| What is a "Peristaltic Pump"? How does it work? |
Peristaltic pumps use a flexible tubing that is compressed by rollers, and the more often the motor turns, the more liquid is moved and the more flow you get per hour. In our pumps, the tubing is stretched over the rollers, so that as the roller assembly turns, the liquid is pumped - it's very similar to getting toothpaste out of the tube. When the pump pauses, the liquid doesn't move - none goes into the sump, and none siphons back into the container.
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| Do I have to put the liquid above the pump? |
Absolutely not! The pump will draw the liquid up from a container up to 3 feet below the pump, and will pump up at least 10 feet absolute minimum. The setup I use is a lined trash can with a shelf on top. The kalkwasser is made up 35 gallons at a time, and I use a floating layer of bubblewrap (used to package glass items) to prevent significant air contact.
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| How long does the tubing last? Is it expensive? |
The silicone one or two-channel tubing will last about 6 months, naturally depending upon the dosiing rate. The high volume tubing should last indefinitely; at least 3 years. Replacement silicone tubing sells for $2/foot, and the high volume one-channel set is available complete for $15..
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| I have to pump the liquid from the basement. Does the pump put out enough pressure? |
I've had a pump pumping up to the roof of my house, a distance of about 20 feet. As with any peristaltic pump, it pushes liquid far better than sucking it up (imagine trying to suck liquid up with a 5 foot straw). .
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| How long does the internal battery backup last? |
IF your pump has an internal battery, after it's fully charged, the internal battery should keep the pump going for at least an hour, and often quite a bit longer. Without a battery, the pump resets like a clock radio, and needs to be re-set before it will run again.
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| Can I put a timer on the pump to only dose at night? Can I hook it to a float switch? |
With an optional "A/C controller interface" (ACCI - $18) you can operate the pump off either a timer or a pH controller. The ACCI plugs into the back of the pump, and the other end of the ACCI plugs into the timer or pH controller. When the A/C outlet for the ACCI is energized, it opens a relay that turns on the pump. The optional float switch ($20) also can be plugged into the back of the pump. When the float rises, it closes a relay that stops the pump. The float switch also comes with an acrylic adjustable "candy cane". The hook of the candy cane hangs on the side of the sump, and the position of the switch can be easily adjusted up or down on the long stem of the candy cane. NOTE: the former is not a misprint. An OPEN switch turns on the pump rotor; a closed switch turns it OFF.
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| I'm not sure about whether I want one of your pumps. What if I'm not happy with it? |
That's simple! Just send it back. You'll get a full credit for the price of the pump as well as any accessories you returned.
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| Can I use the pump for kalkwasser? |
Sure!-
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| How does the two-channel set work? |
The two-channel set uses two parallel silicone tubes to dose identical amounts of incompatible materials at identical rates at about 1/3 the display. By setting the output of the two tubes at least one foot apart in the sump, it is very easy to continually maintain a constant calcium/alkalinity balance with shocking the system. The two rates must be the same, but to dose different amounts one of the two materials can be pre-diluted.
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| How does the float switch work? |
The float switch plugs into the back of the Nautilis 2 & 3, and the float sits in the sump for the aquarium. The dosing pump will run until the liquid level rises above the float set point, at which time the float switch shuts off the pump. The set point is adjusted by sliding the float switch up and down the curved plastic hangar.
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| Can I use BOTH a float switch and an a/c controller interface? |
Sure, just by using a stereo splitter (available at most Radio Shack's) and plugging both devices into the splitter. Unless BOTH the float switch and a/c controller interface say "go", the pump won't run, although the display will stay lit. -
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| Can I use BOTH a float switch and an a/c controller interface? |
Sure, just by using a stereo splitter (available at most Radio Shack's) and plugging both devices into the splitter. Unless BOTH the float switch and a/c controller interface say "go", the pump won't run, although the display will stay lit. -
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