Another dirt cheap gravity doser

[SeymourDuncan]

1-syringe
1-valve
1-rigid airline
1-lighter (matches can also work).
1-zip tie

Step 1: locate desired spot.
Step 2: using lighter, get tube hot enough to bend but not melt. Bend it into the shape you want, making sure the place for syringe is perfectly vertical. Dip hot plastic in cold water to make stiff. Also be careful not to crease the tube shut.
Step 3: cut tube and place valve inline.
Step 4: insert syringe.
Step 5: zip tie in place
Step 6: fill with tank water and dial in your dose rate and allow to empty
Step 7: move on to step 8
Step 8: fill with desired dosing liquids
Step 9: rinse and repeat until tank explodes with so many corals you can't control it.
Step 10: tell your corals you love them and want to marry them


This is a cheap way to dose things. It works great for things that Evap quickly like iodine. What ever you drip, this will work great! It even has the mL on the side for exact measurements.


Oh yes. DON'T DOSE WITHOUT TESTING FIRST!!!

 

[Damon]

Do you find that you have to re adjust to allow subsequent doses? I tried something similar with long airline, but I never could just pour my liquid in to dose and it drip correctly..

Any suggestions?

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Once dialed in the drips seemed consistent over 5 tests. Density of liquids plays a role in drip speed as well. I put the valve as close to the syringe as possible too. When it is empty I fill it with RO water to rinse it as well, which drips the fastest.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Oh...and disregard drip rate after tweaking. Allow to empty and record the rate after refilling it.

 

[Damon]

Ok, let me try to build it according to your suggestions and I will give feedback..

Thanks for the instructions on this device!

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Thanks, i would love any advice in improvements as well as pictures of the whacky shapes you can make with the tubing! Every tank is different so the tube shape will be unique on each system. I don't know if altitude matters but I live in indiana if that helps with you physicists out there.

With a larger syringe, a float switch, and an aqualifter you could make a controllable one I'm sure. Would defeat the cheap design factor though.

 

[akitareefer]

I'm totally into this kind of DIY but recently I spent $7 on a feeding tube which I drip dose from. The top easily opens and I put rodi and alk in and slowly drip overnight. Anything beats spending $40 on the Kent aquadoser.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Love it!!!

 

[Damon]

Lol, I was looking for one of those to do some dripping. I was thinking about medical supply, but as is, I already get strange looks for some odd the supplies I purchase. I tried amazon, but it only had them in large quantities.

And I'm in Michigan, so not too far from ya!

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Michigan eh? Ever go to portage?

 

[justgotwet]

Great thread---love it!





WE LOVE PIC'S

 

[Damon]

Michigan eh? Ever go to portage?

Nah.. Lol, a bit far up if I remember correctly. I have always said I was going to travel up. But as goofy as it sounds, and all the places I have been, that hasn't been one. From there?

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

No, but my grandmas are. I go to the LFS there for corals and the owner is from 10 minutes away from my place in IN. Coincidence? I think it isn't not one, but he gives me deals because he knows how many hours away that is for me...though its 8 mins from grandmas's (two grandmas, one is great the other is awesome) lol.

 

[Damon]

Lol, that's a good thing then.. And lol, portage.. That's south I think. When I used to travel we'd go through it on the way home..

Sent from my SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yeah its southern Michigan. The guy told me there's a better place in Lansing but that's way out of my way

 

[Damon]

Probably Preuss. That's where a lot of people really"recommend and want to go"in Michigan.

Sent from Note 2 on Tap 4

 

[Zero Nitrates]

Very cool!

 

[SeymourDuncan]

It was huge, that's all I remember. Haha


So far my frag tank has had a stable pH all night from this. It is empty after about 2 hours, but seems to last all night and day. There is no reverse lit refugium or protein skimmer on the frag tank. Just a sump full of rocks

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Very cool!

 

[SeymourDuncan]

These devices are actually better than regular dosing pumps
ONLY
if you have a frag tank with fluctuating needs. Example: Sell half your corals and you won't have a need for the same amounts of calcium!

Gauge a full tank as a full syringe, subtract or add as you sell, buy, or simply as your corals grow.

For a regular tank this is just an alternative to dosing pumps. Displays generally don't have fluctuating needs so once you calculate your average dose it is just a matter of remembering to fill it as needed.