ARKA doser?

jasonrusso · Feb 20, 2018

Has anyone used this dosing pump. It seems like a really good unit with built in stirrer. The reason I am considering this is mainly because of the mixer. Pretty much all the premixed alk/calcium additives (red sea, seachem) say to shake well. This leads me to believe that I wouldn't be getting consistent dosing due to settling.

So has anyone used it, is it accurate?
https://reefbuilders.com/2014/12/04/arka-vida-dosing-computer-ready-deployment/

https://www.whitecorals.com/en/-mic...ter-4-channel-dosing-pump-main-module-ml-vgtm

Ridgeway · Feb 20, 2018

Yes I have one and yes it is accurate, you can calibrate it (like most dosers). I didn't find it that easy to set up as the programming does take some getting used to.

The reverse pumping feature is nice as is the mixing but keep in mind that's pretty noisy.

jasonrusso · Feb 20, 2018

Ridgeway said:
Yes I have one and yes it is accurate, you can calibrate it (like most dosers). I didn't find it that easy to set up as the programming does take some getting used to.

The reverse pumping feature is nice as is the mixing but keep in mind that's pretty noisy.

Which one is noisy? The mixing pump? What did you use for a container?

Ridgeway · Feb 20, 2018

yes the mixers like all i've seen rattle at start up, just the first 1-2 seconds.

I have the Arka containers, nice and neat.

jasonrusso · Feb 20, 2018

Ridgeway said:
yes the mixers like all i've seen rattle at start up, just the first 1-2 seconds.

I have the Arka containers, nice and neat.

Where did you find the containers? How much? I was going to use Voss water bottles

Ridgeway · Feb 20, 2018

Mine came with the unit, like this:

jasonrusso · Feb 20, 2018

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad I went with this one. I had already bought a coral box, but it is going back.

Mine doesn't come with containers, so I'll have to fabricate something.

Ridgeway · Feb 21, 2018

I think standard 500ml bottles that are often used fit the base well. If you at some of the pictures of the Area you see it with the Microbe Lift products on them, directly in their bottles. Might be worth seeing if there's something you can re-purpose.

jasonrusso · Apr 28, 2018

Ridgeway said:
Yes I have one and yes it is accurate, you can calibrate it (like most dosers). I didn't find it that easy to set up as the programming does take some getting used to.

The reverse pumping feature is nice as is the mixing but keep in mind that's pretty noisy.

Have you had any issues with the doser not working after you change a setting? Mine was working fine until I changed the dosing schedule from every 6 hours to every 5. It showed the next dosage time correctly but didn't actually dose. I set it again, and now it seems to be working.

Ridgeway · Apr 30, 2018

No i haven't had such an issue although to be fair the unit isn't used that much and I haven't made too many adjustments so far but it has worked well

jasonrusso · Jun 5, 2018

Ridgeway said:
I think standard 500ml bottles that are often used fit the base well. If you at some of the pictures of the Area you see it with the Microbe Lift products on them, directly in their bottles. Might be worth seeing if there's something you can re-purpose.

Finally got the bottles yesterday! They were on backorder for months!