Dosing systems that don't suck

o.c.d. · 08/28/2008, 06:40 AM

I have a Reef Doser from Aqua Medic and nothing but problems,Esp with accuracy I really like the idea but I don't want to roll the dice on another unit that does the same thing. 5ml at a time six times a day was two small of a dose, so now full dose once a day and still problems. The unit has two pumps so easy to tell if they aren't dosing the same.Biggest problem the lines crud up I guess "calcify" would explain better. Does every unit do this? What type of maintenance do people do to other dosers?

cmc5dc · 08/28/2008, 06:44 AM

Had the same problem with the same unit, changed it out with a Litermeter and problem solved. Plug and play, haven't had an issue in over a year.

Carl

LOTUS50GOD · 08/28/2008, 08:27 AM

Litermeter III is awesome..

o.c.d. · 08/28/2008, 03:34 PM

Thank you

atvdave · 08/28/2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by o.c.d.
Biggest problem the lines crud up I guess "calcify" would explain better. Does every unit do this? What type of maintenance do people do to other dosers?

I think you will have this problem with any Dosing pump that use small air line tubing.

I just replace the lines from time to time.

PSam · 08/28/2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LOTUS50GOD
Litermeter III is awesome..

it certainly is.

sirjohn · 08/28/2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PSam
it certainly is.

+1 Go with the Litermeter III

Whaledriver · 08/28/2008, 05:41 PM

I use a Ross Patrol medical doser. Seems to be very reliable. I am looking for cheaper tubing to replace the area that wears against the roller. Even at about a $ 1 each? a pump set last about 20-30 gallons of pumping

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkw...Q_mdoZQQ_sopZ1

The pumps show up for $30-60 each from time to time and the pump sets sell by the case for about $30 or $1 each

If I can find the replacement tubing this is a great way to go.
They come with a battery backup built in also

eisaiasjr · 08/28/2008, 05:59 PM

ElosUSA makes really good dosing pumps, I think they sell for ~$180.

supervdl · 08/28/2008, 06:14 PM

I have no experience with Litermeter. However, I went through several pumps before getting my reeffiller pumps over a year ago. No issues since. I have the smallest dual pump on a timer.

Landon B. · 08/28/2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by o.c.d.
I have a Reef Doser from Aqua Medic and nothing but problems,Esp with accuracy I really like the idea but I don't want to roll the dice on another unit that does the same thing. 5ml at a time six times a day was two small of a dose, so now full dose once a day and still problems. The unit has two pumps so easy to tell if they aren't dosing the same.Biggest problem the lines crud up I guess "calcify" would explain better. Does every unit do this? What type of maintenance do people do to other dosers?

Nothing but problems with my ReefDoser Twin... its collecting dust.

will16 · 08/28/2008, 06:53 PM

I just got a pair of bulkreef supply's Drew's dosing pumps. Will be setting them up tonight controlled through a reefkeeper 2. Will let you know how they turn out.

atvdave · 08/28/2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by will16
I just got a pair of bulkreef supply's Drew's dosing pumps. Will be setting them up tonight controlled through a reefkeeper 2. Will let you know how they turn out.

I've been using them with my RKE for about 2 weeks now, so far so good.

I had the ReefDoser Twin before but I go out of town a lot and if the power goes out you must reset the doser, so I switched to the Drew's pumps controlled with my RKE.

lancer99 · 08/28/2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by o.c.d.
Does every unit do this? What type of maintenance do people do to other dosers?

I dose Alk manually in the mornings and Ca manually in the evenings...no worries about calcification or power outages. Plus it gives me two more excuses to look at my tanks

-R

kenargo · 08/28/2008, 07:41 PM

+1 Litermeter III

It runs forever and supports calibration to keep the output accurate. Easy to clean (when needed) and the unit supports 3 pumps (1 comes with the unit).

Maintenance; when the controller tells you (beeps) you use the supplied wrench and clean the rollers, reassemble, optionally calibrate) and you are back on line. Cleaning takes 2-3 mins.

o.c.d. · 08/28/2008, 08:19 PM

Wow I love when Reef Central works and provides answers to my questions, you all Rock!

barnett8 · 08/29/2008, 07:08 AM

You are supposed to replace the tubing every once in a while... Try this stuff:http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/sea...oprene&x=0&y=0[/URL]

LOTUS50GOD · 08/29/2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whaledriver
I use a Ross Patrol medical doser. Seems to be very reliable. I am looking for cheaper tubing to replace the area that wears against the roller. Even at about a $ 1 each? a pump set last about 20-30 gallons of pumping

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkw...Q_mdoZQQ_sopZ1

The pumps show up for $30-60 each from time to time and the pump sets sell by the case for about $30 or $1 each

If I can find the replacement tubing this is a great way to go.
They come with a battery backup built in also

The litermeter III has a tube that never has to be replaced.
They are located in Tempe, AZ and I know the guys over there pretty well. Its a new design that they have. All new litermeters have it. I had both of mine retrofitted.

Whaledriver · 08/29/2008, 09:42 AM

I had a litermeter setup and sold it. Its great if you have a more high tech setup but the extra hassle of the tubeing is worth the $
when using the Patrol. I have about 5 of them now.

BigJay · 08/29/2008, 09:43 AM

For the litermeter setup, you have to buy the extra pump right?

rick s · 08/29/2008, 09:59 AM

http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/
I've been running the Nautilus II for a few years. I haven't changed the line set yet. I'm very happy with it. You can change the dosing rate in 1ml increments and you can run one line or dual lines through it.

PrangeWay · 08/29/2008, 10:37 AM

What do you use for tubing?

I've run a reef doser twin for 2.5 yrs now w/o a problem. I use silicon tubing and the only problem I get is a bit of buildup on the alk tip that I just clean off with my weekly water changes.

Basically with reef doser 2s = 1ml and from there it was pretty easy to find initial dosing and adjusts at bascially .5ml increments.

PW

OceanAV · 08/29/2008, 10:52 AM

^^Same here. Iâ€™ve been using Aqua Medic twin for a little more than 1.5 years. Original tubing. No problems at all. Little crystals buildup on the alkalinity tubing does not effect functionality at all and I donâ€™t see it as a problem. Both pumps dose equally on my unit.
Clicking noise when turns on is the only minus I can think of.

crab0000 · 08/29/2008, 11:33 AM

I've also used the ReefDoser Twin for about two years now with no problems at all.

LOTUS50GOD · 08/29/2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigJay
For the litermeter setup, you have to buy the extra pump right?

comes with one pump... can run 2 more off the unit.

08/28/2008, 06:40 AM	#1
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Dosing systems that don't suck I have a Reef Doser from Aqua Medic and nothing but problems,Esp with accuracy I really like the idea but I don't want to roll the dice on another unit that does the same thing. 5ml at a time six times a day was two small of a dose, so now full dose once a day and still problems. The unit has two pumps so easy to tell if they aren't dosing the same.Biggest problem the lines crud up I guess "calcify" would explain better. Does every unit do this? What type of maintenance do people do to other dosers?

08/28/2008, 08:27 AM	#3
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	Litermeter III is awesome.. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/28/2008, 05:59 PM	#9
eisaiasjr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Beach, FL Posts: 421	Elos ElosUSA makes really good dosing pumps, I think they sell for ~$180.

08/28/2008, 06:14 PM	#10
supervdl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,315	I have no experience with Litermeter. However, I went through several pumps before getting my reeffiller pumps over a year ago. No issues since. I have the smallest dual pump on a timer. __________________ My tank thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1167897 Current Tank Info: 135 gal mixed reef with Radions and Zeovit; 210 gal SPS reef being set up

08/28/2008, 07:41 PM	#15
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,151	+1 Litermeter III It runs forever and supports calibration to keep the output accurate. Easy to clean (when needed) and the unit supports 3 pumps (1 comes with the unit). Maintenance; when the controller tells you (beeps) you use the supplied wrench and clean the rollers, reassemble, optionally calibrate) and you are back on line. Cleaning takes 2-3 mins. __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

08/28/2008, 06:44 AM	#2
cmc5dc Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Central California Posts: 351	Had the same problem with the same unit, changed it out with a Litermeter and problem solved. Plug and play, haven't had an issue in over a year. Carl

08/28/2008, 03:34 PM	#4
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Thank you

08/28/2008, 05:41 PM	#8
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	I use a Ross Patrol medical doser. Seems to be very reliable. I am looking for cheaper tubing to replace the area that wears against the roller. Even at about a $ 1 each? a pump set last about 20-30 gallons of pumping http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkw...Q_mdoZQQ_sopZ1 The pumps show up for $30-60 each from time to time and the pump sets sell by the case for about $30 or $1 each If I can find the replacement tubing this is a great way to go. They come with a battery backup built in also

08/28/2008, 06:53 PM	#12
will16 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 1,812	I just got a pair of bulkreef supply's Drew's dosing pumps. Will be setting them up tonight controlled through a reefkeeper 2. Will let you know how they turn out.

08/28/2008, 08:19 PM	#16
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Wow I love when Reef Central works and provides answers to my questions, you all Rock!

08/29/2008, 07:08 AM	#17
barnett8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Doylestown PA Posts: 604	You are supposed to replace the tubing every once in a while... Try this stuff:http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/sea...oprene&x=0&y=0[/URL] __________________ Member of the College Reefers Club (its not what you think I SWEAR!!) Almost 10 years in the hobby! Current Tank Info: 40g BR reef

08/29/2008, 09:42 AM	#19
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	I had a litermeter setup and sold it. Its great if you have a more high tech setup but the extra hassle of the tubeing is worth the $ when using the Patrol. I have about 5 of them now.

08/29/2008, 09:43 AM	#20
BigJay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas Posts: 1,872	For the litermeter setup, you have to buy the extra pump right? __________________ PBITAWA

08/29/2008, 09:59 AM	#21
rick s Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 2,993	http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/ I've been running the Nautilus II for a few years. I haven't changed the line set yet. I'm very happy with it. You can change the dosing rate in 1ml increments and you can run one line or dual lines through it. __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: Reefer Emeritus

08/29/2008, 10:37 AM	#22
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	What do you use for tubing? I've run a reef doser twin for 2.5 yrs now w/o a problem. I use silicon tubing and the only problem I get is a bit of buildup on the alk tip that I just clean off with my weekly water changes. Basically with reef doser 2s = 1ml and from there it was pretty easy to find initial dosing and adjusts at bascially .5ml increments. PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

08/29/2008, 10:52 AM	#23
OceanAV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 149	^^Same here. Iâ€™ve been using Aqua Medic twin for a little more than 1.5 years. Original tubing. No problems at all. Little crystals buildup on the alkalinity tubing does not effect functionality at all and I donâ€™t see it as a problem. Both pumps dose equally on my unit. Clicking noise when turns on is the only minus I can think of.

08/29/2008, 11:33 AM	#24
crab0000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jasper,GA Posts: 2,801	I've also used the ReefDoser Twin for about two years now with no problems at all.