Dosing pump options

[Luckyduck]

So I'm going on vacation for a week and a half and don't really have anyone that I can count on to fully take care of my tank dosing and top-offs while I'm gone. I'm looking into getting an inexpensive dosing pump. I am looking at 2 different brands. The Jebao Doser 3.4 WiFi or the Coral Box wifi dosing pump. I know they aren't top of the line but I have a 15 gallon nano so it's unnecessary and I don't have the money to spend on a Neptune system so please give me feedback on the options I'm listing. The Coral box seems more reliable and comes with a warranty from the US but it does not allow you to connect to the unit if you're off of the home wifi network; which I guess isn't a big deal because hypothetically you set it once and don't have to do anything to it besides the occasional calibration. I'm not sure how small of units each of them goes down to which will be somewhat of a small issue because I only use 2.4ml of Alk every 3 days as of now. Magnesium 3mls a day. I could make it work if they only go as low as 1ml but if one is less that will take the prize. Anywho has anyone had any experience with either of these models?

 

[Lasse]

I would go for the Coral Box. It has stepper motors and can dose small amounts. It can be a little tricky to configure but when its done - it just works.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Marc2952]

i went the cheap jebao route, extremely accurate once you calibrate ( which only takes a couple of minutes).

 

[reef3reef]

I have the Coral box Wifi doser. I am not sure if it has stepper motors, likely not. But it's fairly accurate and stays calibrated for months, at least for mine. I dose tiny amount every hour 24 times a day to spread out the effect. I use the stock silicone tubing which is perfect for the job.

 

[Lasse]

Maybe I´m wrong but my memory said that it has a stepper motor. However - can´t find it now.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[WvAquatics]

I'm looking into the coralbox and the reefbreeders ato.

 

[Luckyduck]

Maybe I´m wrong but my memory said that it has a stepper motor. However - can´t find it now.

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks Lasse, I'll shoot them an email and see if they get back to me what they say! I feel like I'd rather go American made anyways.. I just got a cheap Chinese digital thermometer for my tank to replace the same model I currently use as it was 2 degrees low... This one is 2 degrees high! Ugh! Lol

 

[Luckyduck]

I have the Coral box Wifi doser. I am not sure if it has stepper motors, likely not. But it's fairly accurate and stays calibrated for months, at least for mine. I dose tiny amount every hour 24 times a day to spread out the effect. I use the stock silicone tubing which is perfect for the job.

When you say tiny amounts what are you referring to? Under 1ml?

 

[Lasse]

Thanks Lasse, I'll shoot them an email and see if they get back to me what they say! I feel like I'd rather go American made anyways.. I just got a cheap Chinese digital thermometer for my tank to replace the same model I currently use as it was 2 degrees low... This one is 2 degrees high! Ugh! Lol

I did not mentioned that I have personal experiences with that pump - we have run one of the first pumps for more than 3 years now at my work - nema problema. Quality is - IMO - rather good.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Luckyduck]

Awesome good to know. I haven't gotten a response back from them yet but I think I have gathered enough information to make my decision and I'm going to go with the Coral box. That's originally the one I wanted to go with anyways but just because you weren't able to access it when you were off the home network kind of made me withdrawal my desire for it but in all honesty I really shouldn't need to access it once everything is all set up anyways. Maybe to change a few things but definitely not for the one week I'll be on vacation for. Thanks for all of your Insight Lasse!

 

[reef3reef]

When you say tiny amounts what are you referring to? Under 1ml?

like around a couple ml per dose in the beginning. it's accurate to 0.1ml.

as your system grows the consumption will increase. the app makes it really easy to make adjustment from time to time.

 

[reef3reef]

Oh one thing I need to mention is if you get the coralbox make sure you get a proper measuring cylinder to calibrate your unit. the plastic thing that comes with the unit is not accurate at all. i have 2 of them. they give me totally different readings for the same volume. neither one is true.

 

[Luckyduck]

I'm looking into the coralbox and the reefbreeders ato.

I'm really kind of considering getting a Reef Breeders ATO or Tunze osmolator ATO and the Jebao doser. I'm not sure if I should rely on a cheap doser to top my tank off even though it's only about 500 mL a day I can see that spelling disaster at some point. It's either that or I spend $400 on a Kamoer Doser but I hear no matter how much you spend on a doser they all are susceptible to the same troubles.