inline dosing into a return line

[mnreefster]

Anybody ever tried something like this before? Very intriguing for my balling dosing option. Actually similar to how hospitals inject drugs using venous access for their patients. One could even use an angled fitting vs a T-fitting. Trying to think about plumbing with my new tank that is coming in the fall. The T-fitting would be part of the return line placed toward the end of the return line in the sump before it goes to the DT.

Chads Arduino Build

www.plantedtank.net

 

[Reefering1]

Doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Besides for making the doser push fluid through a check valve, it looks like it will get clogged with precipitation. Why not let it drip into return pump chamber and let the pump mix and pump it into circulation?

 

[mnreefster]

Mostly proof of concept and it would add versatility to any system for a wide array of functions beyond balling dosing. It immediately drops the concentration due to the flow so precipitation shouldn't be an issue. It would be nice not to just 'dump' concentrate into the return pump chamber where concentrations are very high until it gets pulled into the pump. I believe the physics work as long as there is no air getting pulled into the system. Also the check valve shouldn't be an issue if a single solution is used (one type of solution per line) and getting pushed unidirectionally. I don't know - maybe it wouldn't. But I believe it's worth trying given the opportunities it could be used for. If a longer line were used and went with the flow I really believe it could be a nice neat way to get fluids pushed into the system easily and cleanly.

 

[mfollen]

Anything that can go wrong will
KISS wherever possible in this hobby.
Fight your battles elsewhere

 

[mnreefster]

Not really about fighting battles - just looking beyond, exploring opportunities. Most things will go wrong, then we see why and do it different. Cool cool. I'll do some experimenting with saltwater and see how it goes.

 

[Reefering1]

I have a small pump in the return chamber to mix the solutions before the return pump sucks it up..
I've had a dosing line fall into the water before, it turned into a big crystal within a week. The direct contact of solution and water that is of concern- instead of diluting into flowing water, it will mix in the check valve where solution meets water. This is all assuming that the dosing pump will be able to push the check valve open against the head pressure of the water in plumbing.

 

[Dom]

This is interesting.

Personally, I don't see an advantage. I drip dose, so I need to see the drip rate of supplementation.

But from a curiosity standpoint, I'd like to see how this works out!

 

[Echomsp]

Seems it would be hard to know the volume you are dosing. I would think changing the condition at the outlet would impact the flow and I don't know how you would calibrate

 

[mnreefster]

The idea is it would be used with a dosing pump which would control volume output. If there is no air coming into the line and it is a closed system it’s not going to create any suction. The precipitation question is valid, though it’s not the same as a dosing line in a return pump chamber, which for the most part is standing water. Think about placing the dosing line in running water out of a spigot as a related example. Would it precipitate out in that case? Not sure….

 

[mnreefster]

I’ll also say as a pharmacist this an exact situation that we deal with when administering drugs via venous access When we think about precipitation with drugs in the body. If it can be done to humans with drugs, I’m convinced there is a way to accomplish this.

 

[Reefering1]

Maybe if there was a standpipe, at the highest point, just before the outlet. And have it drip into that. But then if outlet becomes clogged water will come out the standpipe. Sounds like you're thinking of a venturi siphon. But even the venturi of a skimmer experienced salt creep. What size tank/ return pump are we talking about here?

 

[mnreefster]

not drawn to scale obviously but here is the idea. 1” return line for a 150 gallon DT.

 

[Dom]

Seems it would be hard to know the volume you are dosing. I would think changing the condition at the outlet would impact the flow and I don't know how you would calibrate

Well, you could always calculate the volume you are dosing based on the amount of volume missing in the reservoir.

 

[Harpo]

I was thinking about doing the same thing. The returns in my sump has a few unions so I drew this up in Fusion 360 and I'm having this 3d printed. The 4 outer holes are for my 1/4 lines from my doser and the center holes are for a low volume/low pressure return line. The 4 holes around the perimeter will be for set screws to hole the 1/4 line in place. My 3d parts should arrive tomorrow

 

[mnreefster]

I was thinking about doing the same thing. The returns in my sump has a few unions so I drew this up in Fusion 360 and I'm having this 3d printed. The 4 outer holes are for my 1/4 lines from my doser and the center holes are for a low volume/low pressure return line. The 4 holes around the perimeter will be for set screws to hole the 1/4 line in place. My 3d parts should arrive tomorrow

That is actually really cool idea. I’d like to know how this works for you. interesting concept with the set screws and the dual purpose as a low flow return. Love new ideas. Might not be perfect with the first prototype but I really see this idea working. And being able to introduce a new concept or add another tool to this hobby would be great.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Why?

 

[Harpo]

Because I have no dosing ports in my sump

 

[mnreefster]

My return chamber has this nasty film on the top from dosing. The glass has calcification on it from when I dosed calcium and alk separate. I also don’t need dosing lines in my sump either. It’s a cleaner look to get them into the return line as well. Those are some of the reasons for me.

 

[Harpo]

3d printed parts looks great. Now I just need to drill & tap for the set screws

 

[Jamie814]

I don't see this working...long term, with this design you will always have constant contact between your dosing solution alk/ca or whatever it may be and saltwater because there is no air gap to separate them like typical drip dosing into a sump. Even with a check valve as the separation point between the two solutions it too will get precipitation buildup inside it over time.