Summary #
This guide explains how to configure the KH Director or ION Director to automatically adjust your liquid dosing schedules. By utilizing a closed-loop feedback system, the GHL ecosystem can dynamically compensate for fluctuations in parameter consumption to maintain a stable water chemistry.
Applies to #
- KH Director
- ION Director
- Compatible controller:
- ProfiLux 4 Series (incl. IL) (Min. firmware 7.24)
- ProfiLux 3 Series (Min. firmware 6.44)
- GHL Doser 2 / Maxi / 2.2 Maxi Standalone (incl. Industrial Line / IL) (Min. firmware 1.37)
- GHL Doser 3 / 3 Maxi Standalone (incl. Industrial Line / IL)
- Dosing unit:
- GHL Doser 2 / Maxi / 2.2 Maxi EXT (incl. Industrial Line / IL)
- GHL Doser 3 / 3 Maxi EXT (incl. Industrial Line / IL)
- Software:
- GHL Connect (App, Webinterface, myGHL)
- GHL Control Center
Before you start #
Before enabling automated control, ensure the following:
- Operational Readiness: Ensure your KH Director and/or ION Director are fully set up and providing consistent, verified measurement results.
- Baseline Schedule: A manual dosing schedule (e.g., 50ml per day split into several doses) must already be active for the supplement pump (using “Automatic times” or “Individual times”). The automated control modifies this baseline; it does not replace it.
Note: If no dosing plan is set, the control settings will be grayed out and cannot be edited. The system modifies an existing baseline; it does not create a new dosing schedule from scratch.
Step-by-Step Setup #
Step 1: Navigate to Dosing Pump Settings #
The control logic is tied directly to the specific dosing pump that delivers the supplement (e.g., your KH Buffer).
- Connect to your primary GHL device via GHL Connect or GHL Control Center.
- Navigate to the Dosing pumps section.
- Select the specific dosing pump you wish to automate and open its settings.
Note: If the control option is missing from the pump settings, a firmware update for your device is likely required.
Step 2: Choose the Right Control Mode #
Both modes adjust your existing dosing plan based on the deviation from your Nominal Value (target). The choice depends on whether you prefer to calculate corrections in milliliters or as a percentage:
- Add-on Control:The system calculates the required adjustment in milliliters (ml) and adds or subtracts this amount from your daily total. This correction is distributed evenly across all scheduled doses for the day.
- Adaptive Control:The system calculates the adjustment as a percentage (%). Your entire dosing schedule is scaled accordingly (e.g., to 105% if consumption increases) to match the current demand of the aquarium.
Step 3: Basic Configuration #
Define how the pump should react to the measurement data:
- Dosage adjustments determined by: Select the corresponding parameter (e.g., KH value from the KH Director or Calcium/Magnesium etc. from the ION Director).
- When parameter deviates by this amount: Enter the reference deviation unit. Typically, this is set to 1 (for a 1 °dKH or 1 mg/l deviation).
- Adjust each dose about this amount: Enter the amount (in ml for Add-on or % for Adaptive) the dose should change per reference deviation defined above. This value scales proportionally with the actual measured deviation
Note on scaling: The system calculates adjustments linearly. For example, if you set a 10% adjustment (Adaptive) or 10 ml adjustment (Add-on) for a 1 °dKH deviation, a measured deviation of 0.5 °dKH will result in a 5% or 5 ml adjustment respectively.
Step 4: Safety Limits (Guardrails) #
To protect your aquarium from extreme over- or under-dosing (e.g., in the event of a measurement error), define your safety boundaries:
- Limit raise / Limit lower: Enter the maximum total adjustment (in ml or %) the system is allowed to make. These act as the “guardrails” for the automation.
Example: If your baseline dose is 100ml and you set Limit raise to 20%, the KH Director will never increase the dose beyond 120ml total, even if the measurement would mathematically require a higher adjustment.
Step 5: Verify the Calculation #
- Calculated adjustment per dosing (Read-only): This field shows in real-time which adjustment is currently being applied based on the latest measurement and your configuration. Use this to verify that your settings result in sensible volume changes.
Common Issues #
Cause
The dosing pump has no active schedule assigned.
Solution
Ensure that the pump is set to either “Automatic times” or “Individual times” and that a daily volume and schedule have been saved before attempting to enable control.
Cause: Measurement outside threshold (Alarm)
The measurement result might have triggered an alarm because it exceeded the defined thresholds (Min/Max deviation) in the KH Director or ION Director settings. If the option to deactivate control during an alarm is enabled, the adjustment will be bypassed.
Solution
Check the alarm settings and measurement results in your Director’s configuration. If an alarm is active and the “Deactivate control” option is checked, the control logic is disabled for safety. Ensure your thresholds are set correctly for your system’s needs.
Cause: Safety limits reached
The calculated adjustment has reached the Limit raise or Limit lower set in the pump’s control settings.
Solution
Check the “Calculated adjustment per dosing” field. If it matches your safety limits, the system is capping the adjustment. Verify if your baseline dose or your adjustment settings need to be updated.
Cause
This behavior might occur because the scaling values for deviation and adjustment are not set optimally for your system’s actual consumption.
Solution
Review the values in “When parameter deviates by…” and “Adjust each dose about…”. If the reaction is too strong, increase the deviation reference or decrease the adjustment amount.