Drip dosing using solenoid??

[hoffmeyerz]

I've been needing to dose for alk and don't have funds available to add a DOS pump to my apex system so I made a diy drip doser. It works fine but I only needed to be adding 30-40ml a day so trying to get a drip rate where I could leave it all day was impossible.
I'm curious if anyone has used a solenoid to control a drip doser. The solenoids are relatively cheap to add and I was thinking I could have it open to let the solution flow to a valve set for a fast enough drip to keep going and have that dose for a specific amount of time a few times a day.
Has anyone done this or is it a bad idea???

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

All I can say is give it a try. I had problems getting things consistent using drip for Makeup Water. If you have a Local Aquarium Club you can join, I’d try and get a used Doser, from someone getting out of the Hobby. BTW, are you using Medical Drips, I use them for Acclimating, and they are pretty good for that.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

I was using a plain airline tubing valve, mostly because I had one laying around. I have a medical style drip acclimating setup that I picked up years ago but wasn't confident it would stay set. I might rethink the medical dripper though.
My only concern is no failsafe if the solenoid fails open. I use one to fill my ato reservoir and it's never failed (knock on wood) but there's a float valve on that as a back up.

 

[Formulator]

There are also MUCH cheaper dosing pumps available. Just because you have an apex doesn’t mean you have to use their DOS system. Since it sounds like you are somewhat handy, you can get a peristaltic pump for less than $10 on amazon. Just wire up a plug to your apex, measure the dosing rate of the pump and program the apex to turn the pump on and off to achieve your desired dose.

Here is one option listed for $9.98: https://a.co/d/18nNRYz

 

[hoffmeyerz]

This was an option I was considering, thought a simple drip dose first was a good place to start.
I wish I had the funds available for the DOS, just for the ease of it. I think I'll go ahead and make one as you mentioned though.
I assume it's just wired into a breakout box for on/off activation then it's just finding the correct timing for the dose needed. Doesn't sound too hard to do.

 

[Formulator]

This was an option I was considering, thought a simple drip dose first was a good place to start.
I wish I had the funds available for the DOS, just for the ease of it. I think I'll go ahead and make one as you mentioned though.
I assume it's just wired into a breakout box for on/off activation then it's just finding the correct timing for the dose needed. Doesn't sound too hard to do.

You don’t need a break out box and that won’t work anyways. Break out boxes aren’t powered, they just receive signals from sensors. In this case all you need to do is plug the pump into any regular open outlet on the energy bar. Then program the outlet to turn on and off at certain times. There is a great calculator and code generator tool here: https://www.reeftronics.net/adpg/dosingcalc.php

Once you have the code you can just copy paste to the outlet program on your apex.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

You don’t need a break out box and that won’t work anyways. Break out boxes aren’t powered, they just receive signals from sensors. In this case all you need to do is plug the pump into any regular open outlet on the energy bar. Then program the outlet to turn on and off at certain times. There is a great calculator and code generator tool here: https://www.reeftronics.net/adpg/dosingcalc.php

Once you have the code you can just copy paste to the outlet program on your apex.

That's right the breakout box just works as I/O switches, I forgot.
Thanks, I'll dig more into it!

 

[Formulator]

That's right the breakout box just works as I/O switches, I forgot.
Thanks, I'll dig more into it!

Cool. Let me know if you have any questions. I have a DOS, but I’ve been wanting a couple more dosing pumps and answering this thread has inspired me to take this inexpensive route myself so I’m going to make one too.

 

[oreo54]

I was using a plain airline tubing valve, mostly because I had one laying around. I have a medical style drip acclimating setup that I picked up years ago but wasn't confident it would stay set. I might rethink the medical dripper though.
My only concern is no failsafe if the solenoid fails open. I use one to fill my ato reservoir and it's never failed (knock on wood) but there's a float valve on that as a back up.

Running things other than water or air (or other inert gasses) through solenoids probably isn't the best idea.
Anyways you can get peristaltic pumps with power supplies and some flow control

• Adjustable peristaltic pump, you can adjust the flow of the peristaltic pump by the knob, a water pump can meet a variety of flow requirements, greatly reducing costs.
• This dosing pump has been widely used in the field of experimental, biochemical analysis, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, products, ceramics, water treatment, environmental protection, etc.
• The pump head designed for easy disassembly, easy to clean and maintain.
• Flow rate: 8-70ml / min, Tube size: 2mm ID x 4mm OD, Power supply: DC 12V
• It is

• not recommended to use for a long time. Cannot absorb viscous liquids.

For like $31 or less.Can always add a timer.

Gikfun 12V Adjustable Peristaltic Dosing Pump Liquid Metering Pump with Adapter for Aquarium Lab Analytical EK1960​

 

[Formulator]

Running things other than water or air (or other inert gasses) through solenoids probably isn't the best idea.
Anyways you can get peristaltic pumps with power supplies and some flow control



For like $31 or less.Can always add a timer.

I suggested the same thing, but he already has an apex controller so he can plug the basic pump into a controlled outlet and program intervals for dosing throughout the day.

 

[KC2020]

I'm running one of the BRS 1.1 ML dosing pumps that I bought over 10 years ago. They come up for sale here for about $30 fairly often. They sell replacement parts though mine have never needed any.

You could do this with any inexpensive pump but I like things around my tanks to be insulated, no hand wiring. You can of course use heatshrink wrap with hand wiring or do something else to insulate it.

I have the pump plugged into one of the relay controlled outlets on the EB8 and the pH probe controls it. Once a day I stop it and at 5:05 PM another outlet on the EB8 turns on a pump inside my KW reservoir and stirs. By 8 PM enough of the lime has settled out that none will be dripped when it comes back on.

Fallback OFF
If pH > 8.20 Then OFF
If pH < 8.17 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 19:00 Then OFF