Dosing pumps for aquariums can be very useful because they allow you to inject various amounts of nutrients and medicines into aquariums without any hard work. Let’s get right to it and take a look at the five best dosing pumps for aquariums that your money can buy.
Best Dosing Pumps for Aquariums
- Gikfun 12V Adjustable Peristaltic Dosing Pump
- Kamoer F1 Liquid Dosing Pump
- Jecod DP-2 Programmable Auto Dosing Pump
- Chihiros Dosing System
- Jebao 5 Channel Dosing Pump
Top 5 Best Dosing Pumps for Aquariums: Reviews
Let’s take a closer look at the 5 best dosing pumps that your money can buy.
1. Gikfun 12V Adjustable Peristaltic Dosing Pump: Our Top Pick
- Adjustable peristaltic pump, you can adjust the flow of the peristaltic pump by the knob, a water...
- This dosing pump has been widely used in the field of experimental, biochemical analysis,...
The Gikfun looks like something that belongs in a scientific laboratory, which technically speaking, it does. This is a special type of dosing pump that is designed for use in laboratory settings. This is one of the most accurate and reliable units in the world.
Now, technically speaking, this is not made to be used for aquarium specifically, but it certainly can. If you need an accurate way to add medicines or nutrients into an aquarium, this is by far the most accurate way to do so.
This unit functions on a 12 Volt DC power supply and features an adjustable flow rate of anywhere between 8 milliliters and 70 milliliters per minute.
What’s surprising is that in spite of its great durability and functionality, it comes in at a very reasonable price. The other really cool thing is that it’s also very simple to use. It has a simple on and off functionality, combined with a dial to adjust the flow rate. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.
Pros
- Durable design
- Great price
- Very accurate
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Technically not made for aquariums
If you don’t mind the limited visual appeal of this dosing pump, it’s the one we would recommend over all others.
2. Kamoer F1 Liquid Dosing Pump
- The Kamoer F1 Liquid Dosing Pump is a single-channel intelligent liquid dosing pump with BOTH WiFi...
- NOTE: Requires a Bluetooth-capable mobile device to operate locally via Bluetooth. A WiFi-capable...
What we have here is a liquid dosing pump that is intelligent in nature and features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. This means that you can easily attach it to your phone as long as it has Bluetooth or is connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This allows you to use your phone to adjust the flow rate of this pump, and to turn it on and off, from wherever you see fit.
This model allows for both manual dosing and automatic dosing. You can set it to dose up to 24 times per day with a ± 2% accuracy rate. It can dose up to 33 milliliters per minute. In this sense, it’s certainly one of the more reliable units out there with the highest amount of adjustability. If need be, you can even daisy chain multiple units together.
What many people might also appreciate is that this dosing pump doesn’t take up a ridiculous amount of space. It’s rather compact, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough space for it. On a side note, it features a battery backup so it can still function in the event that it loses main power.
Pros
- Ideal for most aquarium setups
- Highly adjustable
- Easy to control with phone
- Durable design
- Reasonable price
Cons
- No onboard controls
If you want a reliable dosing pump that you can control with your phone, then this is a fantastic one to consider.
3. Jecod DP-2 Programmable Auto Dosing Pump
- Each channel provides 1 to 9999ml per day
- Each channel can be programmable up to 24 times per day
Here we have what is by far one of the most versatile aquarium dosing pumps in the world. The reason we say this is because it has dual channels, so you can program it to insert two different types of liquids into your aquarium, whether this be medicine for your fish or nutrients for your plants.
Both of the channels can be programmed individually, and each can be programmed to release up to 24 times per day. In total, it can release up to 9999 milliliters of specific liquids each and every single day. What is nice is that it comes with a simple display that is very easy to control.
Now, important to note is that there is really nothing high tech about it. This looks like something you might find in the hospital in the 1980s. However, the simple reality is that it works very well, it’s reliable, and durable too. It might not look good, but it works.
Pros
- Reliable functionality
- Very accurate
- Superior durability
- Decent price
- Easy to adjust
- User friendly
Cons
- Doesn’t look nice
If you just need an accurate and reliable dosing pump for your aquarium, then this model should do just fine.
4. Chihiros Dosing System
- Space-Saving Design: The compact and sleek design of the Chihiros Dosing System allows for easy...
- Reliable and Quiet Operation: Engineered with high-quality components, the Chihiros Dosing System...
Here we have a much larger, more expensive, and more complex full nutrient delivery system for your aquarium. What you get here are four separate containers, each of which comes with its own pump. This means that you have enough space to hold on to four different liquids, and then dispense them each individually into the aquarium.
Each of the four pumps is designed with great accuracy in mind. They can be adjusted to release as much of the intended liquids into the aquarium as you want each and every single hour, at your chosen intervals. Everything you could possibly imagine being adjustable here certainly is. It allows you to maintain your aquarium with great accuracy and with minimal effort.
Of course, as the name implies, it is designed mainly for nutrients, so it is best for planted tanks. It’s not specifically designed to release medicines into the aquarium, but it certainly works really well for plant life.
This is a fully automated nutrient delivery system, and it’s something that certainly helps make life much easier. It also features a really high-quality design that is nearly impossible to break. With all of that being said, this product costs well over $200, therefore making it by far the most expensive one on our list today.
Pros
- Accurate and reliable
- Fully adjustable
- Great for planted tank
- Four containers and pumps
- Built to last
Cons
- Big pricetag
If what you are looking for is a full nutrient delivery system for your aquarium, then this is certainly something worth looking into.
5. Jebao 5 Channel Dosing Pump
- 5 channel dosing pump, each channel provides 1 to 9999ml per day
- Allows user to keep their tank parameters stable, removes the need for mixing supplements daily
If you’re looking for an aquarium dosing pump that comes complete with several different individual pumps, then this is a great one to consider. In fact, this is a 5 channel dosing pump, with each channel providing up to 9999 milliliters of selected liquids per day.
What is of course really neat here is that each of the five channels can deliver a different type of liquid into your aquarium, whether nutrients, fertilizers, or medicines for your fish. Each of the five channels can be individually programmed to release as much or as little of each liquid into the aquarium per day.
All you have to do is plug it in and then use the included display to program each of the individual pumps. It’s very user friendly and simple to use, so you shouldn’t have any problems in terms of usability. It’s also designed to be extremely accurate, so you never have to worry about too little or too much into the aquarium.
Seeing as this unit allows for dosing in both small and large increments, it can be used for large and small tanks alike, and it works well for both saltwater and freshwater aquariums too. All in all, this might just be the best model on the list today.
Pros
- 5 channels
- Individually programmable
- Easy to use
- Very durable
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Takes up a lot of space
If you’re looking for a dosing pump that accommodates many different nutrients and medicines at once, then this is a great one to keep in mind.
Dosing Pumps for Aquariums Buyers Guide: What to Look Out For
Here are some of the most important things that you need to keep in mind when choosing a dosing pump for an aquarium.
Channels
As you can see from our reviews above, some of these dosing pumps have just one channel, whereas others may have as many as five, or even more. How many channels you choose depends on how many different types of nutrients or medicines you need to inject into the aquarium at once.
Adjustability
One of the most important features of any dosing pump is that it is adjustable. They should be able to release anywhere between a few milliliters and a few 100 milliliters of any given liquid into the tank on an hourly basis. This is of course very important, because different nutrients need to be injected into aquariums at different rates.
Accuracy
Just as important as the adjustability is the accuracy of the dosing pump. You don’t want the units malfunctioning and releasing a lot more or less of the given liquid into the aquarium than needed. This can be very dangerous.
Ease of Use
Not only do these units need to be adjustable, but they also need to be easy to use. Although some of these models may look somewhat intimidating, the fact of the matter is that most dosing pumps come with easy to use displays that allow you to easily adjust all of the necessary parameters.
