glennr1978 Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment
hooligan_78 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Thanks bro! I'm going to start this project tonight and hopefully have it done by the weekend! Quote Link to comment
stallen Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment
quietstorm Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Hello guys, So, how is it working so far ? I've been thinking about making 2 for alk and Ca. Quote Link to comment
quietstorm Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Has everybody given up this method ? Quote Link to comment
TJ_Burton Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment
Matt K Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 (edited) 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 Edited February 2, 2010 by Matt K Quote Link to comment
Midnightsun Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 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. Quote Link to comment
Patrizio_g Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Very nice indeed i will use this system to ATO my 10 gal tank. grate idea, i like it Quote Link to comment
Patrizio_g Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 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: 1 Quote Link to comment
Patrizio_g Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 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? Quote Link to comment
Chrismck97 Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) Can alk be dosed all at once. Edited July 14, 2011 by Chrismck97 Quote Link to comment
whiteheadfamily2415 Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 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? Any word on this from anyone? I wonder the same... Quote Link to comment
YouKnowBlev Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Pre-filter necessary for the aqualifter? Especially for the alk? Quote Link to comment
i<3nanotanks Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Pre-filter necessary for the aqualifter? Especially for the alk? definitely doing this! Quote Link to comment
mcarroll Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Old thread, but I figured for posterity I'd add my experience and answer a question. Patrizio, you're going to have problems with your design. The Aqua Lifters will be creating a vacuum as they remove the liquid from your dosing bottles. Make a 2nd hole in the lid for air to be allowed in as the liquid is leaving. I ran into this - eventually when the vacuum gets strong enough, the Aqualifter will just stop delivering and you find your alk and ca numbers on the floor. You cannot mix the Alk and Ca components of Two-part. If you do they almost instantly form chalk (which is useless to us). Some people will mix their Alk component in their ATO and dose Ca on testing only. Or get a doser for Alk and put Ca(+Mg) in the ATO. Or dosers for the two part and mix lime (kalk) in your ATO. Lots of options...just can't mix the two. For the record, Kalk is an all in one and there are a few other commercially prepared all in one chemicals that will give you alk and ca all at once if that's the way you need it. -Matt 2 Quote Link to comment
HoffyZ Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 A 12V peristaltic pump is $12. I just started my new diy project building a 3 channels dosing system with arduino and TFT touch screen panel. Now the total cost is $76. I just purchased the components and haven’t started to play on them. I just wanted to give another alternate methode with similar budget. Quote Link to comment
Mack Posted January 12, 2018 Share Posted January 12, 2018 Check this out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014KKCILE/ref=asc_df_B014KKCILE5333156/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B014KKCILE&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198102114124&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3898495467164520524&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9023909&hvtargid=pla-355499729753 1 Quote Link to comment
Nekko Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 A DIY auto doser is probably the worst investment in time and money. A Toms Lifter is $30 or more. After lots of looking into DIY I spent less than $100 on a 4 channel dosing pump. I only use 3 channels right now, but I can program and control it to dose tiny amounts 24 times a day, skip a day, etc etc etc. Just WAY more accurate and customizable. So if you want simple and reliable do it this way. Or if inexpensive is your goal a syringe used manually a few (or just once) a day is the other option. Quote Link to comment
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