Looking for input on dosing pump recommendations.

[smithaw1515]

Hey all, I’m looking to start dosing on my reef casa nano tank and I’m looking for more experienced input. My plan is to dose Kalkwasser. I’m also dosing phosphate by hand due to undetectable levels resulting in a cyano outbreak. The tank is 5 gallons water volume. My dosing for this nano tank is typically quite small meaning like 0.5-1.0ml phosphate daily. Kalkwasser based on brs calculator says 24ml daily Kalkwasser. I’ve been looking at the EcoTech versa 4 dose pump as from what I could tell this is one of the most accurate pumps for small volumes. I could dose with 2 of the pumps and use the other 2 for auto water changes (only need to change about 200ml of water daily for 1% daily water change). My plan is to upgrade to a large tank (Innovative marine 112 vs Redsea 300 g3) in the next year so I do t want to have to upgrade. My concern/hesitance with the versa pumps is lack of WiFi. Should lack of WiFi be a deal breaker? My 2nd choice at this time is the redsea reefdose due to its WiFi and the fact I’ve heard good things about redseas app and convenience across multiple products.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Hey all, I’m looking to start dosing on my reef casa nano tank and I’m looking for more experienced input. My plan is to dose Kalkwasser. I’m also dosing phosphate by hand due to undetectable levels resulting in a cyano outbreak. The tank is 5 gallons water volume. My dosing for this nano tank is typically quite small meaning like 0.5-1.0ml phosphate daily. Kalkwasser based on brs calculator says 24ml daily Kalkwasser. I’ve been looking at the EcoTech versa 4 dose pump as from what I could tell this is one of the most accurate pumps for small volumes. I could dose with 2 of the pumps and use the other 2 for auto water changes (only need to change about 200ml of water daily for 1% daily water change). My plan is to upgrade to a large tank (Innovative marine 112 vs Redsea 300 g3) in the next year so I do t want to have to upgrade. My concern/hesitance with the versa pumps is lack of WiFi. Should lack of WiFi be a deal breaker? My 2nd choice at this time is the redsea reefdose due to its WiFi and the fact I’ve heard good things about redseas app and convenience across multiple products.

Although you've been a member since early October, you've not made many posts, so, welcome to R2R!

As far as WiFi dosing pumps go and what you're wanting to achieve, you may be well served by a Kamoer F4 Pro WiFi. I have heard very good things about these and also know that Kamoer makes good products. Unfortunatetly, I do not have any first-hand experience with these but, if memory serves me correctly, my friend @Fish Styx has a few of these on his tank. Maybe he'll be kind enough to give some input. That is, of course, if he reads this message and is in a decent mood. You see, he can be grouchy but perhaps we'll catch him at the right time.

F4 PRO WIFI 4-Head Liquid Dosing Pump - Kamoer

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[slingfox]

Hey all, I’m looking to start dosing on my reef casa nano tank and I’m looking for more experienced input. My plan is to dose Kalkwasser. I’m also dosing phosphate by hand due to undetectable levels resulting in a cyano outbreak. The tank is 5 gallons water volume. My dosing for this nano tank is typically quite small meaning like 0.5-1.0ml phosphate daily. Kalkwasser based on brs calculator says 24ml daily Kalkwasser. I’ve been looking at the EcoTech versa 4 dose pump as from what I could tell this is one of the most accurate pumps for small volumes. I could dose with 2 of the pumps and use the other 2 for auto water changes (only need to change about 200ml of water daily for 1% daily water change). My plan is to upgrade to a large tank (Innovative marine 112 vs Redsea 300 g3) in the next year so I do t want to have to upgrade. My concern/hesitance with the versa pumps is lack of WiFi. Should lack of WiFi be a deal breaker? My 2nd choice at this time is the redsea reefdose due to its WiFi and the fact I’ve heard good things about redseas app and convenience across multiple products.

I have a bunch of RedSea gear on my tank and also have the 4-head Versa which run on the Mobius app. The Versa’s work flawlessly so in an end er had to check on them when away. I therefor don’t believe lack of WiFi is a big issue with the Versa.

 

[Fish Styx]

I currently run three (3) Kamoer f4 pros and a kamoer FX-STP on my system, and swear by them. They are precise, reliable, and the app is fairly intuitive.

 

[exnisstech]

I've had kamoer F1 and X1 and redsea dosing pumps and they both work fine. I prefer the reefdose over the kamoer but that's because I prefer the redsea app not because the pumps are better quality. That said I don't think either is suited for kalk because the tubing is too small and kalk tends to build up clogging them. I'm far from an expert but having run a larger tank on kalk for six years successful IMO it's not really suited for dosing in very small amounts and something like AFR or 2 part would be a better plan if you even need to dose.
Kalk has nothing to do with phosphate that I'm aware of. What is your alk consumption that you used to calculate the amount of kalk needed? I would expect water changes alone with a salt that mixes close to your desired level would be easiest on a 5g tank. But again that's JMO being the type of person that prefers to keep things as simple as possible.

 

[smithaw1515]

I've had kamoer F1 and X1 and redsea dosing pumps and they both work fine. I prefer the reefdose over the kamoer but that's because I prefer the redsea app not because the pumps are better quality. That said I don't think either is suited for kalk because the tubing is too small and kalk tends to build up clogging them. I'm far from an expert but having run a larger tank on kalk for six years successful IMO it's not really suited for dosing in very small amounts and something like AFR or 2 part would be a better plan if you even need to dose.
Kalk has nothing to do with phosphate that I'm aware of. What is your alk consumption that you used to calculate the amount of kalk needed? I would expect water changes alone with a salt that mixes close to your desired level would be easiest on a 5g tank. But again that's JMO being the type of person that prefers to keep things as simple as possible.

I agree with simplicity which is I guess why Kalk seemed to appeal to me. I felt it was time to start dosing as I can’t get my alk above 6.6 and given my other parameters have been fine I’ve assumed my limiting factor is the low alk. I use tropic marin pro reef salt and when I mix new water the Hanna alk reader shows 7.1. I do 30% water change every 2 weeks. I do have all for reef as well but grew concerned with raising calcium or magnesium levels as I’ve read on other posts. Figured if I had a Doser that could manage kalk it would also do fine with AFR

 

[exnisstech]

Kalk is simple but it has a few drawbacks IME. One being the container will always have sediment in the bottom so the hose has to be suspended so it doesn't try to pump the sediment. And as mentioned it tends to clog small tubing. From what I've read it also works better at maintaining alk vs raising it. Maybe post over in the chemistry section for more detailed info. Alk of 6.6 seems awfully low.
I've been running AFR for well over a year in my acro tank. Tank is about 65g total and I do very small WCs of 2g every 2 weeks or so. I'm not seeing the calcium rise that others report so maybe those small changes are enough to keep it from rising. Another thing I like about AFR is the ability to manually dose it due to it releasing alk slowly over time. Manual dosing is great for small amounts. I manually dosed once a day for 9 months and only added a doser because i was forgetting.
I can't comment on magnesium because I never test it but these are my calcium test results showing how stable mine is on my AFR tank. I don't test calcium weekly as I don't feel the need.

The tank for reference.