Why a peristaltic pump and not just an aqualifter

[hmmbrrgrr]

Newbish question:

Why use an expensive complicated peristaltic pump over a $15 aqualifter for ATO if you have a float/optical sensor telling your pump when to start and stop?

[sjm817]

No reason in that app. Peristaltic pumps are used when a precise measured amount of a liquid needs to be delivered.

[hmmbrrgrr]

Okay okay, thanks Scott

[aninjaatemyshoe]

People sometimes use them for ATO because most peristaltic pumps are much more reliable than aqualifters. Having used many aqualifters over time, I've concluded that they are decent enough for the price. But, you have to be prepared for the possibility that they will breakdown. I definitely would not want to go on a weeks vacation knowing that my ATO depended upon one.

[sjm817]

My Aqualifters pump 2 - 3G of saturated Kalk topoff per day. I have to use 2 back to back because I have to pump ~ 5' vertical. The pumps are ~ 4 years old and have never skipped a beat. I have no issue trusting them when we go on a 2 week vacation. The person who feeds the fish while we are gone checks that the sump level is ok among other routine checks.

[ento-reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13750569#post13750569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
My Aqualifters pump 2 - 3G of saturated Kalk topoff per day. I have to use 2 back to back because I have to pump ~ 5' vertical. The pumps are ~ 4 years old and have never skipped a beat. I have no issue trusting them when we go on a 2 week vacation. The person who feeds the fish while we are gone checks that the sump level is ok among other routine checks.

That is good to know because I just bought one to use for my ATO. I plan on using Kalk in my top off also.

[turtleman9100]

aqualifters are rock solid.

[kajung2k]

though of course when your float gets stuck open, and it pumps in 5 gallons, or 20 gallons, or worse, more.. your salinity drops, you could loose fish, corals, etc, and have a flood. Not worth the $300+ dollars for a precise measuring pump.

Its easy too.. just figure out how much evap you have, and then put it into the liter meter, and it will dose it out

[sjm817]

That is why you use a quality dual float switch setup for redundancy.

[kaskiles]

And put the Aqualifter on a multiple setting timer (1 minute on every 60 minutes measured to your evap. rate), it will help space out your Kalk pH spikes and prevent stuck top-off bober floods.

[bimmerzs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13764278#post13764278 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
That is why you use a quality dual float switch setup for redundancy.

Along with limiting it with a timer as described in this excellent project using aqualifter's. You can adapt it to just top-off as well. ;) http://*******.com/6hvttr

Cheers,

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13764380#post13764380 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kaskiles
And put the Aqualifter on a multiple setting timer (1 minute on every 60 minutes measured to your evap. rate), it will help space out your Kalk pH spikes and prevent stuck top-off bober floods.
Not necessary if you have a good float switch setup. A good float switch setup is sensitive to very small level changes and will only deliver a very small amount of topoff many times throughout the day. The secondary float switch acts as a fail safe and will override the primary if it is tripped and shutoff the topoff.

[badonkadonk]

I've had a relay malfunction on an ATO, and even with the redundancy of a second float had a flood. I always put my ATO's on a timer now to limit the daily addition. Timers are cheap.