aqua medic sp3000

[Yinger]

I'm about to go pick one up for dosing kalk and top off as well. Anyone have any feedback or experience on these pumps?

 

[gcarroll]

How do you plan to control the pump?

 

[Yinger]

i thought since it was a peristaltic, it just drips slowly... no?

 

[gcarroll]

kind of, but it will pump much faster than your rate of evaporation.

 

[Yinger]

can i put a valve at the end of it?

 

[gcarroll]

I guess but if you will do that, why not just gravity feed. I just got the Tunze osmolator and I am very happy with it. I bought it with the Calcium dispenser and it works great.

 

[Yinger]

i was going to gravity feed it, but i don't have room to lift the container above the sump level. I was looking at the tunze but i figured the peristaltic would work the same without the fears of a float switch.

 

[gcarroll]

The Tunze has 2 sensors. The primary sensor is an infared eye, not a float. It is very precise and turns the pump on and off as needed. The second sensor is the failsafe sensor which is mounted slightly higher and is only there to prevent overfilling if the first sensor fails. If the infared eye fails and the float sensor will shut the system down and sounds an alarm. I could not find any cases where someone reported the system failing.

 

[golfish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7743144#post7743144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Yinger
can i put a valve at the end of it?

it'll probably put out to much pressure to have any kind of valve on the end. You'd probably blow the valve off.

I'd invest in a good float switch, one that has two switches. The ReefFanatic unit is ok.

 

[Yinger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7743662#post7743662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll
The Tunze has 2 sensors. The primary sensor is an infared eye, not a float. It is very precise and turns the pump on and off as needed. The second sensor is the failsafe sensor which is mounted slightly higher and is only there to prevent overfilling if the first sensor fails. If the infared eye fails and the float sensor will shut the system down and sounds an alarm. I could not find any cases where someone reported the system failing.

hmm... i might just return this thing and get the tunze... Do you have to buy the CA dispenser to dose?

 

[gcarroll]

you don't have to but I did. I was using the bucket with a powerhead before but this way is so much nicer you just add kalkwasser to the dispenser and the fresh water flows through it. To me it was worth it. Ph of the tank is now consistantly higher than before.

 

[Yinger]

Hmm... if i don't get the dispenser is it okay to still dose kalk through the regular top off? Only reason why I went with the peristaltic is because it's supposed to dispensive it consistenty and a small amount each time. Plus this pump is getting annoying... kind of loud

 

[gcarroll]

The directions say you can but they say it may decrease pump life. I would ask in the Tunze forum for a clarification.

 

[Mchava]

So would this be better then gravity feed. I am looking at maybe getting a larger container since iam going through a lot of water here lately. What would I have to get for the unit. What I want to do is use the pump to fill the Kalk reactor and then have it dose the tank. Would this work?

 

[gcarroll]

Yes Mario, it should work fin using a Kalk reactor.

 

[Yinger]

alright greg, i returned the aquamedic... thing was extremely annoying. Kept clicking every second or two. At first I thought I could take it... after 20 min, i had to get rid of it. I ordered the nautilus 2 from innovative aquatics. They allow you to adjust the speed so hopefully it will help with my dosing.

 

[UnlimitedReef]

I'm Using this one for dosing kalk.
http://www.reefdosingpump.com/

 

[Yinger]

that's the one i ordered... how do you like it? How long does the bladder tube last for?

 

[UnlimitedReef]

I love it since I can set maximum volume to be dosed from 5 to 9999 ml. and got Built-in battery backup. The bladder tube is last longer about more than a year, but you can get it from local store.

 

[Yinger]

sounds good, can't wait till i get it... I ordered some pickling lime online as well. How many teaspoons do you use per gallon? Does the tubing last long?