Help me to choose dosing pump

Peppe · May 27, 2018

Hello guys. I have to buy a dosimeter to administer the balling fauna marin; which do you recommend? ghl 2.1 or aquatrend doser evolution? who uses them? how are you? which of the two is more precise and does not stand out over time? Thanks in advance for the advice.

ispookie666 · May 27, 2018

I use a GHL 2.0 slave attached to my profilux. It worked well for me, cannot fault it.

Smprc · May 27, 2018

I've been using GHL 2.1 master, Triton, so far so good...except can't seem to get it to connect to the wifi...trust me tho, user error!

legionofdoon · May 31, 2018

I just can't resist...Are you dosing alpha beta or gamma. Dosimeter.

Peppe · Jun 1, 2018

Smprc said:
I've been using GHL 2.1 master, Triton, so far so good...except can't seem to get it to connect to the wifi...trust me tho, user error!

in your opinion should I buy ghl doser 2.1 x3 or x4?

Smprc · Jun 1, 2018

Peppe said:
in your opinion should I buy ghl doser 2.1 x3 or x4?

I have the 4 head one because Triton requires 4 additives to be used. Fauna I believe is only 3, so get what you need now, plus you can always add the 4th one if and when you ever need it. There is no cost savings if you get 3 now and add the 4th later...60 dollar difference.
As a side note, there are many other inexpensive units out there, however, dosing accuracy and consistency is obviously important, so based on my research this doser met the criteria. I am no expert, the unit is performing as intended. you will have to calibrate. its not difficult, but be prepared for that.

Peppe · Jun 1, 2018

Smprc said:
I have the 4 head one because Triton requires 4 additives to be used. Fauna I believe is only 3, so get what you need now, plus you can always add the 4th one if and when you ever need it. There is no cost savings if you get 3 now and add the 4th later...60 dollar difference.
As a side note, there are many other inexpensive units out there, however, dosing accuracy and consistency is obviously important, so based on my research this doser met the criteria. I am no expert, the unit is performing as intended. you will have to calibrate. its not difficult, but be prepared for that.

how do you add the fourth dosing head? do you say to add a slave? or just a dosing head? if you explain to me how?

ispookie666 · Jun 1, 2018

For GHL you do get upgrade kits. When choosing, you have the option for Standalone units or slave units (to be connected to Profilux)

Peppe · Jun 1, 2018

ispookie666 said:
For GHL you do get upgrade kits. When choosing, you have the option for Standalone units or slave units (to be connected to Profilux)

but if I do not have the profilux can I connect a single dosing head to my ghl doser 2.1 SA?

ispookie666 · Jun 1, 2018

From 3 head to 4 head? Yes I believe.
But if it's from 4 head then you would need a slave or another SA unit

Smprc · Jun 1, 2018

ispookie666 said:
From 3 head to 4 head? Yes I believe.
But if it's from 4 head then you would need a slave or another SA unit

Exactly...SA = stand alone, no controller needed and you can have 1 or 4 pumps on it and if you need more than 4 pumps then you can add a second SLAVE doser that can be controlled by the SA (Master). spookie is correct, look on the GHL website and you can see that you can purchase a pump motor and head for 60 and add that to your existing unit if there is room obviously. But if you don't want to go that route then just purchase the 4 head version already to go and have that extra pump as a spare already installed.

Peppe · Jun 1, 2018

Smprc said:
Exactly...SA = stand alone, no controller needed and you can have 1 or 4 pumps on it and if you need more than 4 pumps then you can add a second SLAVE doser that can be controlled by the SA (Master). spookie is correct, look on the GHL website and you can see that you can purchase a pump motor and head for 60 and add that to your existing unit if there is room obviously. But if you don't want to go that route then just purchase the 4 head version already to go and have that extra pump as a spare already installed.

I would like to take the 3x. if I want to add another head to take it to 4x, do I need profilux?

Smprc · Jun 1, 2018

Peppe said:
I would like to take the 3x. if I want to add another head to take it to 4x, do I need profilux?

No you do not, its just a physical little motor pump and pump head that you install.

Peppe · Jun 2, 2018

Smprc said:
No you do not, its just a physical little motor pump and pump head that you install.

ok, so if I buy the ghl doser 2.1 SA 3x and then I want to add a head motor, where do I connect it? Are there any inputs to connect it directly to the SA 3x doser?

reefwiser · Jun 2, 2018

When you add a pump head to a GHL doser you buy a kit plate and a complete dosing pump.
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/complete-dosing-pump-for-ghl-doser-2-1/
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/ghl-doser-2-1-upgrade-4x/
You then plug the pump into the circuit board inside the unit.

I would just buy a 4 unit doser as there are so many things you can do with a dosing pump. ATO dose food add phosphate or nitrate, Trace elements KH testing. I do them all I have 4 , 4 head units and keep them busy. Less for me to do.

malacoda · Jun 2, 2018

reefwiser said:
When you add a pump head to a GHL doser you buy a kit plate and a complete dosing pump.
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/complete-dosing-pump-for-ghl-doser-2-1/
https://www.aquariumcomputer.com/usa/product/ghl-doser-2-1-upgrade-4x/
You then plug the pump into the circuit board inside the unit.

I would just buy a 4 unit doser as there are so many things you can do with a dosing pump. ATO dose food add phosphate or nitrate, Trace elements KH testing. I do them all I have 4 , 4 head units and keep them busy. Less for me to do.

+1 The picture of the 3-pump 2.1 on the GHL USA website is a little misleading ... it shows 4 pumps, but the one you get will only have 3. Since the 'box' itself can hold up to 4 pumps, there will most likely be a simple cover plate over the unused pump port. You can then buy the pump and other parts needed to add a fourth pump in the future.

That said, reefwiser offered a great piece of advice: you'd probably be better off just getting the 4-pump unit. Buying the fourth pump and upgrade plate later will cost you ~$71 versus an extra $60 now if you get the 4-pump unit instead of the 3-pump.

And, depending on the size of your tank and/or the corals you keep, it probably wont' be long before you use that 4th pump.

I picked up a 4-pump for my 24g when they first came out. I was only using 2 of the pumps (Alk and Ca). Within 12 weeks I decided to get the ATO level sensor and use the 3rd pump for auto top-off. Two months after that I decided to dose trace elements. All four pumps in use within six months. Very glad I got the 4-pump unit rather than starting out with a 2-pump version.

Peppe · Jun 2, 2018

guys, thank you all for the advice; I live in Italy and therefore I will have to buy the pump from the GHL store for Europe. buying only the pump, I already have the nozzle for dosing pump inside the package? or should I buy them separately at this link?
https://store.aquariumcomputer.com/..._replacement-hose-nozzle-for-dosing-pump.html

Peppe · Jun 3, 2018

can nobody answer?

Smprc · Jun 3, 2018

Peppe said:
guys, thank you all for the advice; I live in Italy and therefore I will have to buy the pump from the GHL store for Europe. buying only the pump, I already have the nozzle for dosing pump inside the package? or should I buy them separately at this link?
https://store.aquariumcomputer.com/..._replacement-hose-nozzle-for-dosing-pump.html

Those nozzles are included when you purchase the unit. You DO NOT need to purchase separately.