Auto Dosing Dispersal

[Bradders]

Hi All,

I have an auto-doser and am looking to use it. However, are there any risks in dosing at one section within the aquarium?

To illustrate, when I dose manually, I add the 8 ml spread across the water surface and into the flow. The auto-doser cannot be so well 'tuned' for even distribution.

So the question is, is the dosing less effective when used at a single entry point than dosing more uniformly around the aquarium?

Cheers,
Brad

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

So the question is, is the dosing less effective when used at a single entry point than dosing more uniformly around the aquarium?

No, it should be fine. I think of it like adding salt to soup, once you've given it a stir you don't get "salty" and "non-salty" patches.

cheers Darrel

 

[wearsbunnyslippers]

you can also put your autodoser inlet close to the filter outlet, so it will disperse it for you

 

[hypnogogia]

I feed mine into the surface skimmer for dispersal.

 

[Mattant1984]

I add mine next to the filter outlet, it gets dispersed very quickly then

 

[bazz]

It only drips in, I would have thought that it disperses quite quickly, mines opposite the the in/outflow, but I don't appear to be suffering any problems, although I do have good circular flow.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Mine just drips in somewhere near the back of the tank. Been like that for a year and no issues.

 

[FrozenShivers]

Assuming you are dosing into some sort of major dead spot of the tank that has no flow which is unlikely (and may still not even cause an issue) - you are most likely over thinking it 🙂 If you'll worry over it, have it near a surface skimmer or outlet where there is lots of surface movement.

 

[hypnogogia]

Even in a major dead spot, Brownian motion will ensure dispersal of the molecules.

 

[Bradders]

you are most likely over thinking it 🙂

I don't over think things. (Or do I? Now that is worth deeply thinking about. Need to give this some further thought for sure).

 

[FrozenShivers]

Even in a major dead spot, Brownian motion will ensure dispersal of the molecules.

I thought there would be some scientific reasoning, good to know!

I don't over think things. (Or do I? Now that is worth deeply thinking about. Need to give this some further thought for sure).

I was only joking...or was I? 😱

 

[Bradders]

Even in a major dead spot, Brownian motion will ensure dispersal of the molecules.

Funnily enough, @hypnogogia, I was interested in Brownian Motion. (This is yet another look into things that I sadly become obsessed with! 😀)

Liquid fertilisers dissolve into ions and molecules when added to the water (e.g., nitrate, phosphate, iron chelates). These individual molecules do undergo Brownian motion, but their movement through pure Brownian motion is exceedingly slow over aquarium-sized distances. Some calculations (in completely still water, which is not anything real in our hobby), it can take 2.5 years to distribute 8ml of fertilisers in a 65G aquarium by Brownian Movement alone! Apparently, room vibrations and fish movement create much more current for distribution!

This hobby never fails to intrigue me, and what you learn on the journey. I wonder sometimes whether I am actually interested in keeping fish and plants at all - or it's just a platform for me to scratch the scientific itch!