Dosing pump

[Thbmx511]

i have never tried using one what are the pros and cons and how hard are they to set up and dial in

 

[AdamB]

One of the best pieces of equipment I bought for my tank once my sps started talking off on my first mixed reef tank. Takes a lot of the work out of your day from the hand dosing .
I haven’t had any complaints. Just need to check to make sure that tubes aren’t clogged every so often. I have 2 dosers. Bubble magnus and GHL doser . Both have worked great ! The GHL is WiFi enabled so I can just change dosage by using GHL app in my phone .

 

[Silent]

Are you making one? This is the diy section.

 

[Thbmx511]

One of the best pieces of equipment I bought for my tank once my sps started talking off on my first mixed reef tank. Takes a lot of the work out of your day from the hand dosing .
I haven’t had any complaints. Just need to check to make sure that tubes aren’t clogged every so often. I have 2 dosers. Bubble magnus and GHL doser . Both have worked great ! The GHL is WiFi enabled so I can just change dosage by using GHL app in my phone .

How do you calibrate them and know what to set them at i have never dosed just alot of water changes and have had great results just want step it up a bit

 

[FOO-CAT]

I use a Litermeter3 for top-off with kalk. Best thing I've ever bought for a tank.

 

[Thbmx511]

Are you making one? This is the diy section.

Well that was the question can i build one

 

[Silent]

I dont see why not. The pumps by themselves are so cheap its worth a try.

 

[AdamB]

How do you calibrate them and know what to set them at i have never dosed just alot of water changes and have had great results just want step it up a bit

 

[WallyB]

Yes, you can make a DOSER.

Many ways. Some simple, or complex.

I'm showing some links to Aliexpress where I get stuff cheap but takes weeks to arrive.
You can get most of this stuff on Amazon.

First you need a reliable BUT Cheap Peristaltic pump.

I get these (Real Kamoer like in Kamoer Professional Dosers), and they are about to go on sale 11-11
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32874908985.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.97644c4dS7i7ww

Various models but your can get like above 6 for $37.

You can get 3Volt, 6Volt, 12 Volt versions. I like 6 since I re-use AC adapters from old Electronics.

Then you need to turn them on or off (Inteligently), with some kind of controller.
Ardiuno is one way.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...chweb0_0,searchweb201602_6,searchweb201603_55

And to do the ON OFF just plain old 5 Volt Relay that an Ariduno can control.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32956362885.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.56fa6c27IAkKTP&algo_pvid=8f6f9dd1-474a-4950-8348-14c3a962e4fe&algo_expid=8f6f9dd1-474a-4950-8348-14c3a962e4fe-32&btsid=ad3124f8-dbe4-4796-b73a-

If you don't like ARDIUNO (Programming), you can ALso do the Brain Part with an APEX (Just using an OUTLET and AC adapter to run the relay)

Or A Raspberry PI
https://www.amazon.ca/RS-Components-Raspberry-Model-Motherboard/dp/B07BFH96M3/ref=sxin_3_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-cmFzcGJlcnJ5IHBpIDM=-ac_d_rm&keywords=raspberry+pi+3&pd_rd_i=B07BFH96M3&pd_rd_r=4f2fe959-6a74-47ef-8c1d-ee22b8f9d7eb&pd_rd_w=5jjWa&pd_rd_wg=GMq1U&pf_rd_p=3447f81e-a090-4eb4-ba4b-d37cf5a8c179&pf_rd_r=7SMPK5JG46GZAN84FSMV&psc=1&qid=1573115278


This is a bit more complex, since I wanted more then just a Simple doser. It does funky stuff.

The DOser I made from ARiduno, the 5V Relays and the Kamoer Pumps is like this.

 

[WallyB]

One more thing since the Nov 11th sale is approaching.

Kamoer also makes these high Volume Dc Peristatic pumps. Designed for Irrigation.
Not as cheap and the mini's but Fanstatic Power, Speed. Quiet too.

Perfect for Aquarium Projects, like Auto Top Up, (They will outlast any Tunze Osmolator pump which I keep having to replace ever couple of years)

45.15US $ |Kamoer KHM 12V/24V Peristaltic Dosing Pump Brushed Motor with Silicon/Norprene Tube for Lab Analysis and Liquid Filling|Pumps| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I discovered them by Accident.

Here is another DIY Project with the Bigger Kamoer. A 3 Tank Water Changer.

Same Ardiuno Controller, Same Relays, and LCD display.

 

[joyz76]

You can follow my tutorial step by step to build one with the free software.
Very easy, precise and cheap.
you can find all the tutorial on www.joy-reef.com/en

 

[WallyB]

You can follow my tutorial step by step to build one with the free software.
Very easy, precise and cheap.
you can find all the tutorial on www.joy-reef.com/en

Very nice work. I admire your creativity. Clean case, and the User Interface is well done.

This is not criticism, this is constructive feedback to help you make your very nice/simple to build doser better for everyone.

I will say that I would never run Dosing Software that I cannot see source code since there could be bugs that haven't been discovered if not tested completely. A malfunction on a critical piece of Life Sustaining equipment could damage or wipe out a tank.

2nd, is you should include a RTC (Real Time Clock Module), which is pennies and had a battery backup so power failures, and No Internet keep your doser running properly.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32844103885.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.6b4e4c4dseyjYH
I tested my Ardiuno Doser extensively and learned about Double/Multiple Dosing/Overlaps if Clock is lost, power recycled multiple times, etc.

I also have concerns for needing Internet to Control and run a Doser. A Doser should be 100% Standalone.

Just FYI, when I coded my DIY doser it actually took me about 6 months to code things to be Bullet Proof, for Power Failures, Clock errors, RTC Failures, OverDose Protection limits, Config Corruption, Data Validation, etc. (To compare coding effort... an Ardiuno Auto Top up program took me one weekend).

I share the idea, that it can be done for inspiration......I still would not give anyone my code to build a doser, since I wouldn't want to be responsible for someone's tank damage. If you give a condition like you do (not responsible for damage), then it's a risk that I personally would not take (unless I get to validate your source code and fully test on my own)

Again, I admire you enthusiasm. Great Project. Keep up the good work.

 

[joyz76]

Very nice work. I admire your creativity. Clean case, and the User Interface is well done.

This is not criticism, this is constructive feedback to help you make your very nice/simple to build doser better for everyone.
...

Yeah i appreciate your feedback.
I agree with all you said.
I can understand open source, but my work is dedicated who could'nt even understand the code.
I was thinking about RTC but it increase the complexity and more over it's useless for my use. i dose 24 doses a day, and starting from midnight or any other time is not a problem. But i can understand your point of view.
Internet control is because my work is about internet so it was more easy for me :D
You should think about a web interface for your doser :D

P.S. sorry for english :D

 

[WallyB]

Yeah i appreciate your feedback.
I agree with all you said.
I can understand open source, but my work is dedicated who could'nt even understand the code.
I was thinking about RTC but it increase the complexity and more over it's useless for my use. i dose 24 doses a day, and starting from midnight or any other time is not a problem. But i can understand your point of view.
Internet control is because my work is about internet so it was more easy for me :D
You should think about a web interface for your doser :D

Good to see you blend your work with your projects. Make it double worth the learning.
Keep going at it. As you evolve your code that you can re-use, you will be able to build more stuff quicker/better.

I think the challenge to share you design/code is it become a job to support other people. ( I don't have time, barely have time to do things for myself)
I admire the efforts of the ReefPi Creator, the community which shares ideas, support each other. That is dedication.

I actually built quite a few DIY controllers. Started beginner about 4 years ago, and kept improve skills.

All Ardiuno...this is my Completed list of DIY controllers:

Sorry OP, for distracting from your Doser question Thread....however you posted in DIY section.

 

[Reef-junky]

This



With this



Or this

 

[Pinback]

This



With this



Or this

This is how I do it. Cheap doser pumps from ebay ($4/ea) and a wifi power strip. Then using smartlife app, schedule it to dose every hour for a calibrated 4 seconds. Does about 2.5ml. But each pump is different. It works well for me. Simple and cost effective.

 

[WallyB]

This is how I do it. Cheap doser pumps from ebay ($4/ea) and a wifi power strip. Then using smartlife app, schedule it to dose every hour for a calibrated 4 seconds. Does about 2.5ml. But each pump is different. It works well for me. Simple and cost effective.

I actually like the Smartlife App. BEST appliance controlling APP (Hands down!!)
I tests so many Outlets, household Dimmers, etc. Many Apps that go with some outlets are Junk. Some not even English, and horribly un-responsive, un-reliable. SLOW.
I now have quite a few Things that Run on Smart Life App. Very Reliable. Works on Lan, Wan, and even Alexa.

Still wouldn't use it for Dosing since it needs Internet and learned that Date/Time (on Smart Outlets) don't keep after power failure, and if No Internet the Clock on the Modules is not accurate (if at all working). They will restore TIME/DATE once Internet connection restores.
I asked the Smart Life Power Outlet Developers and (confirmed true)

A Smart Outlet Controlled Dosing Pump will work, but not exactly 100% reliability like a Stand Alone Doser which can ALSO dose intervals less than a minute (only if you need that granularity). That too can be solved with a geared down dosing pump (Some go as low as 1ml per minute)

However, when I think about it (If our household of 5 Wifi ever goes down for even a minute I get 4 human alarms that come yelling :) )

 

[Pinback]

Good points WallyB

Smartlife now has scenes that will turn the device on for a set number of seconds. It works well for me. Then IFTTT for running very hour.

Being internet dependent is a draw back. My wifi goes down on occasion but I check on my system every few hours. I am in process of adding battery backup though. And maybe one day an Arduino or raspberrypi controller system. But for now, this took about 5 minutes to get running.

One of those digital plugin timers looks pretty easy as well.