ACIII dosing pump

[dkelly]

I've purchased an ACIII controller and would like to automate water top-up and 2-part dosing. I know Cameron uses a LiterMeter3.

Can the LM3 be controlled via ACIII or does it have its own dosing program? Are there other dosing pumps that could be controlled by the ACIII?

 

[james s_]

Check this link out.....http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~dosing_pumps_top_off__index.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~dosing_pumps_top_off__index.html</a>
There are several dosing pumps out there.Im pretty sure anything can be controlled by a AC3. All it is doing is switching AC power,so the possibilities are endless depending on Amp draw,voltage,etc...The LM3 is a nice unit but your topoff could be done for so much less $$$.Try here [IMG]http://www.aquahub.com/">http://www.aquahub.com/</a> Im thinking about buying this [IMG]http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html">http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html</a> to use with my AC3.

 

[cameron]

I actually have a LiterMeter, but I use a highly sophisticated pump to do top off... http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M3-AQUALIFTERPUMP&Category_Code">http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M3-AQUALIFTERPUMP&Category_Code</a>= and I use this to control it: [IMG]http://www.autotopoff.com/products/DS1/index.htm">http://www.autotopoff.com/products/DS1/index.htm</a>

You just have to watch for reverse syphon which is also a problem on Aquamedic dosing pumps which I recommend you avoid.

The LiterMeter has a great top off setup, but it is about $100 more than the setup I listed above.

 

[dkelly]

So Cameron, you don't control top-up or dosing with the AC3? Can the AC3 be used to control the LiterMeter? If it has it's own programming, it seems it would work with AC3 by just turning the thing on and off via AC power control.

 

[dkelly]

Found these dosing pumps this morning

 

[jackthereefer]

I just wired up that kit. It's easy. I combined it with a solenoid valve from MacMaster http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/framework.asp?reqtyp=catalog&CtlgPgNbr=434&sesnextrep=7645819529961&CtlgEdition=113&k1=5489T43&t1=PN">http://www.mcmaster.com</a> Part number 5489T43. And just cause I'm extra paranoid, I run water (gravity fed) through the solenoid valve then through a Kent Marine float valve (in case some valve sticks open). I've got this whole thing tied to Stockman's design (with some extra safety devices): [IMG]http://web.archive.org/web/20060224153133/http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/diagram_of_setup.htm">http://web.archive.org/web/20060224153133/http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/diagram_of_setup.htm</a>

[QUOTE=][B]46bfinga;58276 wrote:[/B] Check this link out.....[IMG]http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~dosing_pumps_top_off__index.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~dosing_pumps_top_off__index.html</a>
There are several dosing pumps out there.Im pretty sure anything can be controlled by a AC3. All it is doing is switching AC power,so the possibilities are endless depending on Amp draw,voltage,etc...The LM3 is a nice unit but your topoff could be done for so much less $$$.Try here [IMG]http://www.aquahub.com/">http://www.aquahub.com/</a> Im thinking about buying this [IMG]http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html">http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html</a> to use with my AC3.[/QUOTE]

 

[cameron]

dkelly;58369 wrote: So Cameron, you don't control top-up or dosing with the AC3? Can the AC3 be used to control the LiterMeter? If it has it's own programming, it seems it would work with AC3 by just turning the thing on and off via AC power control.

Sure don't. Had I the AC3 with the switch box I probably would have bought a couple cheap float switches and hooked an aqualifter to one of the channels though. Would have saved about $30 and I could see the status of the top off from the control panel. As it is right now, the system works really well and is fairly cheap.

The LiterMeter is a dosing pump controller which simply means it can dose X amount of liquid over a day by turning pumps on and off. Each external pump (Litermeter comes with one pump built in) is powered by the LiterMeter and it can control up to 3 pumps including the built in one. So the LiterMeter could control top off and water exhange (one pump to do top off, one pump to remove water from the system and the final pump to replace the removed water. You could also use a LiterMeter to dose 2 or 3 part additives (currently my plan). I plan on having three salt buckets filled with Calcium, Alk and a Mag supplement. The litermeter will dose all three in selected parts.

Check this out: http://www.spectrapure.com/manuals/LiterMeter3f.pdf">http://www.spectrapure.com/manuals/LiterMeter3f.pdf</a>

If you want the AC3 to control all this for you, I would suggest using these dosing pumps: [IMG]http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AI&Product_Code=SP100FO&Category_Code=SP100">http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AI&Product_Code=SP100FO&Category_Code=SP100</a>