looking for an automatic dosing unit

[csarkar001]

the eheim liquidoser i was set to buy has been discontinued. can anyone recommend a unit that can dose a small amount of liquid at regular intervals. (i want to dose Prime into my automatic water changing system three times a day). accuracy is not that critical as low cost.

[Lillee]

the eheim liquidoser i was set to buy has been discontinued. can anyone recommend a unit that can dose a small amount of liquid at regular intervals. (i want to dose Prime into my automatic water changing system three times a day). accuracy is not that critical as low cost.


This would be my choice for low tech/low cost dosing: http://www.kentmarine.com/products/aquadose.htm

I plan to DIY this with a $5 IV drip attachment from Ebay. I doubt there is a cheaper, more reliable and accurate method out there! If there is let me know

[yim11]

I doubt there is a cheaper, more reliable and accurate method out there! If there is let me know

Very often cheap and reliable or accurate are contradictory terms.

For reliability and accuracy, these are a couple of the more dependable units:

Fixed dosing -
http://www.chemilizer.com/hn55.php runs about $200.

Adjustable rate dosing - http://www.dosmatic.com/products1_ajx.php?lang=en&engid=i9 runs about $300.

I've seen both of those units used with great success for many years in drip systems.

Water treatment is one area I don't like to take short cuts with. It may be worth considering a higher quality unit to avoid potential problems down the road.

HTHs,
-jim

[csarkar001]

thanks, i had thought of using an IV drip but didnt (and still dont) know how to go about it.

[Lillee]

Interesting, as I assumed that if it works for medical applications it should be fairly reliable :o

EDIT: actually I am curious, how can IV be Unreliable? A good medical application IV drip regulator connected in the same fashion as you would a $300 automatic doser. One with a clear drip chamber showing drip rate per hour etc. Dosing prime into water does not have to be that accurate surely? Just set it to dose more or even double the required amount in the time interval between water changes. I can't see how this is any different from a $300 doser. Both can get glogged, both can run out, both need regular checking to make sure all is well and working? I can't see why paying 30X more for a machine that does exactly the same thing has advantages over low tech methods?

I am not attacking the $300 doser, I too want to know what the pros and cons are as I want to set up an IV drip for my automated system and want to know the real Cons.

If it works for transfusing liquids into humans, I can't see how it would be unreliable for dosing something as simple as prime into water?? What am I missing?