Dosing Pump Questions

BlueTang<3 · #1 12-10-2010, 02:02 AM

Considering switching to a 3 pump dosing pump.
Was thinking ghl standalone. Easy to use and set up?
Is it a lot of up keep to keep the solutions full?
Whats with the bailing chambers?
What do you use for your media solutions.
Thanks

BlueTang<3 · #2 12-10-2010, 02:04 AM

Why would a person go with a 4 pump option?

Thinking Calcium, Alk, Mag. What else?

mattdean · #3 12-10-2010, 02:22 AM

I use the SA3 stand alone Profilux. It's a joke to program and set up. Tell it how many times a day and how many ml's and your done! I just topped up my jugs after 4 to 5 weeks using BRS 2 part. I highly recommend the unit.

lastlight · #4 12-10-2010, 02:23 AM

Love my SA3.

Very easy to setup. I use BRS chemicals in the plain 1 gallon jugs BRS also sells. Keeping them topped up depends more on your consumption I'd say. Right now I only use 8mL of Ca and 12mL of Alk per day. I only need to adjust Mg for new water and barely ever have to add it to the display. Currently I don't use the 3rd channel.

shrimpchips · #5 12-10-2010, 02:24 AM

Vodka!

Depends on how big your reservoir tanks are and what your demand is. I'd expect on a larger system to have to refill every 1 ~3 months for Ca and Alk.

I use fauna mRin salts but will be switching to BRS soon.

mattdean · #6 12-10-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

Love my SA3.

Right now I only use 8mL of Ca and 12mL of Alk per day. I only need to adjust Mg for new water and barely ever have to add it to the display. Currently I don't use the 3rd channel.

How big is your tank? 8ml of Ca? I dose 14ml 12 times a day!

lastlight · #7 12-10-2010, 02:31 AM

system is about 110g but I only have tiny sticks right now =)

They might be higher and more balanced if I didn't do 10g water changes weekly with a salt that is high in both but especially in Ca.

BlueTang<3 · #8 12-10-2010, 02:31 AM

Wow thanks i will look into a unit setting it up on a friends tank but if i like it i may scrap the reactor. Better control of the levels this way.

Any maintenance with the unit that one should be aware of.

xtreme · #9 12-10-2010, 02:31 AM

You could always buy the SA3 now and add a fourth pump down the road if you find you have a use for it. About 100 bucks for the add on pumps. And yes they are great units, very easy to set up.

lastlight · #10 12-10-2010, 02:40 AM

Only thing I've seen that may be a concern (and would be regardless of type of doser I imagine) is that one of the solutions is sorta precipitating at the end of the tubing. Forms sort of a shell so I clean it with a toothpick every couple days. Anyone else see this? I spread my 8 and 12 mL doses into 1mL increments so maybe it's so little that it does this.