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View Full Version : What dosing pump/s to run with Apex? Best dosing containers?


Reefahholic
01/13/2014, 02:13 PM
I was wondering what you guys run with yours? I was thinking about individual BRS dosing pumps, but really like the Profilux GHL stand alone doser. Then, I could save a power outlet on my EB8. I also heard that the 1.1mL BRS dosing pumps run on such a low amp- that you can only plug them into specific outlets on the EB8. BRS makes their pumps sound flawless and well built, but I've recently heard some bad reviews especially with the 50ML doser. What's the best dosing pump or pumps out right now? Is the Profilux still at the top? I've been out of the loop.

Does anybody care to share some pictures of your dosing setup and apex controllers with your dosing container/stations? I'm trying to debate which containers to buy. I have absolutely no experience dosing. Not sure if space saving containers would be good or something with a bigger open top so that I can mix them if needed. I plan on dosing BRS two part, and later making my own following Randy's new receipe.

d2mini
01/13/2014, 02:20 PM
Hey, just saw you are in league city. Are you on marsh-reef.org?
One of their sponsors does custom acrylic work and makes some nice dosing containers.
Here's his website…
http://buildinganobsession.com

And here's my containers hooked up to my GHL doser.
http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Aquariums/200g-Reef-Aquarium/i-c6jpf3T/0/O/20131219_C190269_200gReef.jpg

There is a large square opening on top.
But what I do is mix up my solutions in an old 1 gallon distilled vinegar jug and then pour it into these vessels.

E Rosewater
01/13/2014, 02:31 PM
BRS has gallon plastic jugs.

If you have the room you could use 10gal aquariums (when Petco has their $ gallon sale is the best time to do that)

Reefahholic
01/13/2014, 03:16 PM
Hey, just saw you are in league city. Are you on marsh-reef.org?
One of their sponsors does custom acrylic work and makes some nice dosing containers.
Here's his website…
http://buildinganobsession.com

And here's my containers hooked up to my GHL doser.
http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Aquariums/200g-Reef-Aquarium/i-c6jpf3T/0/O/20131219_C190269_200gReef.jpg

There is a large square opening on top.
But what I do is mix up my solutions in an old 1 gallon distilled vinegar jug and then pour it into these vessels.

No...I'll check out mash-reef.

Man that's a nice set up! Love ur containers!! Might get some made just like them. How much for all three? $200-300+ Or what?

d2mini
01/13/2014, 03:36 PM
Jared, i've had them for a little bit, i don't recall how much exactly. You can send him a pm through marsh or contact him on the website.
Also, FJW on the NW side of town has some of BAO's stuff in stock. I was there today and saw a single unit that has all 3 sections, instead of mine which are separate. I think mine hold at least a gallon and a half of liquid each and this one i saw probably holds closer to a gallon in each section. It looked smaller to me, than mine. Might be better for your smaller size tank. But he should be able to make whatever size/dimensions you need.

shellsea
01/13/2014, 03:38 PM
Very nice work by BAO on container and D2mini on your set up!!!
I have sent BAO a request for quote.
Note to Rosewater and others about using small aquarium, I recall reading something about kalk losing its strength when exposed to oxygen. Covered container best. Not sure about two part.

Reef Frog
01/13/2014, 03:51 PM
I use another brand of stand alone dosers for 2 part, & I'm happy with them. However the built in digital timers reset during a power cut off. But the amount dosed per session & frequency are maintained. Most stand alone dosers require a calibration procedure - not sure how that works with a "dumb" doser hooked to a controller. This is no problem for me but you may want to look into this if you intend on having an elaborate dosing schedule.

The advantage to the doser + controller would be having a historical record of the dosing profile, you can adjust amount dosed & frequency from a computer or phone instead of working in a cramped cabinet. Also "dumb" dosers are cheap & you can just replace them when they wear out instead of hunting down parts on a usually more expensive stand alone doser.

Reefahholic
01/13/2014, 09:47 PM
Jared, i've had them for a little bit, i don't recall how much exactly. You can send him a pm through marsh or contact him on the website.
Also, FJW on the NW side of town has some of BAO's stuff in stock. I was there today and saw a single unit that has all 3 sections, instead of mine which are separate. I think mine hold at least a gallon and a half of liquid each and this one i saw probably holds closer to a gallon in each section. It looked smaller to me, than mine. Might be better for your smaller size tank. But he should be able to make whatever size/dimensions you need.

Who is FJW/ BOA? That's awesome they have it in stock. Do you recall how much?

The only place I know or go on that side of town is City Pets. Not really a pretty store, but great frag and coral prices.

Have a place by my house on 45 south just inside the beltway called All About Fish, and his tanks are nice, but his stuff is priced high. Has some nice SPS tanks. Kinda small store though.

So judging from ur tank and dosing containers, what size containers sound about right for a 90 gallon tank with 40 breeder sump?

Reefahholic
01/13/2014, 09:50 PM
I use another brand of stand alone dosers for 2 part, & I'm happy with them. However the built in digital timers reset during a power cut off. But the amount dosed per session & frequency are maintained. Most stand alone dosers require a calibration procedure - not sure how that works with a "dumb" doser hooked to a controller. This is no problem for me but you may want to look into this if you intend on having an elaborate dosing schedule.

The advantage to the doser + controller would be having a historical record of the dosing profile, you can adjust amount dosed & frequency from a computer or phone instead of working in a cramped cabinet. Also "dumb" dosers are cheap & you can just replace them when they wear out instead of hunting down parts on a usually more expensive stand alone doser.

So would it be better to get the plain Profilux doser and not a stand alone? Hook it up to the apex and do all the dosing online.

I've heard of some people's LCD screens going out.

d2mini
01/13/2014, 10:28 PM
Wow, you do need to get on MARSH. :D
ANYONE needs to join their local clubs, no matter what city.

FJW is the best LFS in Houston as far as coral and he gets some pretty nice fish too. Also a sponsor on MARSH.
BAO = Building An Obsession = the link i gave you earlier.

Any size is fine, just depends how much you are dosing and how often you want to refill. ;)

jimmy n
01/13/2014, 10:34 PM
The BRS space saver containers are nice for dosing. A gallon each and stack nicely together. I like the acrylic containers pictured above and would get those if local:)

dread240
01/13/2014, 10:39 PM
brs space saver's here, love 'em

Reefahholic
01/14/2014, 05:04 AM
I'll check marsh out. :-)

And the fish store!




Wish the BRS space savers were cleaner looking.

Reefahholic
01/15/2014, 08:24 PM
Hey d2mini, look what I picked up today!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f236/JaredJHarms/46B51EEA-3078-46AA-A912-EE29481E342F.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/JaredJHarms/media/46B51EEA-3078-46AA-A912-EE29481E342F.jpg.html)

Man, you should really check out city pets. They have great prices on coral.

Also try all about fish...he has very clean pretty store! Kinda small though like the one you go to over here.

jcdeng
01/18/2014, 12:18 PM
Hi question for d2mini, how do u prevent back siphon on these containers?

Bpb
01/18/2014, 03:08 PM
Peristaltic pumps should never back siphon via design. They're always pinched by the rollers

jimmy n
01/19/2014, 05:20 PM
Hey, just saw you are in league city. Are you on marsh-reef.org?
One of their sponsors does custom acrylic work and makes some nice dosing containers.
Here's his website…
http://buildinganobsession.com

And here's my containers hooked up to my GHL doser.
http://bluelemonphoto.smugmug.com/Aquariums/200g-Reef-Aquarium/i-c6jpf3T/0/O/20131219_C190269_200gReef.jpg

There is a large square opening on top.
But what I do is mix up my solutions in an old 1 gallon distilled vinegar jug and then pour it into these vessels.

I'd love to see this tank, a link to your build?

Edit: found it. Lovely build.

d2mini
01/19/2014, 06:08 PM
Hey d2mini, look what I picked up today!

Man, you should really check out city pets. They have great prices on coral.

Also try all about fish...he has very clean pretty store! Kinda small though like the one you go to over here.

Awesome!

Yeah, City Pets is good for cheap stuff and dry goods, but their coral is just OK. And not only is All About Fish too far for me, but I'm not a fan of the way Kevin runs his store and his prices are pretty high. IMHO, FJW is the place to shop in Houston. Great selection and great prices. If you hang around MARSH, you can get in on some good deals and special orders too.

Hi question for d2mini, how do u prevent back siphon on these containers?

Peristaltic pumps should never back siphon via design. They're always pinched by the rollers
Yep.

I'd love to see this tank, a link to your build?

Edit: found it. Lovely build.
Thanks! :)

Eric45
01/20/2014, 01:44 PM
Hey d2mini, look what I picked up today!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f236/JaredJHarms/46B51EEA-3078-46AA-A912-EE29481E342F.jpg (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/JaredJHarms/media/46B51EEA-3078-46AA-A912-EE29481E342F.jpg.html)

Man, you should really check out city pets. They have great prices on coral.

Also try all about fish...he has very clean pretty store! Kinda small though like the one you go to over here.

That Plexiglas 3 part container looks perfect. Is that custom made or did you buy it as is? And if so, do they sell them over the internet? How much liquid do they hold? Thanks!

PRDubois
01/25/2014, 10:28 PM
Back in June I added the Bubble Magus and started dosing. I believe dosing daily has really helped growth and color.
I started with the Bulk Reef Containers, but then I needed them for mixing and for the manual pumps for the other two tanks.

So this is what I ended up with:
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1010078_698478876850829_1358339996_n.jpg

Today I decided to step it up with new containers from AquaBox:
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/1625576_698478950184155_1285274968_n.jpg

Each one holds 1 US Gal. After all, that is how we mix it even if I do dose in ML, I mix in cups & gal.

Here is the new look. Much better. :beer:
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1601450_698478840184166_1093960067_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1554597_698478816850835_56378143_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/77159_698479243517459_914496457_n.jpg

jcdeng
01/25/2014, 10:43 PM
The aquabox has similar design as the vertex vessels, but the vertex ones are notorious for drawing up air bubbles in the tube. Did you experience any air bubbles in the dose line?

Reefahholic
01/25/2014, 10:56 PM
That Plexiglas 3 part container looks perfect. Is that custom made or did you buy it as is? And if so, do they sell them over the internet? How much liquid do they hold? Thanks!

I think they're custom made. You can buy them over the net though.

The one that I posted holds 1/2 gallon each section.

D's hold 1 gallon each.

Check them out here: http://buildinganobsession.com

PRDubois
01/25/2014, 10:58 PM
The aquabox has similar design as the vertex vessels, but the vertex ones are notorious for drawing up air bubbles in the tube. Did you experience any air bubbles in the dose line?

No air bubbles on the AquaBox. It has just a small air hole in the top so it does not create a vacuum.

SonnyArba
01/26/2014, 03:48 AM
This is how we do it locally.
We just use a regular aquarium gluing pocedure, with black painted glass on top.

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/285x508q90/713/s2tp.jpg

coseal
01/26/2014, 04:21 PM
The aquabox has similar design as the vertex vessels, but the vertex ones are notorious for drawing up air bubbles in the tube. Did you experience any air bubbles in the dose line?


the aquabox use's a pass-through bulkhead on the lid. so it is a push to connect on both sides of the lid.

jcdeng
01/30/2014, 04:59 PM
the aquabox use's a pass-through bulkhead on the lid. so it is a push to connect on both sides of the lid.

Know where can I buy one of these?

PRDubois
01/30/2014, 07:07 PM
A guy in our local club makes them:
http://richmondreefers.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=13692