting” and has many black dots in the graph. Why?

Alkatronic is constantly” retesting” and has many black dots in the graph. Why? To avoid potential error measurements, the machine will always compare a new measurement with the previous measurement (If wash out mode is enabled). If the difference is more than 0.20 dKH, the machine will redo the measurement for safety reasons. It could of course be a true deviation from the previous measurement, for example if your measurement interval is very long and you could have actually had that big of...

How do I know if my unit is online to the router and connected to the Internet?

How do I know if my unit is online to the router and connected to the Internet? There are two ways to Check your Unit is online in the Either the Alkatronic APP or the All in One APP Open Cloud Site (see link below), and check text” Last online”, and it should say something between” Just now”-”3 min”. https://alkatronic.focustronic.com/login

I cannot connect to my Alkatronic when I am outside home. Why?

I cannot connect to my Alkatronic when I am outside home. Why? Both IOS and Android are need to you Bluetooth when connecting to the Alkatronic. Some times the Word "connected" on the AT Screen can give the False impression that it is connected to the internet. The Word "Connected" is only there for a Bluetooth connection hence if you can't communicate outside the home you have only ever ever connected to the internet. Please go back tot he Manuel and reconnect following all the steps.

My Alkatronic sounds quite loud. How do I fix that

My Alkatronic sounds quite loud. How do I fix that? Due to transport reasons, the screws can be sometimes overtightened in the factory. Just take the back off (7 screws) Loosen the 2 screws to pump A and C, no more than a 1/4 turn, the unit should be far quieter.

 My Alkatronic measures something else than my manual test kit

My Alkatronic measures something else than my manual test kit Alkatronic has an inbuilt accuracy of +-0.04dKH. Only reason if it doesn't give you a perfect value is always that its not perfect calibrated and/or that the reagent is not perfectly mixed. It's always that simple. So what to do is just to check the 3 areas that have to be calibrated correct to get this high accuracy: 1) pumps A, C 2) electrode 3) reagent Pumps are easy, just use test pump accuracy, and if thats not 10.0 and...

My Alkatronic is not giving me same values as my manual test (Like Salifert, Hanna etc). Why?

My Alkatronic is not giving me same values as my manual test (Like Salifert, Hanna etc). Why? It’s always a matter of calibration and its highly likely you haven’t calibrated the Alkatronic machine correctly or the reagent hasn’t been mixed correctly. Just follow the instructions in the latest user manual that you will find at www.focustronic.net, and redo the calibration. We recommend that after “Calibrating” the pumps and probe you perform a “Test Pump Accuracy” test too. Alkatronic should...

How will Alkatronic know how much to dose depending on the type of alkalinity solution I use?

How will Alkatronic know how much to dose depending on the type of alkalinity solution I use? Different alkalinity solution has different concentration recipes, Alkatronic uses the classic Balling recipe which is (1L of RO water mixed with 81g of NaHCO3). If the solution you are using has a different concentration, you will need to adjust the tank volume based on the Suggested table KH Solution Table (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YzeQD3VPO8yhNWDUv504dijLvYy9N3nL/view?usp=sharing)...

Do I need to make an allowance for the live rock in my tank when it comes to tank volume?

Do I need to make an allowance for the live rock in my tank when it comes to tank volume? Yes, but the exact volume is not that crucial, as Alkatronic will just correct the dKH as required.

Alkatronic Maintenance requirements & Spare Parts

What spares may I need for maintenance and where can I purchase them from? Most of your spares can be sourced from your LFS or on line, they are all general and widely available parts: - Silicon hose 3.2mm and 1.6mm - •Male Luer Lock to 1/16" Hose Barb Fitting - Male Luer Lock to 1/8 Inch Hose Barb Fitting - Pump head Hose Replacement Kits or individual hoses. - E.g.

Does Alkatronic come with the calibration fluids for the probe?

Does Alkatronic come with the calibration fluids for the probe? No, you will need to buy these separately and calibrate the probe before using. We only recommend individual packs to 7.01 and 4.01for calibrating as these are fresh.

What should my DKH levels be in the tank and what should I set the parameters to on the device?

What should my DKH levels be in the tank and what should I set the parameters to on the device? Your dKH levels in the tank are entirely your own preference and is based on the type of environment you are maintaining. Normal recommendations are within 7.00-9.00 dKH. The most important is not the value itself, but the stability.

My Android phone application is not stable, why?

My Android phone application is not stable, why? We advise that if you can then select an Apple device to set up your Alkatronic device. If you use an Android device then use the Android LITE app to overcome any issues. The LITE app uses only the Bluetooth to set the SSID and Password, and after that the LITE App runs on the internet and not Bluetooth. In short, the LITE app is an extension of the cloud functionality. When set up the LITE app for the first time, just open the LITE app...

What’s the best way to measure and mix the reagent and RODI water mix?

What’s the best way to measure and mix the reagent and RODI water mix? RODI water and pharmaceutical distilled water can be used to mix the reagent. Measurements must be exact, Alkatronic recommends using a volumetric flask for this. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XwU2C_BA3waMAoOHygkkdPfSUU0hSNB7/view?usp=sharing) Electronic kitchen scales can be used but again these need to be exact. The ratio is 4:1, i.e 4 parts water and one-part reagent.

Can I put the used test reagent back into the sump or will it harm my fish and or corals?

Can I put the used test reagent back into the sump or will it harm my fish and or corals? Yes, you can. The reagent is biologically harmless and only contains natural substances that exist in huge amounts in natural seawater. The designer of Alkatronic disposes of his used reagent into his sump tank with no ill effects!