Dose tip clog prevention

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Folks often have dose tips that get clogged with dried material. I’m currently dosing AFR and here is how I prevent it.

Referring to the picture below, I send one tube with AFR and one tube with ATO ro/di water into a hard plastic tubing section of an old device of some sort. It’s green in the picture. Both ends are open to the air (totally open at the bottom, and gaps between the tubes at the top)so that anything delivered into the green section drains out.

The picture below was taken after a number of months of use and shows no deposits at all. That said, in my situation it is dosing into a fairly humid environment (a closed sump with air steadily being drawn through it). If you have it exposed to very dry air, you may not get the same effect.

Kalk may also be particularly hard to prevent deposits since it is not just from evaporation but can react with CO2 to make insoluble calcium carbonate.

 

[Fish Fan]

 

[exnisstech]

I love it. I've read about using a y fitting but never got around you looking for one. I should have everything on hand for this. I'll be doing this today so I don't have to keep clearing my AFR hose every couple if days.

 

[mcarroll]

I like it!

I used to do a similar thing by simply diluting the diluting medium with the water in the other container – approximately 50% dilution, maybe even a bit more diluted than that...also works well. (I increased the size of my container, so my dosing time between refills didn't have to change.)

 

[Euphyllia098]

I used to have problems with this, for about 4 years. I'd have to stay on top of cleaning it or the tip would clog.

6 months ago I just slightly submerged the tip of the tube below the waterline and I've not had any issues since.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I used to have problems with this, for about 4 years. I'd have to stay on top of cleaning it or the tip would clog.

6 months ago I just slightly submerged the tip of the tube below the waterline and I've not had any issues since.

Thanks. I have heard that works well for some folks. :)

One drawback to submerged dosing is that it risks allowing back siphoning, depending on the setup. That would not be a problem in my case where the AFR is above the water level, but forward siphoning is still a risk in my setup.

Submerged dosing also may not work well with high pH alk supplements where it might cause calcium carbonate precipitation in the tubing.

 

[Reign1]

And I am over here with my AFR and especially Kalk line w/crazy deposits on them LOL.
I have not had any clog yet but when I replenish my line I run RO water to help clear it out.

 

[exnisstech]

Just added mine. Thanks again Randy I've been rubbing the tube between my thumb and forefinger every couple of days for almost two years lol

 

[WunderWagen]

Having this build up issue with my doser line and AFR... but it is not at the end, it is in the middle section of the tubing from the doser to the tank. Any suggestions for minimizing that?

The tube end I did submerge, and there does not seem to be any build up there.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m still not a fan of submerged dosing, even if the tip does not clog. You might be wasting additive and precipitating calcium carbonate.

Is your AFR always fully clear?

 

[Euphyllia098]

Is your AFR always fully clear?

This is a good point. I found that I had a hard time getting my afr to fully dissolve following the directions. There always seemed to be some fine sediment in the bottom of the container once it settles. On my last few batches I added a little extra water and that seemed to dissolve it all.

I've also found that weighing your AFR, if you can, instead of using the scoop when mixing seems to make it easier to get the mix right.

I have had a few clogs over the years in my lines. I attributed it to mixing more than I could use in a month, aka it was sitting too long. It's probably not a bad idea to occasionally flush your lines with rodi water.

 

[Rocks reef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

Sir, may I inquire as to why you are dosing AFR versus your DIY? Is it simply based on just dosing one solution? I used your DIY for years, but recently switched over to AFR only because it freed up some dosing pumps.

Respectively,

Keith

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

Sir, may I inquire as to why you are dosing AFR versus your DIY? Is it simply based on just dosing one solution? I used your DIY for years, but recently switched over to AFR only because it freed up some dosing pumps.

Respectively,

Keith

I actually would have preferred to use kalkwasser, as I did in my old tank, but did not have room in my revised fish room for the needed reservoir.

I’m using AFR now because the dose is low, making cost not a significant issue. It also simplifies testing, and I do not test calcium or magnesium at all, trusting that the AFR is adding then in a proportion I understand. I dose it based on alk.

If I were to use a multi part system, which is a fine way to go, I’d need more pumps, more reservoirs of dose solutions, and more testing since pumps can vary in dispensing amounts.