Dosing

[TommyP]

Hey RC

I recently got 2 brs dosing pumps with alk and cal mixture. I have an extra power strip ready to go so I now have outlet space. I have 2 dial timers that I want to use for this set up. How long do I run the pump? I guess it depends on how much I need to dose but with these timers it seems like the minimum on/off is 30 minutes.

 

[mbg75]

Need to know how many ml your tank uses daily

 

[diverrad]

I would not use those timers 30 min is way too long of an interval and you will overdose your tank on a daily basis. Those pumps are meant to be used with a controller like a Neptune or DA. To be honest they really are not all that great there are many better dosers out here with built in timers.

 

[quagmire]

Could he use a digital timer like this?
Says it's programmable to the minute.
Has 2 grounded outlets.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-...In-Digital-Timer-49808/203678095?N=5yc1vZc334

 

[diverrad]

If You don't have a controller I would send those pumps back to brs. Trust me you don't want to mess with timers and have your tank n their hands. I guess you spent about 160 for the pumps. I got this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-Magi...616?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f29778a00 for 130 and even though is made in China ( they all are anyway no matter what they say) it's been really great for the money. Another good choice would be http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-Magi..._DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2ed4e34d#rpdCntId I'm sure you can get it for 100

 

[TommyP]

Thanks for the feedback so far. This is what I was looking for. That digital timer seems more reliable and accurate than the dial timer, since I did think 30 min would be way too long to dose. I may try this first with just recirculating sw to make sure it's reliable.

If not, ill return or sell the 2 BRS pumps and get one of the above. Thanks guys! Ill post back with the usage after 7 days to get an idea on how much I have to dose

 

[TommyP]

This was from 1/30

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

With a cycled system you do not need to test for Ammonia & Nitrites.
Personally I think there are too many problems with Hanna.
Salifert works fine for me except for PO4, I use a photometer by Milwaukee.

 

[wcharon]

I bought that same digital timer yesterday to use it with the BRS 1.1. Haven't put it to work yet but it haves 7 on/off and battery backup in case light failure.

Before i put it to work will be doing a test also but still figuring how i will cycle it to feed 60ml of ALK to my tank...

Any advice...

PD.. I will be moving foward to a Controller or the new Pac Sun Doser but in the meantime i will try the BRS 1.1.

 

[lnevo]

Get a controller Tommy its really the best way to use the BRS dosers...otherwise get an all in one doser as suggested.

 

[masgatigata]

I have the same dosers attached to a digital timer. Worked great until I accidentally hit the on/off switch and it stayed on for a good 12 hours. Needless to say, my calcium was through the roof and I lost a few coral. They work well now that I insure they are not tripped. I would get a controller or one of those magus dosers if I were to do it over.

 

[TommyP]

That's for all of the feedback. I'm going to get digital timers to start until I save up/ find a good deal on a controller. Just want to keep things steady and stable.

 

[TommyP]

So I picked up 2 digital timers but realized when I got home that they only have 1 on/off setting. SMH.

Will have to wait till thursday to run to HD to grab the above timer.

 

[wcharon]

HD has one that haves 7 program cycles. It is the Defaiant brand.

 

[TommyP]

HD has one that haves 7 program cycles. It is the Defaiant brand.

Yes, thank you. These are the one's I'm going to get:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-S...5?N=5yc1vZc334

 

[TommyP]

Got those timers tonight. Alk is at 6.7 I should bring it up to 8 in how long? How long do I run the timer?

 

[Reefist]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator

 

[Reefist]

Remember with those timers go from auto off or it will keep running.
I bleached my corals with Mg running all night. Those timers will not give you piece of mind . They went off program several times for me.IMO dosing requires good equipment .
Good luck
Tom

 

[TommyP]

Thank you, I will make sure to keep an eye on it. I just need something temporary until I can afford a controller.

 

[TommyP]

Ok so as of my last test it was 6.7. I will test before I dose again obviously just using this as an example. As per the notes on BRS not to bring it past 1.4 dkh/day. So that's about 65ml of alk. If the BRS peristaltic pump is 1.1ml/min I need to dose alk for about an hour. Should I do like 15 min at 10am, 15 min 2pm, 15 min 7pm, 15 min midnight?

I have the tubing going right into my return section, so it's a high flow area and can get mixed up nice with the mag 9

I never done this before, hence the questions. Thanks for all of the help so far.