Affordable dosing pump recommendations please

[DLANDINO]

Hi, I'm toying with the idea of adding a dosing pump for daily Kalk top off. The water will need to travel up about 5.5 feet. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

 

[muppet]

::crickets::

You may need to remove one or more of your criteria, like "pump", "dosing", or "affordable".

;0)

 

[DLANDINO]

Yeah, apparently this is true. It's looking like about 100+ for a low end unit.

 

[muppet]

I saw an interesting hack once using an AirWick air freshener on the "9 minute" setting...

 

[fishfry101]

I use a small power head, inserted and glued a piece of 1/4 inch tubing to the output, and run it on a digital timer so it doses three time a day. Have had it going for almost a year with no issues.
$20 powerhead @ walmart
$2-3 tubing @HD
$10 timer @ HD

 

[DLANDINO]

I use a small power head, inserted and glued a piece of 1/4 inch tubing to the output, and run it on a digital timer so it doses three time a day. Have had it going for almost a year with no issues.
$20 powerhead @ walmart
$2-3 tubing @HD
$10 timer @ HD

interesting and thanks!

 

[ANGRY JOHN]

i use a tom lufter pump attached to my ato. i mix the kalk mix weak, 1 tsp per 4 gallons so i do not spike my ph and it is enough to maintain my alk and cal. you can go a lot stronger than this. start off with a week solution, and increase the amount of kalk you use util it maintains your levels and is not maxing out your ph.

 

[erbgo]

I have a small double unit pm me your number and I will tell you about it Eric

 

[reefrick.M]

Tom's Aqua Lifter...11.99. I use two 5 gl pales, when one empties I slide the other over in it's place. That way one is already settled out and ready to go. I just put the pump on a timer and let it dose several times a night.

 

[Octoman]

I use an aqualifter with a $10 float switch in the sump wired in for my Kalk ATO. Cheap and it does the job just fine. Probably need to add a relay so I don't fry myself one day though.

 

[mikelaubach]

Keep in mind that Dave does not have a sump. This limits some of the things that can be done. I use straight Kalk in my ATO tank. I have a separate 10g tank in the basement for letting it settle out and then bring the clear liquid to the ATO tank in my office. Works out great. Not an option for you though.

Could always look on ebay for a peristaltic dosing pump if the one Eric has does not work out.

 

[ctreefer]

I have been using a peristaltic pump like the ones on Ebay that Mike has mentioned and sounds like Eric has. They are very reliable but just need the tubing changed every couple of months. They do cost upwards of $140 on Ebay though. You can find them occasionally for sale at around $100. They pump up to 10ft high and can draw close to 3'. I noticed the Ebay seller (guy in Norwich called tanksalot) has a doser currently up for auction that ends in 4 days. keep an eye on it. Maybe you can get it for a steal. Last I looked the bid was $2 plus $15 shipping. He's been around for as long as I can remember and has always helped me out when I needed some new tubing or had questions for him.

 

[swannyson7]

I've been using a dosing pump from BRS for about 6 months and they've worked great. I don't think that the aqualifter would be feasible with 5 feet of head pressure, but you may want to give it a try just to see if you can save some $$

 

[SWINGRRRR]

If you are handy at DIY APT has good affordable pumps.
http://www.aptinstruments.com/peristaltic.htm
Follow the thread in DIY section.