Peristaltic Dosing Pumps, How Many Uses?

[Anonymous]

I don't have any at this time, but am considering buying one or two.

I want one for my makeup water replacement. I currently use a float switch that draws water from a maxi-jet in a 7G bucket. I am thinking of replacing the MJ with a peristaltic pump. This is to elimate the threat of flooding my tank with fresh water when the float fails, which I believe is inevitable. Does anyone see a problem with this application?

I would like a second on to feed my calcium reactor. My reactor is currently tee'd off the main return line, but I constantly have to fiddle with it to keep it from stalling. I only need a very small drip rate. I was thinking a peristaltic pump drawing water from my sump would be ideal for dialing in a steady drip rate. Does anyone see a problem with this application?

Is anyone using them for any other application?

Where is a good source for these pumps?

Thanks!

Louey

 

[GSchiemer]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/Fish.htm

Perstaltic pumps would work for both of these applications. I generally prefer a high-pressure feed from the main pump to feed a calcium reactor. It's just simpler and less expensive, although the perstaltic pump would be more precise and possibly provide more pressure.

Check out the link to the article I wrote in this month's Advanced Aquarist Online. It addresses these issues.

Greg

 

[liquid]

You could also go with a diaphram dosing pump, which is what I use for auto-topoff. Diaphram dosing pumps can handle head pressure better than peristaltic pumps, which is why I went with it as my RO/DI reservoir is in the basement and my tank is on the 1st floor. If you'd like to see my setup, hit the Equipment section of http://www.liquidreef.com/

Shane

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
There are tons of alternatives, as many people noticed.

You can put a timer or a ball valve on the MJ to set the limit as to the amount of water it can pump even when the float fails, for example.

I use an air/water pump for feeding my calcium reactor right now. Don't remember the model number, but it is made by TAAM or something. At 3 Watt, it pumps 3 gal per hour, which is good enough for my need. You can use the same pump for keeping a hang-on-tank overflow primed.

 

[Anonymous]

Also, if you use a float switch and want to prevent flooding, add a second float switch that will turn the circuit off when the water level in the sump gets too high.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
I thought you should be connecting the tank with your RO/DI by now... no? I used SpectraPure's LLC for auto topoff.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link, Greg. The litermeter looks like a good option, though quite expensive.

Righty said:

Also, if you use a float switch and want to prevent flooding, add a second float switch that will turn the circuit off when the water level in the sump gets too high.

I am considering this option too.

Robin said:

I thought you should be connecting the tank with your RO/DI by now... no?

I have not yet ran a line from the laundry room to the tank. I'll definately do that before the 300G goes in. Right now my RO fills a 32G Brute that has a float switch. I keep a 7G bucket in the aquarium stand for evaporation. I re-fill it twice a week.

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Louey

 

[liquid]

Here's a couple diaphram dosing pumps you could use:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=42931

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=11773

Mine was manufactured by Pulsa, but the LMI pumps are similar.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the links, Shane.

This one looks pretty good too.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Shane,

Are diaphram pumps quite? This will go in my family room.

Louey

 

[liquid]

The diaphram pumps put out a quiet cathump-cathump-cathump every second or so depending on the pump rate and diaphram volume -- both of which can be manually dialed in using the two dials on the front of the unit. I have mine setup so that it only turns on at night (1 AM to 1 PM) and I have dialed it in to keep up with my evaporation rate. You could keep your RO/DI reservoir in the utility room and just string some small bore silicone tubing to your tank if you don't want to hear anything at all. IIRC, the peristaltic pumps will have a whirl sound to them constantly. Not sure how loud they are tho...

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

I bought this dosing pump on eBay for $66. If I like it and it is quite, I may buy more later. If it is noisy, I'll keep looking for other ways top make my setup low maintenance and bullet-proof.

Thanks for the replys.

Louey

 

[aesop]

Thats identical to the one I have. I have it set to 250, and feed the line into my kalkreactor before the the water hits the tank.

I found that I couldn't get it to build enough presure to pull the water up about 3' but after I replaced the tubing (where the roller is) that its no longer stopping on me. Keep an eye out for that

I bought this dosing pump on eBay for $66. If I like it and it is quite, I may buy more later. If it is noisy, I'll keep looking for other ways top make my setup low maintenance and bullet-proof.

Thanks for the replys.

Louey

 

[ChrisRD]

I bought this dosing pump on eBay for $66. If I like it and it is quite, I may buy more later. If it is noisy, I'll keep looking for other ways top make my setup low maintenance and bullet-proof.

I think you'll be OK with that particular model, but just FYI, you have to be careful with those rebuilt medical feeding pumps. Some of the models won't pump against much head at all (despite the claims of handling 15' of head) unless you set the tubing overly tight which causes it (the tubing) to wear out in a month or two. When my tubing wears through it springs a leak, resulting in a mess. The model you have purchased doesn't work that way (doesn't rely on tubing tension to function), so you should be alright.

 

[ChrisRD]

Oops, I just reread your original post. I think the pump you got will be OK for kalkwasser dosing (provided your evap isn't much more than about 1-1/2 gallons a day).

As far as feeding a Ca reactor - I don't think they generate enough flow. They are rated as 300ml/hour max (and in my experience it can be less depending on the tubing used) which would only be about 5ml/min. You might be able to get a bit more than that with oversized tubing, but probably not much. IMO that won't be anywhere near enough for Ca reactor.