Dosing two-part, BRS pump or Drew's doser?

bambam918

bambam918

New member
I'm getting to the point where automating my dosing of two part will be necessary. I was initially looking at the bubble magus but ultimately decided it was going to be too complicated. I went on BRS and saw their dosing pumps and knew it would work perfect since I have the apex. As the title states I'm having a hard time distinguishing between BRS dosing pump and Drew's dosing pump.

Does anyone know the difference between the two and if you're running either or what has your experience been? Their website has great reviews on both and if they're comparable I rather save the $20-$30 and go with BRS one.
 
As if this decision and obsessiveness has not been hard enough you go throwing a wrench in the pile and give me more options! Lol. Do you usu the Marine Color dosing pump? If so how has been your experience and how long have you been using it?
 
I'm an Apex user and a Bubble Magus doser user (for several years); very pleased with the latter. Sure, you could use the Apex and individual dosers, but that also takes an outlet for each.
 
I dont have one yet. I am currently only dosing Kalkwasser via ATO reservoir but I plan on upgradeing to get more stable Alk and PH. Like evolved said taking up 1 outlet vs 1 for each pump is a plus. Also $140! Comparable to price of 2-3 BRS dosing pumps. I am on the fence like you so I thought posting that link might get the discussion going from people with some opinions on the matter... I will be using a RKL controller btw. Not sure how relevant that is but anyway.
 
I either have 3 or 4 open outlets on my eb8's, between both of them. Not sure what else I could add to the power bars but then again wait a moth and I will want a new toy to add. So currently outlets are not my issue. I'm not completely sold on buying a device that can control the dosing pump when I have the apex......evolved do you have any reason why it would be better to go with the bubble Magus?
 
The BM units is very simple to program. Just tell it how much per day and it delivers that amount spread out over multiple points of the day. How often times dosed per day is also programmable. A very simple and effective unit. That can all be done via separate units and Apex, but there is some trial and error on how often to cycle the outlets for dosing amounts. I have mine sitting on the custom acrylic shelf they make for it. Nice and neat. JP
 
don't forget these lil bugers "12V DC DIY Dosing pump Peristaltic dosing Head For Aquarium Lab Analytical water"

14$ on ebay probably the same units in that controlled unit, but if you just wanted one peristaltic and run a 12v wall wart from your apex, your done.

Haven't done it yet, so I can't say how long they hold up, but, if its the same thing thats in the BM units, should run fine.

Thinking about trying to get some kind of a food source that could run through these for frequency, so I can keep my anthias happier..
 
I read a thread last night on a DIY dosing pump, slightly cheaper than the one sold on BRS. If I find it again ill share. I am still not sold on the BM for a few reasons, it is 3 times the expense of the BRS pumps and second it does not offer anything the apex can't handle unless I am missing something.

Normally cost is not an issue with me since most of my equipment is higher quality but if I can save a few bucks I like to. I am definitely leaning towards the two pumps from BRS. Really the only drawback for me from what I have heard so far, I will be using one additional outlet. I do have open outlets so that really is not a concern. If I didn't have the apex then the BM would be a no brainer since digital timers are unreliable IMO.

Please post if you have used the BRS dosing pumps or Drew's doser. I would like to know your experience with them.
 
frogg21 said:
don't forget these lil bugers "12V DC DIY Dosing pump Peristaltic dosing Head For Aquarium Lab Analytical water"

14$ on ebay probably the same units in that controlled unit, but if you just wanted one peristaltic and run a 12v wall wart from your apex, your done.

Haven't done it yet, so I can't say how long they hold up, but, if its the same thing thats in the BM units, should run fine.

Thinking about trying to get some kind of a food source that could run through these for frequency, so I can keep my anthias happier..
Click to expand...


I hadnt seen these before thanks for posting that up.


depending on tank size and requirements...

looks like you could get really lowtech and just use a programmable timer with 1 min + intervals on it, with the 12v wart plugged in to it, for each peristaltic

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-TM0...=8-2&keywords=timer+electrical+outlet+digital


or I guess you could run 1 wall wart to 2 or more of these 12volt timers and then to the Peristaltic pumps, then youre back to 1 outlet being consumed.

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Digital...words=12+volt+timer+electrical+outlet+digital
 
Last edited:
bambam918 said:
evolved do you have any reason why it would be better to go with the bubble Magus?
Click to expand...
So the real reason I have one is because I had it before the Apex. But if I had to do it over again, I'd end up with another.

The main reason I like it over individual pumps on individual outlets is the cost for me. I barely make do with the 8 outlets on the EB8 as it is; I don't have 3+ outlets to spare. If I had to buy an additional EB8 to make the dosing integral with the Apex, the cost washes out quickly. And I use all three pumps on the Bubble Magus to do Ca/Alk/Mg.

On a cost front -
Bubble Magus: $299
EB8 + 3 BRS dosers: $399

The secondary reason I'd stick with what I've got is there is a bit of redundancy. If the Apex fails, the doser is still there. And vise versa, I have some logic programmed into the Apex to let me know if the doser may have failed.

The only downside, is you can't take advantage of the slight edge the Apex has on programming, nor can you adjust dosing amounts on the fly/remotely.
 
or I guess you could run 1 wall wart to 2 or more of these 12volt timers and then to the Peristaltic pumps, then youre back to 1 outlet being consumed.

http://www.amazon.com/Amico-Digital...words=12+volt+timer+electrical+outlet+digital[/QUOTE]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=12V++pump+Peristaltic&_sop=15

Pumps only pull 80ma, so ya, get 3 pumps, and 3 of those timers on a 12v wall wart that handles 300ma or more and you've got a 3 head doser that would build nicely into a custom stand for around 70$ Anything goes bad, cheap easy to replace as its modular...
 
Thanks evolved. You have steered me in the direction I am going to go. I already have a second eb8 because I ran out of space so I will go with the BRS pumps! Thanks everyone for your input on dosing pumps!
 
As far as the BRS dosing and the drews. I have three of the BRS dosing pumps. They have been working fine for about a year. One of them is started making a grinding noise everytime it runs. Not sure, why, but it is still working fine.

I was over at Elliots house last week looking at the dosing sysem he is running out of his refrigerator for his Reef Nutrition products. He is using the drews pumps and I asked him what he thought about the BRS pump. And he said he had problems with them in the past and he loves the Drews dosing pumps much better.

Since the drews are only $20 more, I am going to be ordering some of them for my 300 Gallon build.

However, I am thinking about the BM for dosing from my refrigerator the reef nutrition products since that is something that really wont be chaning much. Since I have an APEX I am definately going with individual pumps for my Cal, Mag and ALK.
 
I would also suggest staying away from the BRS pumps. IMO they were noisy and it only lasted me a little over a year.
 
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