Dosing pumps and sedimentation?

**Laith** · 06-07-2005, 02:33 PM

Tom, I have heard that you use dosing pumps on some of your tanks. I'm about to install a set of dosing pumps as well (the Aqua-Medic dual pump and timer RD2) but have a question:

How do you deal with the fert solution "settling" in the holding container over time? I'm imagining that after a couple of day (or quicker), the fert solution needs shaking or mixing to get an even concentration of ferts in the dosing?

I know Greg was also mulling over the same question recently...

**Greg Watson** · 06-07-2005, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Laith

Tom, I have heard that you use dosing pumps on some of your tanks. I'm about to install a set of dosing pumps as well (the Aqua-Medic dual pump and timer RD2) but have a question:

How do you deal with the fert solution "settling" in the holding container over time? I'm imagining that after a couple of day (or quicker), the fert solution needs shaking or mixing to get an even concentration of ferts in the dosing?

I know Greg was also mulling over the same question recently...

I have parts ... lots of parts ... as soon as the dosing pumps arrive, I will be assembing and testing <grin> ...

I have got to remember to take pictures ... lots of pictures of parts <grin> ...

Greg

**Tom Barr** · 06-07-2005, 10:01 PM

I have not had issues with this.

I use a larger reserviror for the dosing, the pumps dose about 30mls per minute. So for 6 minutes I dose 180 mls of solution of the macro nutrients.
This adds about 3ppm NO3/.7ppm of PO4 per dose/per day.

I have a trace mix added at 60mls per day, it's slightly diluted in water to add 45mls daily, but 60mls for 2 minutes.

Smaller tanks either need large reservirors or short time frames.

Adding some acid will keep the fungus and solids from the trace solution.
KH2PO4 and KNO3 are highly soluble.

Check the lines peroidically also.

Regards,
Tom Barr

**mrditty** · 08-28-2005, 01:20 PM

I used an IV pump for a year untill it died to dose a large tank to advoid any settleing issues I droped a power head in to the resivor.

**Tom Barr** · 08-28-2005, 07:08 PM

Some trace mixes are better about settling than others.
TMG seems to be one the better ones.

Regards,
Tom Barr

**magicmagni** · 09-07-2005, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Barr

Some trace mixes are better about settling than others.
TMG seems to be one the better ones.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Flourish settle quit a bit for me, but I have an airstone that "mixes it" for a few minutes each day before dosing and this seems to help it out.

**Raul-7** · 09-25-2005, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by magicmagni

Flourish settle quit a bit for me, but I have an airstone that "mixes it" for a few minutes each day before dosing and this seems to help it out.

Sorry to bring this back up, but I'm interested in dosers. Wouldn't you be oxidizing the nutrients by adding an airstone? Would adding a mini-powerhead help or is it not neccesary?

**Laith** · 09-25-2005, 09:50 AM

I've got a mini-powerhead hooked up to a timer in my macro mix reservoir. This reservoir (16l) holds a mix of KNO3, K2SO4, KH2PO4 and Excel. I'm still not sure I really need the powerhead.

My trace elements reservoir is an old 500ml fert bottle and holds Flourish. Since the bottle is white I can't tell if things settle in it and it's too small to put a powerhead into. I was planning to use a clear bottle for a short period just to be able to see if there is settling but haven't got around to it yet.