HarryPotter Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Every day the dosing tube is wet and covered in precipitate near the pump head. It's dripping on the floor and obviously no good.I tried changing tubing and even changing to another head, but they all leak.Any ideas? What's up? Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I guess this is the issue I mentioned to you a little while ago. Have you tried using a check valve on the end of it? Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 I guess this is the issue I mentioned to you a little while ago. Have you tried using a check valve on the end of it? A check valve connecting the pump output to the dosing tube yes. I took your advice with that My Ca solution is dosing fine, but the KH is leaking on the floor, ATO container, tubing, etc. Any ideas? I guess I could try a new valve Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Where is it leaking from? Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 Where is it leaking from? Not positive since there's precipitate everywhere, but maybe the check valve? It's a cheap eBay one, so now that I think about it that could be the issue. Maybe the check valve is filled with precipitate? The check valve should be on what side of the pump- input or output? Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Not positive since there's precipitate everywhere, but maybe the check valve? It's a cheap eBay one, so now that I think about it that could be the issue. Maybe the check valve is filled with precipitate? The check valve should be on what side of the pump- input or output? I would clean it all out and get some soapy water. Cover any connections with it and look for air bubbles. For the check valve, I would just put it at the end of the tube where it connects to the tank. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 I would clean it all out and get some soapy water. Cover any connections with it and look for air bubbles. For the check valve, I would just put it at the end of the tube where it connects to the tank. Okay I'll do that. Right now I'm worried about my parameters since the Alk dosing has been out of wack for a while now... The little stock connectors that the air line tubing attaches to- have you had any issues with it? Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Okay I'll do that. Right now I'm worried about my parameters since the Alk dosing has been out of wack for a while now... The little stock connectors that the air line tubing attaches to- have you had any issues with it? I don't a doser. Stories of people having issues with it have kept me away. Plus, I honestly have no need for it. I have so few corals in my tank anyways. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 23, 2015 Author Share Posted July 23, 2015 I don't a doser. Stories of people having issues with it have kept me away. Plus, I honestly have no need for it. I have so few corals in my tank anyways. Yeah my tank uses a lot recently with all the SPS and clams, a doser is kind of a must. My fault for buying a cheap ass doser I guess! Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Yeah my tank uses a lot recently with all the SPS and clams, a doser is kind of a must. My fault for buying a cheap ass doser I guess! Dosing pumps are a rip off. In the end it's a tiny head attached to a geared down motor yet somehow there are some that are worth $300+. If I get to the point where I need to start dosing, I'm going to run a calc reactor. Might get a BRS doser for mag if necessary. [Edit] But like I said, first you need to figure out where the leak is coming from and then handle it from there. I would toss the check valve at the very end where it enters the tank. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Uninstalled Doser (Took it out), cleaned up all the KH residue, and am hunting for a problem. Might be faulty valves, which would be an easy fix. During all the dosing troubles and me testing it, I stupidly took Ca to 500 and KH to 9. Im an idiot! Quote Link to comment
Lawnman Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 My calcium runs 540 and my alk at 11. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 My calcium runs 540 and my alk at 11. But you don't have any fuzzy sticks Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 Soooo I think I fixed the doser. I was calibrating and setting it up with fresh water, right? It would work perfectly, so then I hooked it up to the Ca and Alk solutions. BAM. ALK would precipitate from contact with H2O in the tubing, pressure would build in the tube, and then it would leak at the connectors and pump head. My mistake- but they do say to calibrate with RO I believe? Quote Link to comment
PicoSavvy Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Dosing pumps are a rip off. In the end it's a tiny head attached to a geared down motor yet somehow there are some that are worth $300+. If I get to the point where I need to start dosing, I'm going to run a calc reactor. Might get a BRS doser for mag if necessary. [Edit] But like I said, first you need to figure out where the leak is coming from and then handle it from there. I would toss the check valve at the very end where it enters the tank. Not every doser is made the same. Some of them are well engineered and are well worth there value. Plus they can be calibrated much easier then calcium reactor and they don't need the regular c02 refills and readjusting. Happy that you found the fix for your doser. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 Not every doser is made the same. Some of them are well engineered and are well worth there value. Plus they can be calibrated much easier then calcium reactor and they don't need the regular c02 refills and readjusting. Happy that you found the fix for your doser. Plus this doser is roughly $70 for four heads, not $300! Lol Quote Link to comment
PicoSavvy Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 True price point is another thing that makes doser so attractive vs calcium reactor. On top of buying the calcium reactor you also have to spend about 200 dollars for a really good control valve and solenoid valve. And then you still need to add the price of the CO2 tank and the monthly or annual co2 refill Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 1, 2015 Author Share Posted August 1, 2015 True price point is another thing that makes doser so attractive vs calcium reactor. On top of buying the calcium reactor you also have to spend about 200 dollars for a really good control valve and solenoid valve. And then you still need to add the price of the CO2 tank and the monthly or annual co2 refill Plus don't you need a PH probe and controller? I like my 2 part. Keeps it at Ca 480 and Alk 7-9 (I've been struggling) perfectly. Water changes take care of Mg and trace elements like Potassium Quote Link to comment
PicoSavvy Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 True I almost forgot you need a ph controller and a pump to pump cater true the reactor and back to the aquarium. You are only as strong as your weakest link. Now don't get me wrong I do like calcium reactor and I will probably use one for my next build but for a a beginner a simple dosing pump can't be beat. It is just calibrate, set and go Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Already have a pH probe. There was a calcium reactor for $85 shipped earlier before he took it down because nobody wanted it. Came with CO2 tank, regulator (with solenoid and needle valves), pump, and reactor chamber. With a 5 lb tank, you have quite a bit of time. I have a CO2 system on my freshwater tank and at 3-4 bubbles per second, it lasted me since about 9 months. But I'm glad you got it figured out. You could calibrate it and then try to suck out all the extra liquid in there. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Already have a pH probe. There was a calcium reactor for $85 shipped earlier before he took it down because nobody wanted it. Came with CO2 tank, regulator (with solenoid and needle valves), pump, and reactor chamber. With a 5 lb tank, you have quite a bit of time. I have a CO2 system on my freshwater tank and at 3-4 bubbles per second, it lasted me since about 9 months. But I'm glad you got it figured out. You could calibrate it and then try to suck out all the extra liquid in there. DAMN. Leaking Alk precipitate everywhere in the stand and tubing. Quote Link to comment
masterbuilder Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hope you solve the problem and hope its something simple like a check valve. But..honestly I dont understand why you have a check valve. They are not needed in a peristaltic pump. BTW...I have had my Bubble Magus Doser for 16 months and it works flawlessly. I did replace the heads about a month ago because they started dropping out of calibration. Now is fine again. The heads need replacing on all pumps every so often. Even the big bucks DOS pump suggest head replacement. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hope you solve the problem and hope its something simple like a check valve. But..honestly I dont understand why you have a check valve. They are not needed in a peristaltic pump. BTW...I have had my Bubble Magus Doser for 16 months and it works flawlessly. I did replace the heads about a month ago because they started dropping out of calibration. Now is fine again. The heads need replacing on all pumps every so often. Even the big bucks DOS pump suggest head replacement. This is a brand new pump.. The issue is somehow with the connection from the dosing head tubing to air line tubing Quote Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 So is that where the air is coming in? could try using zipties or mini worm clamps to keep it in place and sealed. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 So is that where the air is coming in? could try using zipties or mini worm clamps to keep it in place and sealed. Yes air is coming in at that joint. Ive tried new tubing and new connectors, but that spot is TERRIBLE! Only the KH solution Quote Link to comment
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