smadascott
New member
Just was wonderng if anyone would be interested in how do build a DIY dosing pump for ~$30. I just built one and it works great! If you are interested I can post links 
DIY Dosing pump for ~$30
- Thread starter smadascott
- Start date
bdevillier
New member
DIY's are always fun and saving money for frags is even better. post'um up!
smadascott
New member
Okay, here are the links to the items I used:
http://www.frys.com/product/1922653?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.frys.com/product/1656550?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190486317823?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400583850816?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Basically you cut a 28mm hole in one side of the aluminum box and cut a 12.5mm hole in the opposite side. Then you insert the parastiltic pump in the big hole and mount it in place with two screws. Then insert the plug in the smaller hole you cut and run wires from the pump to the plug. Close the box and plug it in I am using it on an Apex controller. It is pretty easy to write the code for a dosing pump. I guess this could be used on a timer too. Its flow rate is roughly 1.95ml/ sec. I will post pics when I am able to.
http://www.frys.com/product/1922653?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.frys.com/product/1656550?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190486317823?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400583850816?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Basically you cut a 28mm hole in one side of the aluminum box and cut a 12.5mm hole in the opposite side. Then you insert the parastiltic pump in the big hole and mount it in place with two screws. Then insert the plug in the smaller hole you cut and run wires from the pump to the plug. Close the box and plug it in
I am using it on an Apex controller. It is pretty easy to write the code for a dosing pump. I guess this could be used on a timer too. Its flow rate is roughly 1.95ml/ sec. I will post pics when I am able to.
smadascott
New member
I would say 2 pumps at the most. would be pretty tight. I got the larger box because I was originally going to cram the PSU in the box but I decided to leave it external. I have had lots of other dosing pumps but its hard to find one that will do over 100ml/hr 
That's the real reason why I built this dosing pump. I needed a doser that will dose from 200-250ml/hr.
That's the real reason why I built this dosing pump. I needed a doser that will dose from 200-250ml/hr.
Robb/Scottsdale/AZ
New member
just built mine last night.
big 12 volt supply to run pumps and timers $7.73
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023Y9EQC/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12 volt timers with multiple run times, short as 1 min increments $7.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008999RYY/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
hose adapters
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009VLR462/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
slim line jugs / 1 gallon each with lid
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNTODA/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
same peristaltic from ebay. mine average 70ml per minute (im pretty sure thats what I measured anyway)
I wired it all so that the one power supply will power all the pumps and all the timers. The timers have battery backup so that if I unplug, they keep their settings. I started 2 part dosing a couple months ago, I dont know why I waited so long to try it instead of kalkwasser and various others. Having the dosing on autopilot sure will be nice and likely more successful
big 12 volt supply to run pumps and timers $7.73
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0023Y9EQC/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12 volt timers with multiple run times, short as 1 min increments $7.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008999RYY/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
hose adapters
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009VLR462/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
slim line jugs / 1 gallon each with lid
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LNTODA/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
same peristaltic from ebay. mine average 70ml per minute (im pretty sure thats what I measured anyway)
I wired it all so that the one power supply will power all the pumps and all the timers. The timers have battery backup so that if I unplug, they keep their settings. I started 2 part dosing a couple months ago, I dont know why I waited so long to try it instead of kalkwasser and various others. Having the dosing on autopilot sure will be nice and likely more successful
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arthurdent510
New member
Ah, that's cool, I've been thinking about doing something like this as well. I already use an Arduino to control the heaters and fans in my tank, this was the next step. A question, how often are you dosing? Are you doing once per day, or doing multiple doses per day? Any concerns with the accuracy of the unit if you're dosing multiple times per day? Or have you found it to be within an acceptable tolerance?
smadascott
New member
Robb- I hear you! After i started automating my dosing I seriously wondered why I hadn't done it sooner!
Arthur- If you are using an arduino you could even you the 12v power control expansion module for the ReefAngel. That would be a really easy way to integrate 12v peristaltic pumps. The frequency of dosing would depend on what else you are dosing and how much you have to dose. In my case 5L a day was required so I had a pump dose 208ml per hour. If you only need to add a small amount then once a day is good. When dosing Calcium of kH buffer I would says it always better to dose throughout the day to keep levels stable instead of adding all at once and getting a spike. Accuracy will depend on your peristaltic pump. I usually check the calibration on mine once a month and adjust my calculations if needed.
Arthur- If you are using an arduino you could even you the 12v power control expansion module for the ReefAngel. That would be a really easy way to integrate 12v peristaltic pumps. The frequency of dosing would depend on what else you are dosing and how much you have to dose. In my case 5L a day was required so I had a pump dose 208ml per hour. If you only need to add a small amount then once a day is good. When dosing Calcium of kH buffer I would says it always better to dose throughout the day to keep levels stable instead of adding all at once and getting a spike. Accuracy will depend on your peristaltic pump. I usually check the calibration on mine once a month and adjust my calculations if needed.
smadascott
New member
arthurdent510
New member
Ah, cool, thanks. I've always wondered as well if replacing the motor with a stepper motor would give you more fine control over the process. So instead of telling the motor to run for so many ms, just tell it so many steps. I imagine that it'd be more consistent that way. I haven't had a chance to try it yet though...
arduino timer
arduino timer
At a couple dollars it doesn't matter much, but you could drop the PWM converter and just use that analog pot to vary your voltage to get a wide range of speeds.
With the arduinos, you could use a relay board to turn up to 8 items on and off. The input is 5v from the arduino, and the outputs are whatever you feed into that relay (I made an EB8 type power strip this way controlling 120v equip. but could do 12v items just as well).
arduino timer
At a couple dollars it doesn't matter much, but you could drop the PWM converter and just use that analog pot to vary your voltage to get a wide range of speeds.
With the arduinos, you could use a relay board to turn up to 8 items on and off. The input is 5v from the arduino, and the outputs are whatever you feed into that relay (I made an EB8 type power strip this way controlling 120v equip. but could do 12v items just as well).
Robb/Scottsdale/AZ
New member
Couple bucks more and you get digital display for the speed. Kinda like that.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-6-30V-12...783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e88fabd8f
Im only dosing about 75 ml a day so slowing down my 70ml/min pumps will be an added bonus.
good crowd sourcing going on in this thread :dance:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-6-30V-12...783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e88fabd8f
Im only dosing about 75 ml a day so slowing down my 70ml/min pumps will be an added bonus.
good crowd sourcing going on in this thread :dance:
arthurdent510
New member
Yea, I have a motor shield for my arduino that I've been itching to find a use for. Stepper control is pretty easy through it, as well as doing pwm for motor control. http://www.adafruit.com/products/1438 is the shield. So we'll see...
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smadascott
New member
I am glad so many good ideas have come up in this thread Any one have pictures of the finished product?
Any one have pictures of the finished product?
arthurdent510
New member
I just have pics of my arduino setup... If I ever get around to doing a dosing pump setup, I'll have to grab pictures!
The case with wiring spilling out...
And my relay box....
The case with wiring spilling out...
And my relay box....
Robb/Scottsdale/AZ
New member
Ill fess up.
Mine's currently mounted in/on a random cardboard box i had laying around. I wanted to get all my specs and parts pieces aligned, proof of concepts and such before spending time on a proper project box. Once my speed controls show up Ill have a better idea of the final layout and then Ill make something proper... and take pictures.
Mine's currently mounted in/on a random cardboard box i had laying around.
I wanted to get all my specs and parts pieces aligned, proof of concepts and such before spending time on a proper project box. Once my speed controls show up Ill have a better idea of the final layout and then Ill make something proper... and take pictures.
