Autodosing macros & traces together but seperate

[pat w]

Just a quick question.

I'm looking into an auto dosing system and was wondering if dosing Macros and Traces simultaneously at opposite ends of a 90g tank (4 feet apart) at slow drip rates would still cause the Fe to precipitate out? Would individual drops that far apart dilute quickly enough to allow the Fe not to react with the Phosphates or is there a time factor involved?

Pat

 

[Oreo]

I think that would be fine. I currently dose all my ferts manually right in the same spot at more or less the same time. I can see no precipitation, and all my nutrient levels are good when I test.

UV light on the other hand definitely causes Fe to precipitate out but that's different.

 

[csmith]

I do the same thing Oreo does. One first, give it about 10 seconds to disperse then the other. I think it was Neil Frank that made the argument here a while back that while putting both solutions into a container was bad for obvious reasons, once you dose into the water column the chemicals have enough room to freely move around and therefore the chances of precipitates forming are minimal.

 

[pat w]

Good! ... Just what I wanted to hear.

Follow the link below to my birthday present from my loving wife.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IMED-GEMINI-PC-2TX-VOLUMETIC-INFUSION-PUMP-/160467292801?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255c989281

$50 shipped
0.1 ml/hr minimum feed rate
battery backup (5 hr. on single charge)
optional secondary dosing for topping off after a water change


Pat

 

[Oreo]

I don't know anything about them but it looks like pretty nice equipment. Nice score!

 

[pat w]

FYI to anyone interested.

The pump REQUIRES a proprietary "tube set" to function. The pump uses the tubing as part of the pump and may (read probably will) alarm without the proper set. These are sometimes hard to find as they are usually sold in cases of 20 for between $150 & $200 unless you can find a supplier with an open case willing to sell individual sets. I found a place and ordered 4 for ~$43 shipped. So total I'm in for just under $100. Not bad when you consider these pumps list for around $1000 and go refurbed for anywhere form $400 to $795.

Pat