GHL dosing pump users, sell me on this.

[Scott.h]

I'm in the market for another 4 head dosing pump. I currently own 2 dos units on another system. I'm strongly considering an apex on this system with a pair of dos, but I don't feel it's that necessary right now.
Apex+2 dos=$1400. So my thoughts are GHL and maybe an apex down the road.

As I'm trying to research I don't find a whole lot of info on them. Those who own them say the quality is great, but the only video on programming the wifi unit looks like a big pain.

I'm assuming this model is the one I want? Top of the line? Any downsides? http://www.aquacave.com/ghl-profilu...MIpt2rs-eb1gIV0rXACh39uwD3EAQYAyABEgLd-vD_BwE

Tell me about it. Can I control it with a phone app? How hard is it to program?

Thanks

 

[MaddyP]

@JALIASC

 

[JonJ]

I have one and use the iPhone app exclusively to control dosing amounts and times of day, etc. I had to use a pc to set it up and it was a pain in the butt. It required updates to the pc (com port) and was finicky to get to connect to wifi. Not sure how much of the difficulty can be attributed to my aptitude, but I remember a small celebration once I got it connected . With that said, I like it so much I am buying another one for my new tank. Definitely a quality product.

 

[Scubabum]

I was looking at 2X DOS and went with the GHL 2.1 4 head dosing pump. Phone app works awesome for me, super easy to setup and dosing is spot on. Love my GHL doser.

 

[minus9]

They are super accurate and once set up, easy to dial in and/or change dosing amounts. I'm a mac guy, but fortunately I bought a PC for my son (for school work), so I was able to program and set it up after some online research. The firmware update was the only tricky part, mostly because I'm a mac guy and hate PC's. It's cloud based, so I just use the iphone app or my browser to make changes, super easy.
It's rock solid and worth every penny.
Just my two pennies.

 

[Scott.h]

I have apple stuff too. My son has a a pc but that's the frustrating part, I assumed.

Hopefully I can get some help programming if need be.

Is the link that I provided the unit that I want to buy?

 

[JonJ]

I have apple stuff too. My son has a a pc but that's the frustrating part, I assumed.

Hopefully I can get some help programming if need be.

Is the link that I provided the unit that I want to buy?

Yep, that's it. Same place that I bought mine as well.

Also, join their Facebook group for help if needed. I actually called their US rep on a weekend and he not only answered but helped me get it set up over the phone.

 

[minus9]

That's where I bought mine too.

 

[Whipples]

To connect the first time, use USB and then open "Device Manager" and look for the com port menu to expand, you should see the doser there and a port number which you then input into the GHL Control Center application to connect. I have both my doser and GHL Mitras set up with static IP addresses on my home network and in the ~year I've owned the doser it has only disconnected when the network went down, which I can't say the same for my Apex. Getting that connection the first time is a bit tricky, but once you learn the "GHL way" it is very smooth sailing from there. I primarily use the iPhone app to control my doser and even then it is really only to adjust the schedule and fill the containers digitally.

I was in a similar boat to you and considered the DOS when first looking at dosers but went with GHL (even though I own an Apex) as the doser itself can control 3 additional slave units for a total of 16 pumps I believe, can operate a few stirrers, has temp probe capability, and is a redundancy should something go wrong with Apex my dosing would not be affected. At $430 for 4 heads versus $600 for two DOS heads (and subsequently less space taken up) to me it is a no brainer. Calibration can be tricky if you use soft tubing for your lines, I suggest using hard tubing (like RO tubing) and keep the runs as short as you can. If you do go the GHL route, join the Facebook group or visit the GHL thread here on Reef2Reef, Vinny and Marco frequent both and offer lots of help!

 

[minus9]

To connect the first time, use USB and then open "Device Manager" and look for the com port menu to expand, you should see the doser there and a port number which you then input into the GHL Control Center application to connect. I have both my doser and GHL Mitras set up with static IP addresses on my home network and in the ~year I've owned the doser it has only disconnected when the network went down, which I can't say the same for my Apex. Getting that connection the first time is a bit tricky, but once you learn the "GHL way" it is very smooth sailing from there. I primarily use the iPhone app to control my doser and even then it is really only to adjust the schedule and fill the containers digitally.

I was in a similar boat to you and considered the DOS when first looking at dosers but went with GHL (even though I own an Apex) as the doser itself can control 3 additional slave units for a total of 16 pumps I believe, can operate a few stirrers, has temp probe capability, and is a redundancy should something go wrong with Apex my dosing would not be affected. At $430 for 4 heads versus $600 for two DOS heads (and subsequently less space taken up) to me it is a no brainer. Calibration can be tricky if you use soft tubing for your lines, I suggest using hard tubing (like RO tubing) and keep the runs as short as you can. If you do go the GHL route, join the Facebook group or visit the GHL thread here on Reef2Reef, Vinny and Marco frequent both and offer lots of help!

Whipples is right, follow his directions and you shouldn't have any issues. I use RO tubing and it's spot on. There was some talk about expanding the dosers capabilities using the built in expansion port, adding powerbar control, pH probe, etc.... GHL all the way! If it had native apple support, I would've bought the Profilux 4 for my new build, but I think PC's are a PITA to work on and I avoid them as much as I can. ;Nailbiting

 

[Scott.h]

To connect the first time, use USB and then open "Device Manager" and look for the com port menu to expand, you should see the doser there and a port number which you then input into the GHL Control Center application to connect. I have both my doser and GHL Mitras set up with static IP addresses on my home network and in the ~year I've owned the doser it has only disconnected when the network went down, which I can't say the same for my Apex. Getting that connection the first time is a bit tricky, but once you learn the "GHL way" it is very smooth sailing from there. I primarily use the iPhone app to control my doser and even then it is really only to adjust the schedule and fill the containers digitally.

I was in a similar boat to you and considered the DOS when first looking at dosers but went with GHL (even though I own an Apex) as the doser itself can control 3 additional slave units for a total of 16 pumps I believe, can operate a few stirrers, has temp probe capability, and is a redundancy should something go wrong with Apex my dosing would not be affected. At $430 for 4 heads versus $600 for two DOS heads (and subsequently less space taken up) to me it is a no brainer. Calibration can be tricky if you use soft tubing for your lines, I suggest using hard tubing (like RO tubing) and keep the runs as short as you can. If you do go the GHL route, join the Facebook group or visit the GHL thread here on Reef2Reef, Vinny and Marco frequent both and offer lots of help!

Whipples is right, follow his directions and you shouldn't have any issues. I use RO tubing and it's spot on. There was some talk about expanding the dosers capabilities using the built in expansion port, adding powerbar control, pH probe, etc.... GHL all the way! If it had native apple support, I would've bought the Profilux 4 for my new build, but I think PC's are a PITA to work on and I avoid them as much as I can. ;Nailbiting

Thanks I'm going to get one ordered up. So if you are using ro tubing isn't the downside that you can't see the fluid in the tubing? What about when air gets in there etc?

 

[Wazzel]

I just got mine last week. It is run as a slave through my profilux 4. It was not that hard to set up. I am also a mac guy, but my son has a PC so not that big a deal. I use clear-ish RO tubing for mine so I can see the fluid. It is the same tubing set up I ran my vertex lybra and never had an issue.

 

[Whipples]

The trick is to run calibration (runs pumps for one minute) to get the lines full and then to measure the output at the end of the line, works best if you can use a graduated cylinder where you will have the dosing lines terminate. If you don't let the dosing fluid go too low in the container it should not allow air into the lines

 

[Wazzel]

The trick is to run calibration (runs pumps for one minute) to get the lines full and then to measure the output at the end of the line, works best if you can use a graduated cylinder where you will have the dosing lines terminate. If you don't let the dosing fluid go too low in the container it should not allow air into the lines

You can also use the manual dose button to fill the lines. It is what I did.

 

[Whipples]

That works, too! I just liked letting it run as it's not ergonomically feasible to hold the button and container on my previous setup.

 

[Scott.h]

With my dos I used the soft tubing supplied. On one of the heads I dose small amounts of no3. Because it's not used that much over time the weight of the fluid hanging allows gaps that I occasionally purge out. I've thought of using hard tubing as the packaging kinks in the flexible drive me nuts. Now I know.

 

[radiata]

I'm in the market for another 4 head dosing pump. I currently own 2 dos units on another system. I'm strongly considering an apex on this system with a pair of dos, but I don't feel it's that necessary right now.
Apex+2 dos=$1400. So my thoughts are GHL and maybe an apex down the road.

Do you really need a 2nd Apex? Can't you run both your systems on just one?

 

[Scott.h]

Do you really need a 2nd Apex? Can't you run both your systems on just one?

If they were close I could combined the two. But the two systems are 50 feet apart so I'm not sure I could pull that off. Plus I'd need a second everything so I'm not sure how much it would save me all said and done.

 

[minus9]

The trick is to run calibration (runs pumps for one minute) to get the lines full and then to measure the output at the end of the line, works best if you can use a graduated cylinder where you will have the dosing lines terminate. If you don't let the dosing fluid go too low in the container it should not allow air into the lines

I have the refill alarm set a little high, which gives me a little time to refill without running dry.

 

[Slayvoff]

Can someone explain these dosers to me? each doser head is for a chemical right? and inside that machine are 4 bottles each of which is full of those chemicals you are dosing? And then why does each head have two tubing exits and where do you have them going - into the sump?