Collection: Dosing Pumps

Why peristaltic

Liquid in a peristaltic pump only ever contacts the inside of a flexible tube; rollers press that tube against a housing to push the dose along. Nothing corrosive reaches the motor, and because output depends on rotation rather than pressure, the pump can be calibrated by measuring one delivery and entering the real figure. The tube itself is a consumable and gets swapped out on a schedule.

Points of comparison

• Channels - one head per solution, so two-part routines need two and broader schedules need four or five.
• Drive - stepper motors hold calibration longer and handle very small volumes; geared DC motors are cheaper.
• Programming - standalone app-controlled units, or modules that require a dedicated aquarium controller.
• Continuous duty - pumps rated to run without pause, which is what a calcium reactor feed requires.
• Modularity - ranges that dock several pumps to a shared base station.

Getting a schedule right

Stagger calcium and alkalinity so the two solutions meet in the aquarium rather than in the tubing; most pumps include a delay between heads for that reason. Base the daily volume on what testing shows the tank consumes, increase it gradually, and recalibrate whenever head tubing is replaced. Keep delivery lines above the water surface or fit a siphon break so a stopped pump cannot siphon a container into the aquarium. Email info@jlaquatics.com for help sizing a doser to your routine.