Vinegar versus Peristaltic Pumps

redfishbluefish · Mar 20, 2017

I've been manually dosing a DIY version of NOPOX and just picked up a BRS 1.1 pump to automate the additions. As I'm looking at this pump, I'm now wondering what the vinegar would do to the rubber tubing portion. Anyone using a peristaltic pump to dose vinegar or NOPOX? And what's your experience with the rubber putting up with the vinegar?

Fin · Mar 20, 2017

I am interested in what experiences others have had with this also. I was dosing vinegar with my Bubble Magus doser and the black air-line tubing I had running to the sump became swollen and distorted, but only at the cut end in the sump. Shortly thereafter the pump head quit pumping the vinegar. The tubing looks ok on the head, but not sure what it looks like inside. I was planning on discontinuing using the doser for vinegar.

jason2459 · Mar 20, 2017

I've been running a BRS 1.1ml/m peristaltic pump since around 2010 to dose vinegar. It has been doing this reliably since then. There are reports that it doses more then 1.1ml/m but I have never tested to see. I just care about consistency. It's quite and perfect on a timer which I used to use a ReefKeeper and since have used it with an Apex to time it.

The vinegar has not damaged it one bit. You should replace the tubing and lube it periodically like once a year. Which is actually something I have not done so don't do what I do.

I'm actually surprised it's still running and the tube hasn't split open since it's still the original tubing from 2010ish and never lubed. lol

(of course tomorrow morning I will find all my vinegar on the floor as the tubing splits as I say that... )

jason2459 · Mar 20, 2017

Also, please note it is a dual roller which does have the potential to allow a siphon. Many believe a peristaltic pump can not allow a siphon through which is wrong as a dual roller can and has happened to people. So, make sure that you're dosing above the water line. I don't suggest a check valve which can also fail. 3 or 4 rollers are much better at preventing a siphon.

redfishbluefish · Mar 21, 2017

Thanks for the reassurance. I also posted this on our local forum and had a couple folks comment similarly with success stories. In addition, I was told the rubber portion is Santoprene, and the info sheet states little to no effect from acetic acid (vinegar), and minor effect from ethanol (vodka). I also have to believe that the dilution of the two helps as well. And finally, searching the BRS site for questions about their pump, I found this one:

Can this doser be used safely with Red Sea NOPOX?
Question by: Randy on Jan 14, 2016 8:35:00 PM

Great question!

This can be used with a timer to dose a small amount of NoPox throughout the day. Feel free to let us know if you have any further questions!
Answer by: Connor (Admin) on Jan 15, 2016 3:47:00 PM

As soon as lights come on I'm installing this pump.

Thanks again.