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bobpiker
03-18-2011, 11:16 AM
How's this sound?

I was thinking of using a Luft pump with a manifold and tubing for pumping air into 3 plastic gallon containers containing dosing solutions for calc, alk, and mag. The pump and gallon containers would be on the same level in a cabinet below my tank as my sump so the head loss will be minimal. There would then be another manifold with tubes between each container and my sump.

I would adjust each manifold valve indepently before my sump to achieve desired dosing and will test first.

I thought about using just gravity from the containers, but I'm hoping the back air pressure created by the luft continuously running before the sealed containers will help to alleviate residue buildup in the valves which will occur from dosing and maintain a steady pressure. The manifold will still have to be cleaned periodically, I'm sure, but not nearly as often, hopefully, as would be required without the use of the luft.

Thanks, Bob

Funky187
03-19-2011, 07:52 AM
sounds interesting. i would wonder if the solution would stay at a consistant drip after it runs for a while. you would need to do a lot of adjusting to make sure it does. do you already have a luft pump? from my experience they are super loud. check out this link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Peristaltic-Dosing-Pump-2-control-/280645455336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4157c5cde8#ht_1167wt_1139

he has a 3 pump version too.

bobpiker
03-19-2011, 04:18 PM
I saw that dosing pump and was considering it. If it weren't in Hong Kong and the seller having only a 19 feeback history I would jump on it for that price. I may still, though, and take a shot. I'm glad you pointed out the noise factor on the luft pump. I'm sure there are other pump options so I'll have to do some research and try to find the quiestest with really good pump pressure.

I'm hoping the air pressure will help to achieve a consistent drip but I guess it really depends on how clean the valves will remain over time.

Thanks, Tyler. Let me know if you can think of another pump option with less of a noise factor. I'd appreciate the added input.

Bob