exmt
03/31/2006, 01:55 PM
This automatic doser is made to dose trace elements. Instead of buying a very expensive peristatic dosing pump, this doser runs off an air pump. Although I did think of an original version of this doser, I give credit to MagicMagni and Wasserpest of the Planted Tank forum for the idea.
Sorry for the large loss of picture quality.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/183/layoutfordoser4dn.gif (http://imageshack.us)
What you need:
1 Air Pump
1 Plastic bottle
1 Length of Airline tubing
1 Airline T valve
3 Airline flow controllers
2 lead Pencils(for use as bulkhead fittings)
1 Outlet Timer
Power Drill
optional: pipe cutter
Constructing the Automatic Doser:
1. Collect materials above. I used a shampoo bottle as the trace element container.
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8747/dscn39612gs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
2. Drill two holes on Bottle cap
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/3268/dscn39638dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
3. Slip Pencil inserts(after you take it apart) inside the two holes. make sure there are no leaks, as this is critical.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6687/dscn39669ms.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
4. Cut the Pencil with pipe cutter if it is too long.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6707/dscn39709gi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
5. Your bottle should now look like this:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4121/dscn39747sy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
6. Take all of your Airline Ts and Flow adjusters and arrange them in this fashion:
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2091/dscn39779oh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
7. Screw lid with assembly back on bottle.
Fill with Iodine, Strontium, or whatever you want. Just don't use this for Kalk, as kalk must be dosed 24/7, not a couple minutes per day.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6665/dscn39864um.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
8. There you have, automatic trace dosing/top off!
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8246/dscn39871vq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
9. Connect Pump to outlet to test. By gum, it works!
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5831/dscn39882yr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
10. Connect air pump to outlet timer(set dosing times with tabs.)
11. Enjoy automatic dosing. Adjust container size as needed for tank capacity and trace usage. Make one for each type of trace element. This is easy on a 2-outlet pump.
To adjust flow, you have 3 valves to adjust.
The input air control valve is for general control, not very precise. Don't rely on it as a sole control because it creates backpressure on the pump.
The liquid output knob is for minor tweaking, as in drop per drop.
The Bleed valve is the one you want to focus on. Without it, pressure would build up to such great levels in the bottle that it would continue to release the nutrients in the bottle until the pressure in the bottle is relieved(or the entire bottle is emptied). This is for medium tweaking.
So:
General flow control-input air valve
Medium Flow control-bleed valve
Minor flow control- output liquid valve
Try adjusting until flow rates are the amount you need. I have mine set at 2 doses per day, for 5 minutes each.
Sorry for the large loss of picture quality.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/183/layoutfordoser4dn.gif (http://imageshack.us)
What you need:
1 Air Pump
1 Plastic bottle
1 Length of Airline tubing
1 Airline T valve
3 Airline flow controllers
2 lead Pencils(for use as bulkhead fittings)
1 Outlet Timer
Power Drill
optional: pipe cutter
Constructing the Automatic Doser:
1. Collect materials above. I used a shampoo bottle as the trace element container.
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8747/dscn39612gs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
2. Drill two holes on Bottle cap
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/3268/dscn39638dv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
3. Slip Pencil inserts(after you take it apart) inside the two holes. make sure there are no leaks, as this is critical.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6687/dscn39669ms.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
4. Cut the Pencil with pipe cutter if it is too long.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6707/dscn39709gi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
5. Your bottle should now look like this:
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4121/dscn39747sy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
6. Take all of your Airline Ts and Flow adjusters and arrange them in this fashion:
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2091/dscn39779oh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
7. Screw lid with assembly back on bottle.
Fill with Iodine, Strontium, or whatever you want. Just don't use this for Kalk, as kalk must be dosed 24/7, not a couple minutes per day.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/6665/dscn39864um.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
8. There you have, automatic trace dosing/top off!
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8246/dscn39871vq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
9. Connect Pump to outlet to test. By gum, it works!
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5831/dscn39882yr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
10. Connect air pump to outlet timer(set dosing times with tabs.)
11. Enjoy automatic dosing. Adjust container size as needed for tank capacity and trace usage. Make one for each type of trace element. This is easy on a 2-outlet pump.
To adjust flow, you have 3 valves to adjust.
The input air control valve is for general control, not very precise. Don't rely on it as a sole control because it creates backpressure on the pump.
The liquid output knob is for minor tweaking, as in drop per drop.
The Bleed valve is the one you want to focus on. Without it, pressure would build up to such great levels in the bottle that it would continue to release the nutrients in the bottle until the pressure in the bottle is relieved(or the entire bottle is emptied). This is for medium tweaking.
So:
General flow control-input air valve
Medium Flow control-bleed valve
Minor flow control- output liquid valve
Try adjusting until flow rates are the amount you need. I have mine set at 2 doses per day, for 5 minutes each.