For those not using a dosing pump, but otherwise automated dosing thingamajig...

Delphinus · #1 11-19-2009, 03:39 AM

Sure, there's not much to it, but you're totally welcome to check it out. Please promise not to laugh at the state of my basement.

Shoot me a PM sometime, I'm down in Evergreen. I'll try to take a picture of it maybe but I have to find my camera's battery charger first.

Oceanic · #2 11-19-2009, 05:34 PM

I have tried all kinds of dosers including the Aqualifter pump, the best thing I have found is one of these recommissioned hospital IV peristaltic devices.

I found mine on Ebay but they are worth the money new. I use the device to feed my calcium reactor partnered with my reef controller controlling the PH inside the reactor. I do not have to fiddle with bubble rates, drip rates or anything.

If my ALK levels are off I just increase the ML per Hour or decrease depending on my test results. Easy as PIE!! Next to my controller this is the best purchase I made for my system in regards to water quality.

lastlight · #3 11-19-2009, 06:06 PM

Any idea what brand and roughly how much ? You need to buy one for each solution of course too.

Oceanic · #4 11-19-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

Any idea what brand and roughly how much ? You need to buy one for each solution of course too.

These are available from www.innovativeaquatics.com. You do not have to buy two, you just simply run the two channel tubing that is available, it does equal doses of two separate fluid simultaneously. They are well worth the money.

Ian

Two channel tubing.

lastlight · #5 11-19-2009, 08:44 PM

I thought ca and alk are used in different amounts. Do you compensate for this by altering the concentrations of each solution?

Delphinus · #6 11-19-2009, 08:57 PM

For the most part in a prebalanced tank, you will add both at fairly close the same rate. You could always do a manual adjustment say once a week if there was drift in one of the parameters.

Having said that, I would prefer being able to add both independent of one another.

I know with the Masterflex peristaltic pumps (lab grade, very expensive, although the occasional good deal comes up on ebay .. also LittleSilverMax had at one point, one for sale, if anyone wanted one of these they should send him a PM) can have interchangeable heads to allow for different flowrates which basically involve different sized tubes or different diameters of the rollers). But the speed at which the rollers turn would be the same for each head so it's still not AS independently adjustable from each other that two seperate feed pumps would be.

lastlight · #7 11-19-2009, 09:09 PM

If you look at the price of this pump (and I'm sure it's good) it's very evident how good a deal that 3 channel Profilux is. Not a low-cost solution. Just sayin'. I also want independent control.

I think my system will be jugs by the sump with the pump nozzles hanging over into the tank lol. Open the door, pump each however many times and DONE. For now anyways.

There's also Doug's system. I think he's patented the 'cup on a platform' technique. You could combine that with my jugs by sump idea. Pump whatever you need into your dosing cups (connected to each jug with tubing from pump nozzles) and it doses slowly in.

littlesilvermax · #8 11-21-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I know with the Masterflex peristaltic pumps (lab grade, very expensive, although the occasional good deal comes up on ebay .. also LittleSilverMax had at one point, one for sale, if anyone wanted one of these they should send him a PM) can have interchangeable heads to allow for different flowrates which basically involve different sized tubes or different diameters of the rollers). But the speed at which the rollers turn would be the same for each head so it's still not AS independently adjustable from each other that two seperate feed pumps would be.

I still have that pump. I think it is about $800 new. I paid $300 for it, and I will let it go for $150. I kinda forgot about it. It is infinitely variable.

At any rate, you can have more then one head on it.

It doesn't matter if your rates of calcium and alk are different (consumption) because you can just dilute one of the mixtures more.

FWIW, I was (and am still not) a big fan of pumps on timers. I have gone through a good 15-20 timers in my reefing career

and they all fail at one time or another. If they fail on, that can be very bad!

Oceanic · #9 11-19-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

I thought ca and alk are used in different amounts. Do you compensate for this by altering the concentrations of each solution?

Yes, as stated above, once the levels are adjusted manually they are supposed be dosed at equal amounts. The Randy Holmes two part mixture for calcium and Alk is calculated to replace the elements at the same levels they are depleted. I would not run two dosing pumps; however, you would want to make sure each tube that drips the elements are in a separate part of the system or sump.

Ian