Dosing systems?

Jim Harrison · Sep 22, 2017

What, in your knowledgeable opinions, are the best bang for your buck dosing systems?

I've considered the Bubble Magus as well as a Jebao (purely on price point).

I don't want the top of the line (they get spendy), but I'd like to hear your opinions on lower cost option.

Thanks in advance!

Ashish Patel · Sep 22, 2017

Never used them personally but I've gotten frags from 2 guys who have heavy SPS dominated tanks. Both using Jebao and Bubble Magnus. I was going to purchase these but I prompted to save elsewhere and buy the GHL

mcarroll · Sep 22, 2017

I think you should at least have a Jebao....it does work. It's better than manually dosing through a dripper. (I've done both pretty extensively. Use a doser.)

However its software isn't the easiest to program, and I'm positive that the dosing heads/motors aren't the top quality that one could get. For $60 that seems fair.

However, I think those things could easily make spending more money worthwhile. I don't mind replacing pumps as needed...they're modular and inexpensive...and so far (2+ years I think) I haven't needed to do it. However making changes to programming can be a bear due to the interface. It's functional. Just not smooth. It does allow calibration, so even as things wear in you can keep your dosing accurate.

I'd like to have a chance to see what the software and pumps were like on some other brands....they all cost ≥4x the Jebao.

OREGONIC · Sep 22, 2017

I run the BRS dosing pumps with my apex classic, just have to make sure they are plugged into the 2 outlets that have relays in them. This site makes programming them with apex super easy https://www.reeftronics.net/adpg/dosingcalc.php

I did rum them on timers before i got my apex and it worked good but i had to buy a few timers before i found on that worked and would shut the pump off when the time was up. I believe the timers that worked had internal relays.

reefwiser · Sep 22, 2017

I use dosing pumps at work in the industrial food manufacturing business. I lean towards equipment that is well thought out and is easy to use. Many people try cheap pumps the set up and issues with cheap dosing pumps. Dosing alk can take a tank down really easy when a pump decides to continue pumping a container into your tank.
I have 3 GHL dosing units as it is easy to setup and use from your phone and will calculate out the doses for you based on a total dose amount and how many times a day you want to split it up for you. The quality of the pumps and the software makes it a simple and easy choice.

OREGONIC · Sep 22, 2017

reefwiser said:
I use dosing pumps at work in the industrial food manufacturing business. I lean towards equipment that is well thought out and is easy to use. Many people try cheap pumps the set up and issues with cheap dosing pumps. Dosing alk can take a tank down really easy when a pump decides to continue pumping a container into your tank.
I have 3 GHL dosing units as it is easy to setup and use from your phone and will calculate out the doses for you based on a total dose amount and how many times a day you want to split it up for you. The quality of the pumps and the software makes it a simple and easy choice.

One of the great features of the apex is being able to set a ph point at which the dosing pump will be turned off at.

dealseer · Sep 22, 2017

OREGONIC said:
One of the great features of the apex is being able to set a ph point at which the dosing pump will be turned off at.

Wouldn't that lead to Alk being too high?

OREGONIC · Sep 22, 2017

dealseer said:
Wouldn't that lead to Alk being too high?

No the exact opposite, for example this is my code on my apex for my alk dosing pump.

Fallback OFF
OSC 000:00/001:24/088:36 Then ON
If pH > 8.5 Then OFF

So my pump starts dosing at midnight for 1 mi 24 sec then is off for 88min and 36 sec before it turns back on. So every hour and half it runs for 1 min 24 sec. if my ph ever rises above 8.5 the pump will turn off and not come back on. This keeps my pump from getting stuck on and overdosing my tank with the alk portion of my 2 part. Check out the apex calculator link i left in my previous post on this thread it makes it super simple to understand.

RussiReef · Sep 22, 2017

I am using Bubble Magus pump for 5 years without any problems.

Hitman · Sep 22, 2017

I’m using the jebao DP-4. Its very easy to program, has its own controller, and after calibrating it it’s pretty darn accurate. I got mine off amazon for $60 shipped and it came with a spare pump head. So far I love it.

Jim Harrison · Sep 26, 2017

Thanks! Lots of information and I'm leaning towards a higher end dosing system, now.

reefwiser · Sep 29, 2017

Jim the GHL unit is so more flexible I now do ATO with one of my pumps and will be doing ALK control with others. you can expand what you can control and do by adding slave units to The Stand alone unit you can control up to 16 dosing pumps or 4 4 head units using one Stand alone unit.

Ashish Patel · Sep 29, 2017

I got a GHl Doser. You can actually dose 1/2ML pretty consistently throughout the day if you choose. I current dose 20ML at 1ML per dosing. So 40 doses in 24 hrs has helped me keep alk 8.5 and CA 420

Jim Harrison · Sep 29, 2017

reefwiser said:
Jim the GHL unit is so more flexible I now do ATO with one of my pumps and will be doing ALK control with others. you can expand what you can control and do by adding slave units to The Stand alone unit you can control up to 16 dosing pumps or 4 4 head units using one Stand alone unit.

That's an exceptionally good set of selling points. How well does it work for ATO? Can it put out enough for a 75 gallon tank to keep up with evaporation?