DIY Automatic Doser...

[kewlFish]

I'm wondering if anybody has done this before.

I was thinking of buying an automatic doser because I'm going away in Feb. for a week.
I was thinking of getting "Aquamedic dual doser" but it's so expensive.
About $250 Brand new, $150 used.

I think I found a way to dose my 2 part automatically for a lot less.

Materials
1. Aqua Lifter vacuum
2. Digital timer
3. Air tubing

The pump can be used as a vacuum or a mini pump.
I tested out the Aqua Lifter and it was pumping 100ml per min.
I hooked up the 2 pumps to a digital timer
and set the timer to turn on 1 min each day.
It worked like a charm.... =)


Sweet... Dosing made easy.
Best part is it only cost me $30 for 2 Aqua lifter.

 

[jhale]

be sure to check the line dosing the alk.
the alk part of 2 part tends to solidify at the end of the tube it's coming out of.
if it's not cleaned in time it will clog up and prevent any more liquid from
coming out.

 

[kewlFish]

Thanks for the feedback.. I'll watch out for that.

What if the end of the tubing is submerged in the water.
So that there will be no build up.

 

[hijinks]

dossing into your sump right? if so i don't think you'll have a reverse syphon issue as long as the jugs are above the sump

 

[noodleman]

dossing into your sump right? if so i don't think you'll have a reverse syphon issue as long as the jugs are above the sump

but he'll have a syphon issue of the 2 part going into the sump thro

 

[jhale]

I tried the tube in the water idea, it did not help.
you also want to dose it into an area where the water is moving pretty well.
don't let it drip into a stagnant corner of the sump.

 

[emmanuel]

Maybe those little checkvalves for airlines could work to stop the siphon if placed right

 

[fernandokng]

Why would there be a siphon issue if the "ends" that are in the sump are not submersed under the water?

 

[noodleman]

Why would there be a siphon issue if the "ends" that are in the sump are not submersed under the water?

well i was responding to the comments about submerging the ends to keep alk from solidifying at the ends.

but anyways siphons can occur as long as the "end" in the higher container is submerged, you don't need both ends to be submerge to cause a siphon

 

[kewlFish]

good point... i'll check tonight...

 

[AnthonyAce]

I have experimented with the same thing and used the pre filter to prevent the doser from getting gummed up with the calc/alk buildup. It works well and much less expensive.

What are you using as a supplement?
how much are you dosing daily?

 

[kewlFish]

I diluted the Alk and Cal solution.. about 100ml per day.

 

[kewlFish]

I just switched to Bulk reefs Alk/Cal...