make sure you use either outlet #4, or #8 (might want to double check that, but i'm pretty sure those are the ones that are recommended for low wattage pumps, etc.) if you use your controller. if not you may have issues with the controller not switching the aqualifters off. i've thought about using my acjr instead of the little wal mart timer to simplify my set up.

Hmm.... interesting I never knew that. I actually had an issue when I had the aqualifter plugged into outlet #5(DC8) for my auto top off and always wondered why.

Thanks for the info

no problem. seriously, double check and make sure that it is #4 and #8. i could be wrong, but i think those are the right ones.

Any idea where I would find that info?

google?

LOL
Google top search shows this thread
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz...amp;btnG=Search

Found a bunch and it appears #4 & #8 are for low wattage and you mentioned. I will be switching my auto top off into one of those as soon as I get home, it is in #5 now

go to neptunes website or look at hour DC8 manual.

here's mine..

I don't have a sump so I made a holder for the lifter out of scrap acrylic....the tube doesn't touch the water so no check valve is needed

How is it working out for you so far?

great, but instead of using a valve I changed the solution concentration. I have it about half the concentration of the recommendation by brs.

i thought about doing the same thing, but I'd have to dillute my 2 part quite a bit to get it right. Maybe I should go ahead and switch to the BRS stuff....

um just bake baking soda in the oven for an hour at 300f
then buy a 20-50lb bag of calcium chloride...

same as BRS at about 1/10 the price

very cool. very simple. very brilliant.

I'm glad to see someone tried this, I'll be giving it a go pretty soon.

how many mLs does it put out in a minute? I need to automate my two-part and this seems like a cheap way to do it if I can get the doses just right...

I believe he tweaked the little valve to the tune of 5mL/min. I have some needle valves laying around so I'm hoping to have an easier time getting it to about that. Even if one was to buy these valves, it would be still far less than those peristaltic pumps. I'm out of town right now, but I'll post again to let you know how the needle valves work.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.a...duct%5Fid=15616

Glenn are you finding that it pumps less when the container is almost empty, since the pump technically has to "lift" the solution farther?

Thanks

i thought about that when i first set up the pump so i tested it with the container almost empty, and then again with it completely full. it didn't make any difference either way.

btw, i typically only keep enough solution in the reservoirs to last ~4 days. that way if the system were to fail and the pump stayed on continuosly it wouldn't be as likely to crash my tank. i keep my tank at 7-8 dkh (because i dose vodka) so even under the worst circumstances my tank could only rise to ~12 dkh. granted, that much of a spike in a short period of time would probably cause some problems, but nothing catastrophic, i would hope.

i got to try this too. Im going to see if my LFS sells an aqua lifter. I have one that I use for my DIY ATO and love it.

I put mine together today--started to anyway. I guess my ACjr for this tank has the old DC8, with NO outlets that will turn on/off the aqualifter(4 and 8 get stuck on when aqualifter is plugged in, just using manual mode), so tomorrow I'll be off to pickup some splitters and light bulbs to add a bit of extra draw to each plug. I also couldn't calibrate mine exactly--got one at 6 mL/min and one at 4mL/min, so at least they share a lot of multiples. I haven't started mine yet, but do you find that it's siphoning back when it clicks off, and do you account for that somehow? I tend to hate putting any faith into check valves, but if I have to, I suppose I could pick up a couple of those, too...

Just made it through my first gallon a few days ago. Calibration isn't perfect--I had to adjust minutes so that the amounts being used match, but it's working well so far (knocks on wood).

I just put the end of the tube up higher than the reservoir. that way creating a siphon is impossible.

well, unless the level is the same as in the holding containers, I've found that it will siphon to some small degree--either forward or backward. I've minimized the importance of this by trying to do all the dosing in one or two intervals, so that the first mL or whatever isn't really that big of a deal.

Dumb question:

Glenn, how did you calculate your Cal/Alk usage for your tank?

I calculated my doseage by testing for alk and ca at the same time of dayfor 3 days in a row. That gave me an idea of how much of each my tank was using in a 24 hour period.

Then I used this calculator to give me an idea of how much of each part to dose initially. After a while it was more trial and error than anything else until I found the perfect balance.

Thanks bro! I'm going to start this project tonight and hopefully have it done by the weekend!

Very clever idea!

Sounds like a good idea, but if your budget allows for a real peristaltic pump these are supposedly very good pumps while still not breaking the bank from the more expensive pumps like the LMIII:

Drew's Doser Peristaltic Pumps: ($85 each and you would need 2 for 2-part)
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Two-Part-Kit...oduct_info.html

These pumps have four rollers to prevent backflow. For peristaltic pumps it is important to have at least 3 rollers.

To the OP... I'm not knocking your idea. It's definitely a cheap and effective. I'm just throwing an idea out there for people who need to pump a further distance than your mod will allow and are not willing to spend a lot more for the LM III.

Hello guys,

So, how is it working so far ? I've been thinking about making 2 for alk and Ca.

Has everybody given up this method ?

Glen you make me so HOT!

lol... You never cease to impress me. Guess what I just bought 3 of for my new 30br system?

This beats the hell out of the $600+ I would spend on a 3x LiterMeter setup!

this is a great idea. my less-clever, more expensive, more complicated idea is here, if you want to have a look at it as another possible alternative to the $$$$ liter-meter type systems:

http://mhkaufman.blogspot.com/2010/01/repu...r-aquarium.html

The best, most versatile and cost effective method in a conventional unit is the Marine Magic Dosing pump found on ebay. A double unit runs about $120 delivered. Can't beat the features and FYI, it uses the same pumps as on the Bubble magnus or GHL units. In fact, you can actually clip any one of the pumps off and simply clip them on any of the 3 units mentioned here. 32 timers a day, each pump has a separate timer and you can even calibrate the flow if you want things dead on. I personally run the triple unit and can't say enough about it. Triple comes in at $160.

Love the shark!

Very nice indeed i will use this system to ATO my 10 gal tank.

grate idea, i like it

Well i got the aqua lifter yesterday and i did my ATO for my 10 Gal tank.

I tested it and i takes 10 min to top off the tank, so i set it with 6 on/off of 1 minute and 2 of 2 minutes, so it will fill my tank during the day a bit at the time, i will see how it works today and do any adjustments if i need to.

here are some pictures:

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Now i have some questions for the dosing pump:

this is what im thinking so i dont have to use 3 pumps, 2 for dosing and 1 for ATO.
if i know how much water i need for a week lets say 2 liters of fresh water, and lets assume i need 25 ml of Ca and 25 ml of Alk. so what happens if i mixed all (2 litres FW + 25 ml Ca + 25 ml Alk) and put it in thee container for the ATO, the water will be already dosed wen the ATO put the water on the tank.

So what do you think glennr1978?

Can alk be dosed all at once.

Any word on this from anyone? I wonder the same...

Pre-filter necessary for the aqualifter? Especially for the alk?

definitely doing this!