DYI Perestaltic Pump Kit

[Fishkin]

Hey fellow reefers and planted tank enthusiasts!
Over 5 years ago, I built my own set of peristaltic pumps using a 3D printer controller board and Nema stepper motors. They've been running continuously ever since - handling calcium reactor flow and micro-dosing nutrients—with zero mechanical failures. The only maintenance has been replacing the PharMed tubing every ~1.5 years due to wear from continuous use.

Before this DIY setup, I used the Neptune Apex DOS. While it worked, the noise level at higher speeds (needed for my calcium reactor) was a dealbreaker. After researching other commercial dosers, I found most were either:

• Just as loud,
• Unable to handle high-volume dosing,
• Or way too expensive.

That pushed me to build my own—and I’m glad I did. My setup is nearly silent even at 20,000 ml/day. As the tubing ages, it might squeak a bit, but it’s still inaudible from inside a closed cabinet.

Now I’m thinking of turning this into a build kit for hobbyists.
The idea is to make it easy for anyone to assemble a high-performance dosing system without needing:

• A high-end 3D printer,
• A pile of random parts from different vendors,
• Or firmware flashing skills.

Here’s what the kit would include:

• High-precision stepper motors rated for continuous use
• Medical-grade BPT tubing
• Steel ball bearings for durability
• Silent operation even at high speeds
• Touchscreen interface for setup and control

Estimated pricing:

• $150 for the core kit (controller board, touchscreen, enclosure, power supply)
• $40 per pump (up to 5 pumps supported)

So a single-pump setup would be ~$190, and a full 5-pump system would be ~$350. Assembly would be beginner-friendly with clear instructions - no advanced skills required.

Would this be something you’d be interested in?
I’d love to hear your thoughts - especially from those who’ve struggled with noisy or underpowered dosers. What features would you want? Would you prefer a pre-assembled option? Any feedback is welcome!