Is automated dosing that helpful?

Orm Embar · Apr 14, 2019

After spending a week gradually correcting my alkalinity again (was low . . . as in the 5's because I keep forgetting to manually dose - hence, thinking about a doser), I'm debating actually buying a doser. I've never used one before, so I'm not sure how well this is going to work.

Details: 43 gallon system (Red Sea Reefer 170 + sump) with no space in the sump unless I put the doser on a platform over the sump or velcro tape it to the inside of the tank stand. There's a small area (4"x4") where I could put a reservoir, or 2 thin reservoirs.

My thoughts: buy a Kamoer x1 dosing pump and use a lot of velcro tape to tape it to the cabinet wall, use calcium formate (1 part balanced additive, so it supplies both Ca and Alk - and Mg if I pick a slightly different version - Tropic Marin's All-For-Reef or Carbo Calcium), and use some kind of DIY reservoir in the 4x4" area - a 8-16 oz water bottle with a hole drilled in the lid or something. If I ever get a Ca/Alk imbalance, I figure that I can simply switch to dosing 1 of the 2 parts until I'm back in line and go back to 1-part/calcium formate. I currently use the All-For-Reef one with calcium formate + mag and some trace elements.

My questions:

1) Is dosing actually worth it (automation)? How much work is it to clean the equipment (I am not very diligent at this, although I should be)? Does the dosing tubing go underwater in the sump, or does it visibly drip?

2) For dosing containers, they are airtight except for the tubing that the liquid is drawn out of, correct?

3) Is what I'm thinking of a good idea, or are there flaws?

I try to have a very mechanically simple setup, so I don't have an Apex/Neptune.

Thanks in advance!

SPR1968 · Apr 14, 2019

I have the Kamoer 4 channel doser, and automation will just make your life much simpler once you get the hang of it. The Kamoer for example is very easy to use and program.

I test my water parameters once a week and then make adjustments to the amounts being added and thats it

The dosing tubing is above the water and get containers big enough to hold enough liquid. I have 2.5 litres for calcium and magnesium and 5 litres for alkalinity. And yes they are generally sealed and air tight.

What do you mean clean it...... I never have so that’s very easy! Lol

Auquanut · Apr 14, 2019

Still kind of new to this myself, but I'll give you my experience auto dosing. I've been using the Bubble Magus BM T-01 for about a year, but any quality doser should be fine. I built a shelf under the display with room for two 1 gallon water jugs underneath the dosing unit. I dose BRS two part and set the doser to dispense calcium and soda ash 12 times daily, an hour apart (my system uses a lot of alk and calc). Still dose mag manually when needed. I also manually dose very small amounts of Red Sea trace colors. To answer your questions:

Orm Embar said:
1) Is dosing actually worth it (automation)? How much work is it to clean the equipment (I am not very diligent at this, although I should be)? Does the dosing tubing go underwater in the sump, or does it visibly drip?

Yes! Absolutely. The equipment really doesn't need to be cleaned. I get a little crusting where the solution enters the sump that I clean off every month or two. Definitely want to keep the tubes above the water line.