Dosing lines

[JTGotrokz]

Hey everyone I’m about to setup my DOS now that my coral QT is finally over and I can move the frags into the main tank I currently have a hardline RODI tube setup running my ATO water into the tank I was wondering if I could possibly use a piece a like this to marry all three lines so the calcium, alk, and RO all came out the same tube into the tank, or if this would cause issues I’m not thinking of, I figure the ATO would clean it out between calcium during the day and the alk at night so I’m not worried about precipitation. Could they siphon into each other? I don’t know trying to limit the tubes running into the back of the tank I’m renting right now and can’t setup a large tank with a hidden sump.

 

[Joe31415]

You can, yes. I would put some cheap check valves on each of the supply lines. Partially to keep everything primed (or to prevent it from siphoning tank water if they're below the water line), but also just to help keep everything separate.

I have different, but very similar, setup. It still gets caked with calc or alk from time to time, but it takes all of five minutes to pull it apart, clean it and put it back together. I recently covered everything in a thin coat of silicone to see if that helps.
Also, for as caked as it's gotten, it's yet to actually block the flow of anything, so that's helpful.

Actually, I should mention that what makes my set up a bit different is that I have the calc and alk lines seperate, each with their own RODI line to keep them flushed. I did it that way specifically so if one additive gets clogged, my ATO will continue to function just fine. Plus, I can trigger the ATO and watch water coming from both sides as a good/quick way to make sure both lines are clear (at least from where the RODI tees in to the end).

 

[Joe31415]

One last thing, if you go that route, keep a few of those connectors on hand. You'll thank yourself when it does get clogged and you can replace it and either throw it out or clean it later.

 

[JTGotrokz]

Some good ideas and yea I was going to buy a ten pack, I usually do for all things like this, I have drawers full of this stuff.

 

[Joe31415]

Here's what I have going on. The line at the top, going through the splitter is RODI from my ATO. The two lines coming in from the right are alk and calc.
For a while, are partially due to other reasons beyond the scope of the thread, I originally did this all together (more along the lines of what you're asking about) and had the outlet right in front of the return pump, but it ended up getting completely clogged. So now I have them above the water line and separated. That way a clogged line will only stop that one addivitve instead of both additives and the ATO.

 

[Joe31415]

Also, turns out I don't have check valves on the alk and calc. I relied on them going through paristaltic pumps and giving the RODI two ways out to make sure nothing could get pushed back up into the dosing lines.
So far it appears to be working.

 

[All_talk]

I merge my ATO and AFR lines, both use peristaltic pumps so no check valves.