Advice for low volume dosing

[MyFirstCar]

Hey All! Looking for some advice on how to dose really low volumes (0.2 ml) automatically.

I've been dosing NP-baco balance at 0.2ml daily and its seems to be working well for my tank (20 gallon tank in this calculator https://calulator.tropic-marin.com/en/control/np-bacto-balance.html)! Recently, I upgraded to a hydros x10, and I've been trying to use it to automate my dosing. However, I'm running into the problem that 0.2 ml isnt enough volume to keep the hose primed, and the liquid slowly over time seeps back into the bottle (I store the bottle ~2 ft below the tank), and I end up dosing only air.

Anyone have experience with dosing super low volumes like this? Only thing I can think of it try to "calibrate" the amount to how much extra I need to add to actually dose 0.2 ml.

 

[MyFirstCar]

Bumping here!

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

This may indicate that there is an airhole in the line, that is causing the vacuum to lose.

The X10 has collar locks on each of the barbs on each doser, that would be 8 in total. Are you sure that locking collar went around the silicone tubing before you screwed the nut down? I would start by pulling that dosing line and inspect.

Reach out to us at support if you have any questions!

 

[Pntbll687]

Hey All! Looking for some advice on how to dose really low volumes (0.2 ml) automatically.

I've been dosing NP-baco balance at 0.2ml daily and its seems to be working well for my tank (20 gallon tank in this calculator https://calulator.tropic-marin.com/en/control/np-bacto-balance.html)! Recently, I upgraded to a hydros x10, and I've been trying to use it to automate my dosing. However, I'm running into the problem that 0.2 ml isnt enough volume to keep the hose primed, and the liquid slowly over time seeps back into the bottle (I store the bottle ~2 ft below the tank), and I end up dosing only air.

Anyone have experience with dosing super low volumes like this? Only thing I can think of it try to "calibrate" the amount to how much extra I need to add to actually dose 0.2 ml.

Sounds like there is a slow air leak somewhere causing the liquid to flow back to the bottle. I would re-seat all the connections, prime and dose into a separate container to make sure it's all good

 

[MyFirstCar]

I'm pretty sure I did it correctly, but is there a youtube video or something showing the install I could use to check?

 

[Pntbll687]

I'm pretty sure I did it correctly, but is there a youtube video or something showing the install I could use to check?

I would just reinstall the one that is giving you issues.

Does the fluid come out of both ends? Or just the one connected to the liquid to be dosed?

 

[MyFirstCar]

I would just reinstall the one that is giving you issues.

Does the fluid come out of both ends? Or just the one connected to the liquid to be dosed?

The leak is slow enough that I cant catch it happening. I'll try the re-install and see from there

 

[MyFirstCar]

That's how I have it threaded right now, is that correct?

 

[Pntbll687]

That's how I have it threaded right now, is that correct?

yes thats right.


I would take the tubing off the barb, cut the tip off, and re-install. Sometimes there is a tiny part of the tubing that gets caught and makes the smallest pin hole on the barb.

I usually heat my tubing up in warm water, install, and wait ten minutes for it to cool.

I only asked about if the fluid only drains from one side of the tubing because that helps narrow down where the leaks could be. if it's just from the side connected to the bottle, then the leak is from the bottle to the doser somewhere.

How is the tubing attached to the dosing container?