Dosing pump worth it?

Dallascowboys16 · Jun 22, 2020

Hey everyone, currently I dose my two part by hand, but am looking into automating the process with some dosing pumps. I have two questions here. The first is do dosing pumps actually help to create a higher level of stability by enabling you to dose smaller amounts throughout the day rather than all at once (the way I do it now)? It would seem to make sense that adding a small amount of alk/ca throughout the day would be better than dumping it all at once, but I wonder if anyone actually noticed a difference in the health of their tank inhabitants. The second question I have is what would be a good set of dosing pumps that are in the mid price range? I just need reliable equipment and I honestly have no idea where to start with automated dosing. I would appreciate any input on both of these questions.

reefiniteasy · Jun 22, 2020

I am in the same boat as you, I’m dosing manually every other day. I have my eye on a couple of pumps but I’d like to see the answers to your questions.

vsolovyev · Jun 22, 2020

My opinion, Yes. When I got a dosing pump it made everything so much easier for me, I didn’t have to worry about when to dose or how much to dose, it’s all automated. As for as my Sps growth, I would argue that noticed a difference in my corals happiness, because of stability. If your looking for a mid priced one, my first pump was a jebao DP-3, some people like it others don’t, I ran it for a long time with no issues, it’s a good pump that won’t break the bank, also it’s on Amazon.

150 Gallon Reef · Jun 22, 2020

I have noticed a difference since I put dosing pumps in line. Much more stability and no forgetting to dose one day. I use reef breeders brand dosing pumps and they have been perfect for what I need. Good price and quality too. Easy to use on the app. Once you get a doser, you'll never look back and manual again

robbyg · Jun 22, 2020

A Dosing pump is a lot better. Adding small amounts over a few hours is a lot better than dumping in a big dose.

If I can give you one piece of advice is that when you get a dosing pump and set it all up, you should put RODI water into the containers first and watch the levels in the container drop each day for an eight day period. You want to make sure the dosing pump is not doing anything odd and that you have the program setup correctly before adding the two part. I almost killed my tank when I replaced my dosing pump with a spare and the controller ID it as a new pump but somehow kept using the old dosing pumps program while running the new ones settings also. So I had double the Alk and Calc going into the water for several days. The corals started to look off and it was then that I looked at the container and knew something was wrong with the dosing amount. Once setup a typical pump runs for a year or more without any issues.

Marlon C · Jun 22, 2020

If your worried about price check out the kamora single pump they are like 80

Henryb9 · Jun 22, 2020

Yes it’s much better, it’s much more consisted and you could spread it out through the day. i don’t know your budget but I started with the jebeo 3 head doser, it was great.

Dallascowboys16 · Jun 22, 2020

Thank you for all of the replies. I will look into the pumps that were recommended. My tank is small, but I am really getting sick of dosing two part constantly. I think it will be helpful to start spreading the dosages out since my SPS are starting to kick into faster growth mode and I need to dose more two part than I am comfortable putting in all at once.

NickC · Jun 22, 2020

I've been using two BRS 1.1ml/min dosers plugged into a kasa smart power strip. I liked the power strip so much I bought one for my lights as well. This is the first tank I've used two part to supplement ca and alk, previuous systems were kalk and/or calcium reactor.

So far so good, I'm happy with the pumps.

jccaclimber · Jun 23, 2020

I’ve been very happy with dosing pumps. Partly because it seems to work a bit better applied gradually, and partly because I’m forgetful and don’t like spending time dosing.
If cost is an issue and you have an ATO, kalk in an ATO is a poorly controlled but surprisingly effective solution. If you’re past that then yes, any dosing pump will do nicely. Do watch the output of the alk line as those like to clog up, particularly if they get splashed on, which leads to a plugged line, leading to a burst dosing tube, leading to your doser dumping its contents out at the pump instead of the end of the line...so, mount your doser higher than the reservoir and not over electronics. I’ve only seen that be an issue once or twice out of dozens of installations, but it’s easy enough to avoid, so avoid it.

dopey · Jun 23, 2020

Think it depends on how you are as a person. If you enjoy the dosing, and actually do it consistently, awesome! You are a better reefer than I

I started dosing by hand, and first days it was fun/new/interesting to find the correct amount.

Then it became a chore.

With a dosing pump, once you get it dialed in. No more chore

Dallascowboys16 · Jun 24, 2020

I think all of the input I received has made me decide I'm definitely picking up some dosers. I like the idea of enhanced stability (and less work for me

) Thank you everyone for the help!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 24, 2020

If cost is a big factor, putting alkalinity on a dosing pump and once a day manual dosing of calcium is a fine plan.

Bryn · Jun 29, 2020

I guess it is a double edge sword. You can try and remember to dose, especially if it is small amounts, but when you need larger amounts, a dose is really helpful for small additions through out the day, keeping stability. Then there is the trust that the dosing unit will do what you expect.

Uncle99 · Jun 29, 2020

Absolutely.
The doser let me dial my chemistry and keep it stable with minimum flux.
I am dosing Nopox, MG, CA, Alk, and the RS Trace colors a,b,c,d.
Combined with an ATO, a lot of daily work is eliminated.
Now I just fill the jars once a month.

Graffiti Spot · Jul 1, 2020

I have seen a number of tanks that Dose by hand once a day. The corals will do fine dosing by hand as long as the daily swing dose not get to large. Copps used to dose once a day on one of his older tanks because he didn’t want the dosing pump to break and crash his tank. He would dose into a container and check the amount dosed before he dumped it in the tank manually. This tank was packed with large nicely colored acropora so it can be done either way. There is no “need” to get dosing pumps. You would have to have a lot of coral in a small volume of water for anything to get stressed out. Even then I would bet that most corals would be able to adjust to the consistent daily swing. You will probably have to adjust the dose again when you add dosing pumps because the consistent dose normally makes the corals grow a tad quicker in the beginning.

Uncle99 · Jul 1, 2020

For me, my coral growth exploded after I changed from once a day to auto dosing.
If it’s just 2 part, then sure, but I dose 8 things, frequent and in very small 1/2 ml amounts each half hour.
Same with using the ATO, keeps salinity right on point.

To the question “need”, your right nope. You can have a great tank without skimmers, ATO, dosers and the like.

jccaclimber · Jul 1, 2020

Uncle99 said:
For me, my coral growth exploded after I changed from once a day to auto dosing.
If it’s just 2 part, then sure, but I dose 8 things, frequent and in very small 1/2 ml amounts each half hour.
Same with using the ATO, keeps salinity right on point.

What else are you dosing?

Uncle99 · Jul 1, 2020

Nopox, MG, CA, Alk, and Red Sea Trace Colours, A,B,C,D.

Also, I only dose Nopox when lights are on, and Alk when lights are out. This seems to reduce flux in PH. CA I dose hourly, but only 15 minutes after Alk.

For me, the doser is a must as it would be impossible to manage those additions manually and accurately.

It seemed to me that when I used the doser, coral growth exploded from what I had.
I used to wonder, “Are they growing”.......now I wish some would slow down......