Who here has done actual testing on multiple dosing pumps?

[Jayguerra909]

I feel it's been hard to get a distinctive answer as to who had the best dosing pump. Ive yet to see a video or wrote up of multiple test from countless brands. Im looking for the brands that make the best units.

 

[Saltyreef]

I always will measure dosing pumps output manually no matter how accurate they say it is.
that being said i use the brs 1.1 dosers on a timer but have had bubble magus with built in timers. Theres always some deviation and corrections are needed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I feel it's been hard to get a distinctive answer as to who had the best dosing pump. Ive yet to see a video or wrote up of multiple test from countless brands. Im looking for the brands that make the best units.

Folks have often longed for consumer reports type of testing of reef products, but there is just no incentive for people to spend the time and money needed for those sorts of tests. Important tests, such as durability, can take months to years to be useful.

 

[Reef Jedi]

I had super good luck with an old eshopps 5 head doser. That still runs great even 20 years later. Only reason I don’t use it is because I went with a QD dos. Ease of use it super nice and it’s very quiet. I stopped calibrating it every 6 months and went to a year because it was still accurate In that time frame. Great doser.

 

[fish_collector]

With hobby grade dosers, if you are looking for reliability, a Spectrapure Litermeter is going to be the winner. They will work for 20 years or more. Litermeters are absolutely NOT cheap, mass produced Chinese dosers. They are manufactured in Tempe, Arizona with robust components.

I currently use 2 of them, with 2 remote pump modules as slaves. I bought both of them used, and both of them have manufacturing dates that are 13 and 16 years ago. Ive replaced the tubing on both of them.

Each unit has its own pump and will control 2 additional pumps, each with its own dosing volume. The newer model 4 will control more I believe.

They have to be calibrated, which entails pumping 500ml of water and pressing the stop button when that has been reached, the unit is measuring how many seconds that takes and then it can calculate the time needed to pump any given amount of water.

I use mine as an ATO as well as dosing 2 part. They are rock solid day in and day out. The desired dose is split up into 150 incremental doses over a 24hr period.

Historically they have been fairly expensive, a LiterMeter III is still common in the hobby but a model 4 has been around a while now. Anything from Spectrapure is considered a high end piece. They are not cloud based or WiFi, all of the logic is internal to the unit itself, a plus in my opinion.

I paid $125 for the first used one I bought, and $25 for the “parts only” unit that I bought shortly afterwards. Ends up the “parts only” unit just needed new tubing lol.

The only drawback I’ve found so far is that they have a minimum 50ml per day rate, that is because they spread out the dose 150 times over 24 hours. Early on when I was using them to dose 2 part I had to make the 2 part half strength and double the dosage so the LiterMeter could accurately dose it, I needed less than 50ml per day. Ends up it was an easy workaround.

You really can’t go wrong with a LiterMeter. I will never get rid of mine they have so many uses. There is no reason they won’t work for another 20 years.

I hope someone can use my review.

 

[elysics]

"Best" is a tricky word. What makes a dosing pump "the best"? Microliter accuracy? But who actually needs that and is paying extra for that any benefit to the tank for normal dosing? Maybe if you are dosing concentrated traces directly but that's a special case.

Time it lasts before accuracy/dosing amount drifts? You should check regularly anyway and calibration will take care of it. Is a head that lasts 5 years better than one that lasts 2 if you can replace the one that lasts 2 years many times for the price of the other?

Continual dosing capability? If your setup doesn't use this, then it's pointless.

Software? There are some nice features like splitting up one off dosages as small increases over your regular dosing and then going back to your normal dose amounts, or giving you reminders when your reservoirs need to be filled, etc. But nowadays many have that kind of thing. But if you hook it up to a calcium reactor you don't need all the fuss.

Looks? Some people care about having a spaceship cockpit under their tank.

Sound? To some people this is really important, not to others. And there's quite a variety.

Throughput? Doing AWC needs a very different pump than dosing concentrated additives.

And then there's connectivity to aquarium controllers and testing devices.


I don't think there is such a thing as a best dosing pump. Different ones for different applications/tank sizes/budgets/noise and looks requirements.

 

[Pistondog]

I feel it's been hard to get a distinctive answer as to who had the best dosing pump. Ive yet to see a video or wrote up of multiple test from countless brands. Im looking for the brands that make the best units.

I have 4 brs 1.1 ml pumps. Repeatable, but not accurate. Output ranges from 1,4 up to 2.0. I have them on timers, apex.

We also use versa pumps for awc, calibrated monthly. These need their tubing replaced every 6 mos or so. You can diy the tube replacement.

 

[exnisstech]

I have no idea which is best but I've used kamoer F1 and X1 and also a RS reefdose 2. They all worked fine when I used them 2 part and AFR. I do like the RS app better than the kamoer app but that's not a knock on the kamoer just a personal preference.

 

[Jayguerra909]

Folks have often longed for consumer reports type of testing of reef products, but there is just no incentive for people to spend the time and money needed for those sorts of tests. Important tests, such as durability, can take months to years to be useful.

Figured some one maybe had a reefing YouTube channel. Those guys like to spend money on products to review them or either get them sent for free etc. Guess maybe thats not the case with reefing snd YouTube for this.

 

[Jayguerra909]

"Best" is a tricky word. What makes a dosing pump "the best"? Microliter accuracy? But who actually needs that and is paying extra for that any benefit to the tank for normal dosing? Maybe if you are dosing concentrated traces directly but that's a special case.

Time it lasts before accuracy/dosing amount drifts? You should check regularly anyway and calibration will take care of it. Is a head that lasts 5 years better than one that lasts 2 if you can replace the one that lasts 2 years many times for the price of the other?

Continual dosing capability? If your setup doesn't use this, then it's pointless.

Software? There are some nice features like splitting up one off dosages as small increases over your regular dosing and then going back to your normal dose amounts, or giving you reminders when your reservoirs need to be filled, etc. But nowadays many have that kind of thing. But if you hook it up to a calcium reactor you don't need all the fuss.

Looks? Some people care about having a spaceship cockpit under their tank.

Sound? To some people this is really important, not to others. And there's quite a variety.

Throughput? Doing AWC needs a very different pump than dosing concentrated additives.

And then there's connectivity to aquarium controllers and testing devices.


I don't think there is such a thing as a best dosing pump. Different ones for different applications/tank sizes/budgets/noise and looks requirements.

I guess for me im looking at what lasts the longest, what doses the most accurate, what has a really good app. App and correct dosing are key items for me.

 

[areefer01]

Figured some one maybe had a reefing YouTube channel. Those guys like to spend money on products to review them or either get them sent for free etc. Guess maybe thats not the case with reefing snd YouTube for this.

This is not a guarentee that you can trust the content. Personal bias and now gifted items muddy the waters.

The FTC actually requires social media influencers, bloggers, and creators to clearly and conspicuously disclose if they received a product for free or at a reduced price. Also if there is a connection to the business or paid by.

There really is no best but if you are looking for it maybe your best bet is to see the reviews of the product online, at the point of sell, and read the ratings. The challenge is that not everyone posts reviews and we don't know the installation base. So the best you have is doing your homework by listing out brands interested in, then doing some searches to see what fellow hobbyist say, and made an educated decision.

 

[rtparty]

How long does it need to be reliable for before they can end the test? 6 months? 6 years? 15 years? Are we talking continuous use or just once a day?

The BRS 1.1 and Drew’s dosers are some of the oldest designs on the market. I believe Ryan was the first to bring a mass produced dosing pump to the hobby? At least the first affordable one that I can remember.

The DOS has been around for years and has a great track record. It requires an Apex though.

Kamoer is a very well known and regarded brand.

Tunze new dosing pump will be fantastic. The quality of the stepper motor they are using tells us that.

 

[Jayguerra909]

At this point guys I feel im in between the red sea doser 4 and ghl 2.2. Are these 2 good units im debating or should I throw some one else into the mix?

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

If you don’t mind no WiFi/bluetooth capabilities, Bubble Magus dosers are a good choice. I’ve been using the T11 to dose alk, cal and mag and it’s been very reliable and accurate so far.

 

[John Neuzil]

I use the Hydros Minnow which has two heads. The Hydros Blenny has four. For continuous dosing i use the Hydros Sole.

 

[kboogie]

"Best" is a tricky word. What makes a dosing pump "the best"? Microliter accuracy? But who actually needs that and is paying extra for that any benefit to the tank for normal dosing? Maybe if you are dosing concentrated traces directly but that's a special case.

Time it lasts before accuracy/dosing amount drifts? You should check regularly anyway and calibration will take care of it. Is a head that lasts 5 years better than one that lasts 2 if you can replace the one that lasts 2 years many times for the price of the other?

Continual dosing capability? If your setup doesn't use this, then it's pointless.

Software? There are some nice features like splitting up one off dosages as small increases over your regular dosing and then going back to your normal dose amounts, or giving you reminders when your reservoirs need to be filled, etc. But nowadays many have that kind of thing. But if you hook it up to a calcium reactor you don't need all the fuss.

Looks? Some people care about having a spaceship cockpit under their tank.

Sound? To some people this is really important, not to others. And there's quite a variety.

Throughput? Doing AWC needs a very different pump than dosing concentrated additives.

And then there's connectivity to aquarium controllers and testing devices.


I don't think there is such a thing as a best dosing pump. Different ones for different applications/tank sizes/budgets/noise and looks requirements.

I guess for me im looking at what lasts the longest, what doses the most accurate, what has a really good app. App and correct dosing are key items for me.

What specific app features would make an app for a doser “good”? I want to help you get the information you desire. Being specific about what makes an app “good” will go a long way to getting you answers.

 

[ColorMeGone]

I use Chihiros pumps and when you calibrate them they are spot on.

 

[elysics]

At this point guys I feel im in between the red sea doser 4 and ghl 2.2. Are these 2 good units im debating or should I throw some one else into the mix?

Do you have other GHL devices or plan to get them? They are good pumps, but the software is maybe not the most intuitive or best looking. But if you get the ecosystem the of course they are the best choice over outside products.

 

[CapitalCityAquatics]

I feel it's been hard to get a distinctive answer as to who had the best dosing pump. Ive yet to see a video or wrote up of multiple test from countless brands. Im looking for the brands that make the best units.

I calibrated the ones I got and they all seems accurate