dosing pump for 2 part

[krak256]

i was thinking about automating my 2 part dosing for my 34g solana. I was looking at bulk reef supplys pumps and also tb aquatics.

BRS has 2 pumps, but one is cheaper:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-Part-Kit...oduct_info.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-Part-Kit...oduct_info.html

whats the difference? the more expensive BRS one is slower too, at 1.1ml/min.

also, how much do i need to dose a day for a SPS dominated 34g tank?

 

[Wes]

Litermeter 3 is worth the extra money.

The amount you use is totally dependant on the amount and size of the corals/clams consuming it. Amount needed increases as your corals grow.

 

[krak256]

wes, why is it worth the extra cash?

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I would buy this
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/sale-trade/65781-f-s-esv-b-ionic-doser-air-pump.html

 

[Wes]

wes, why is it worth the extra cash?

very acurate and very reliable. i lost alot of corals because of a cheap doser mishap. penny saved, pound foolish.

 

[Josh]

I think TB is now selling a very cheap peristaltic pump that can do 1ml per minute or something really low like that.

I have used the gravity driven dosers with air pumps and they are very prone to failure.

 

[Josh]

also, how much do i need to dose a day for a SPS dominated 34g tank?

You need to gradually increase your dosage until you get the right level. Make a change, wait a week, do a Ca/Alk test and then adjust. Make only one change per week. There really is no set standard for what you should dose, it depends on a lot of different things.

 

[geldof]

I use Drew's Doser's. Best part, they don't back siphon.

They have worked very well for me for 2 years.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-P...ser-Peristaltic-Dosing-Pump/product_info.html

 

[fernandokng]

It seems as you can't change the dosing amount, other than changing the timer to add more/less. Now, the dosing amount will change in time, and will need to be recalibrated, which doesn't seem you can do here with this doser.

So to ensure get consistently putting the exact amount of calc/alk, you will have to adjust the timer, which seems to be a pain in the butt.

 

[Josh]

So to ensure get consistently putting the exact amount of calc/alk, you will have to adjust the timer, which seems to be a pain in the butt.

Yep, that is how it works. What is good is that you don't dump the whole dose into the tank at once.

For example, if you were dosing 60ml of each part, you could do:

12A - dose 1ml/min Part 1 for 30 min
12:30A - dose 1ml/min Part 2 for 30 min

12P - dose 1ml/min Part 1 for 30 min
12:30P - dose 1ml/min Part 2 for 30 min

That seems a lot better to me than dumping everything in one or two doses that hit the tank all at once, especially on a smaller sized tank.

 

[krak256]

josh, that makes a lot of sense. i dont think my acjr and dc8 has enough outlets to support 2 more pumps...

 

[Wes]

Yep, that is how it works. What is good is that you don't dump the whole dose into the tank at once.

For example, if you were dosing 60ml of each part, you could do:

12A - dose 1ml/min Part 1 for 30 min
12:30A - dose 1ml/min Part 2 for 30 min

12P - dose 1ml/min Part 1 for 30 min
12:30P - dose 1ml/min Part 2 for 30 min

That seems a lot better to me than dumping everything in one or two doses that hit the tank all at once, especially on a smaller sized tank.

Litermeter let's you punch in dosage amount and it doses it in small increments over 24 hours. You can recalibrate easily anytime. Which is important with dosers because the dosage amount changes depending on how clean or dirty.

Much more maintenance with the cheaper dosers, hence my "worth the money" comment on the LM3

 

[Josh]

josh, that makes a lot of sense. i dont think my acjr and dc8 has enough outlets to support 2 more pumps...

If you don't already have a controller and need to buy 2 new electronic timers, you might be at the point where the Litermeter is the same price as all the stuff you need.

 

[krak256]

hows the aqua medic dosers? seem to be more economical than the litermeter:
http://www.marinedepot.com/dosing_p...c_SP_3000_sp3000_niveaumat_reef_doser-ap.html