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how many auto doser do you need?

1702 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  alphabeatsco, 
A
I have 3 tanks, so I don't want to buy alot of auto dosers.

how many pumps do you need for 1 tank?
can you mix macro and micro in one pump?
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D
Do not mix macro and micro in one pump. The phosphate and iron will precipitate.

If you use Excel you might be able to put some in each bottle, macros and micros, so your tank will get some excel each day. I know some people use excel to minimize the growth of 'stuff' in the micros and macros bottles. I do not know if there is enough to count as dosing excel, though.
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mistergreen
If the tanks are the same volumes them all you need is 2. One macro, one micro to feed all 3 tanks at the same time but if they are all different the, I'd go with 6 pumps.
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A
This is what I don't understand, how do you use one pump for 3 tanks? There's only one tube that comes out of each pump.
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A
How much are these pumps anyway?
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mistergreen
Code: 
           _____>
Pump______|____>
          |_____>

A peristaltic pump can cost $60 - $120
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TheFoleys
mistergreen said:
Code: 
           _____>
Pump______|____>
          |_____>

A peristaltic pump can cost $60 - $120
Click to expand...
Wouldn't the liquid take the path of least resistance to the closest tank?
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A
exactly what i was thinking.
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KGsPFT
Have you considered a pair of "Tom Aquatics Aqua-Lifter Dosing Pump ($14 each @ MD)" hooked to a one minute timer? Rated at .22 liters per minute, it should just be a matter of proper dilution. This could be much cheaper.

That AquaMedic dual pump doser looks nice, but I'm not spending $300 to dose one tank. May test this out myself in a month or two.
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A
i saw a review about the different output it dispenses based on the volume of the container.
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KGsPFT
alphabeatsco said:
i saw a review about the different output it dispenses based on the volume of the container.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Maybe I'll just buy one to test with. If it swings too wildly I can just use it as an ATO unit.
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A
how can it be used as ATO?
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plantbrain
TheFoleys said:
Wouldn't the liquid take the path of least resistance to the closest tank?
Click to expand...
No, not really and some small in line air line valves can fix any differences.
Peristalic pumps should have constant pressure.

Why?

They have constant flow rate, say 1.1 mls per minute.
Small differences in head pressure should not CHANGE this flow rate.

Personally I'd opt for different pumps for each tank.

Why?

Well, each tank is different and having a mess of dosing lines running all over is a mess. If you want to connect things from the same system, go with a central filtration system, then CO2, dosing etc, heating is all the same place.

If not, then you end up with lines running all over or you have to have the tanks all on the same rack close together, so you cannot space them nicely around the home.
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plantbrain
alphabeatsco said:
i saw a review about the different output it dispenses based on the volume of the container.
Click to expand...
You can use this to check and then adjust the valves to back more into each container. With some tweaking, it can be done.
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KGsPFT
alphabeatsco said:
how can it be used as ATO?
Click to expand...
Attach it to a bucket, set timer to run for however many minutes each day required to fill the tank.

EDIT:

.22l is about 15 tbs. If it's only off by a couple of tablespoons either way, I think it would be easy to adjust the mixture. I'm also wondering if the review you read the user was using a sealed bottle (like a DIY CO2 2 litre) or something. The increase in vacuum would make the pump's job increasingly difficult, and each subsequent dosing would be smaller.
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A
i'm not quite sure to be honest.
i just read a user review somewhere on the net.
all this is to achieve a self monitoring system, which will make my life easier while im on holidays.
but since i have 3 tanks with different volume, this is starting to sound expensive.
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