How do you clean your dosing heads?

[Peace River]

How do you clean your dosing heads?

You have worked hard to develop a beautiful reef aquarium and set up the right levels of chemicals and additives to be dosed, however sometimes the process can break down for a variety of reasons. If you discover that you dosing pump is not working like it should, there could be a clog. If the clog is in the tubing, then this could be fixed by cleaning or replacing the tubing, but if the flow is diminished in the dosing head then the head will need to be cleaned or replaced. Realizing that the approach to cleaning may depend on what is being dosed and what doser is being used, let’s talk about how you clean your dosing heads!

Pro Tip: Conducting regular preventive maintenance on all your equipment including your dosing pumps, is recommended. Periodically manually dosing into a small, graduated container can help you make sure that the dosing is working and is dosing the desired amount is a helpful way to make sure that your doser is working properly.

Photo by @Reefer_punk; June 2022 Reef of the Month


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[vetteguy53081]

i change them when needed as I keep spares. Occasionally, I will run water through the alk head as precip does slow down the distribution of liquid

 

[doubleshot00]

People clean them?

I clean the end of the Alk line every few months.

 

[zoomonster]

Other. Don't dose and have never owned a doser.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I should but never have and now will make sure to consider it!

 

[flyfisher2]

I keep an extra head in storage for the day when one decides to conk out.
I also buy tubing and have cut to length te replace when needed
Cleaning is easy.
I run warm water with vinegar through the tubes using a small cup so it just runs it through.
After a couple minutes I examine the line and determine if it needs to be replaced or is it good for another 3-6 months

 

[flyfisher2]

Forget to add,
Kalk and then Alk, in that order, are by far the ones to check most frequently as they clog the quickest.

 

[Scott's reef]

I don't clean my dh's but what I do do is keep spare heads that I rebuild with new tubing and at that time do any maintenance the rollers may need.

 

[exnisstech]

Other. Don't dose and have never owned a doser.

Same. Tried a kamoer F1 a week ago but didn't work out too well.
EDIT: I do dose 2 part but I do it manually.

 

[Ranjib]

I have installed a small 5v pump in the dosing container itself that runs every alternate hour. Since then I don’t clean or even mix the dosing solution (all for reef powder ). I just top it off with fixed amount of dosing powder and rodi water ,

 

[zoomonster]

Same. Tried a kamoer F1 a week ago but didn't work out too well.
EDIT: I do dose 2 part but I do it manually.

I know it's a fairly expensive proposition and requires available space, but a calcium reactor handles calcium, alkalinity, magnesium (added media) and other trace. In the long run probably a cost saver when you add up dosers, repairs and consumables. And yeah, I do add a couple drops of Lugol's weekly and supplement magnesium and strontium, both from powder, occasionally. I do have to at least replace a pump impeller about yearly and my 10lb Co2 tank lasts about a year before refill.

 

[exnisstech]

I know it's a fairly expensive proposition and requires available space, but a calcium reactor handles calcium, alkalinity, magnesium (added media) and other trace. In the long run probably a cost saver when you add up dosers, repairs and consumables. And yeah, I do add a couple drops of Lugol's weekly and supplement magnesium and strontium, both from powder, occasionally. I do have to at least replace a pump impeller about yearly and my 10lb Co2 tank lasts about a year before refill.

I have one in the box that I won but no tank or regulator yet. Problem is I'm dosing 3 seperate tanks. Its manageable now as the largest system only gets 30ml daily also dripping kalk 24/7 the other two are smaller and only get 5ml and 10ml for now.

EDIT: I'm only dosing 2 part and only the alkalinity in the two smaller tanks as calcium stays up on its own.

 

[Evil1]

I wash my hands lol

 

[Minifoot77]

Since I am the doser I do the same

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I’m one who doesn’t clean. Not that wouldn’t but I watch my levels in my 2 part clear containers. As long as they’re both dropping at the same time. We’re good to go.

 

[McPuff]

I know it's a fairly expensive proposition and requires available space, but a calcium reactor handles calcium, alkalinity, magnesium (added media) and other trace. In the long run probably a cost saver when you add up dosers, repairs and consumables. And yeah, I do add a couple drops of Lugol's weekly and supplement magnesium and strontium, both from powder, occasionally. I do have to at least replace a pump impeller about yearly and my 10lb Co2 tank lasts about a year before refill.

I thought this was true as well and for some people it may be. But in my experience, if you are really running a CARX optimally it takes quite a bit of initial investment. A peristaltic pump is almost a necessity so you can keep the flow as constant as possible (this can be very difficult otherwise). Even though I was able to keep mg, ca, alk in very tight windows, I would have needed to add KALK so that I could also increase pH (tank is in basement). So it was becoming overly equipment-heavy and I really felt that a dosing system could simplify my setup. So I sold off the CARX, bought a GHL profilux with KH director, and started to dose All for Reef. For a 300 gal reef, the dosing is fairly expensive but it's easy and I can control it all through my profilux. Didn't have that ability before and it's pretty nice, especially when travelling!

 

[paragrouper]

I am the doser—and I shower daily.

 

[Sleeepy]

I check my calibration every few months and if it's still on, I dont do anything.

 

[zoomonster]

I have one in the box that I won but no tank or regulator yet. Problem is I'm dosing 3 seperate tanks. Its manageable now as the largest system only gets 30ml daily also dripping kalk 24/7 the other two are smaller and only get 5ml and 10ml for now.

EDIT: I'm only dosing 2 part and only the alkalinity in the two smaller tanks as calcium stays up on its own.

I originally bought a carbondoser and 10lb tank from aquariumplants.com. Just took a look and guess they have a newer model at a new $$$ price. It says they now use a Tunze German built regulator. I do like the control box is no longer hung off the regulator.

 

[design.maddie]

I am in the group of peeps that just looked for the option,

"Clean a what?!" then looks over at doser. "sorry bud"