Reefdoser EVO 1

The Aqua Medic reefdoser EVO family brings together peristaltic dosing pumps intended for controlled additions of small liquid volumes in marine and freshwater aquariums. The models share the same basic task and several installation and maintenance principles, but they do not all use the same controller: EVO 1 belongs to the app-controlled 1/3/5 platform, while EVO 4 uses a separate wired controller. This page therefore explains the common family first and then identifies the controls and procedures that belong to each model.

A dosing pump repeats a volume and schedule chosen by the aquarist. It can make supplementation more regular, but it does not measure the aquarium's demand and it does not decide the correct dose. Calcium, hydrogen carbonate, trace elements, fertilizers, Kalkwasser, or suitable liquid foods should only be scheduled after the relevant aquarium parameters and the instructions for the liquid itself have been checked.

EVO 1 is intended for aquariums that need one regularly dosed liquid rather than a multi-container protocol in a single chassis. It measures approximately 97 × 105 × 127 mm and can stand on the supplied base or be fixed to a wall. A signal LED identifies active pumping, and touch sensors on the unit provide manual dosing.

The model is part of the current app-controlled 1/3/5 range. The official product page lists EVO 1 and EVO 5 as available and marks EVO 3 as no longer available. Additional supported EVO 1, 3, or 5 units can be integrated in the App, so more channels are obtained by managing multiple compatible units rather than by turning EVO 1 into the externally controlled EVO 4.

• Regular additions of trace elements or fertilizers in marine and freshwater aquariums.
• Separate calcium and hydrogen-carbonate additions in reef systems when the aquarist has established the required quantities.
• Controlled Kalkwasser dosing or automatic feeding with suitable live plankton, within the limits of the liquid and tubing.
• Installations where repeated manual additions would be inconvenient and a calibrated schedule can be checked periodically.
• Users prepared to inspect tubing, recalibrate after changes, and keep the electronics away from water, salt, and humidity.

Each channel uses a peristaltic pump head. Rollers compress a flexible tube and move the liquid without sending it through the motor or the controller. The pumps are self-priming, which simplifies initial filling, but correct tube routing is essential to prevent a reservoir from emptying by gravity or liquid from flowing backwards.

Manual operation is useful for filling the tube before calibration and for short controlled additions. Automatic operation follows the program stored through the model's own control system. Every active channel must be calibrated separately because the real result depends on the pump head, tube path, liquid, measuring cylinder, and the moment at which calibration is stopped.

The manufacturer states that a pump must not run continuously for more than 15 minutes. The following stop period should be at least as long as the operating period; otherwise pump life may be reduced. This operating limit applies to both family branches and must be considered when distributing a large daily volume.

Manual pumping is available from the touch panel; all other settings are made in the Aqua Medic App. The App manages automatic dosing and interval scenarios, while the button and LED above the pump head are used to fill the line and observe operation locally.

The WLAN radio operates at 2412–2472 MHz with a stated transmission level of 15–19.5 dBm. These values describe the wireless interface, not dosing precision or aquarium coverage; actual connection quality still depends on the installation environment.

EVO 1 shares the replacement pump head identified as 104.144-31, the motor identified as 104.144-1, and the 12 V/3 A power supply identified as 104.144-4 with the EVO 1/3/5 and EVO 4 ecosystem where specified by Aqua Medic. Front covers remain model-specific.

EVO 1 is not a one-channel section of EVO 4 and it is not the basis of a standalone EVO 8 model. It is the compact, app-managed choice for one liquid; several app-compatible units may be grouped when the installation needs more independent channels.

Place the dosing unit on a stable, level surface or use the mounting solution supplied for the model. Keep it indoors and protect it from splashes, salt deposits, and the high humidity commonly found inside a sump cabinet. The EVO 1/3/5 manual specifies relative humidity below 80%; the EVO 4 manual likewise requires protection from water and humidity.

Keep the tubes as short and direct as practical. The official manuals give a maximum water height of 2 m, corresponding to 0.2 bar. The suction tube must reach the bottom of the supply container, while the delivery end must not hang in the aquarium water. The liquid level in the container must remain below the end of the dosing tube to prevent uncontrolled emptying or backflow.

Because peristaltic tubing can wear and eventually leak, position the pump above a drip tray, aquarium, or filter tank where practical. Before starting a program, verify the suction and delivery sides, remove sharp bends, fill the line, and confirm that the outlet cannot siphon aquarium water back toward the dosing container.

Fill the tube manually from the touch sensor before calibration. Place the suction line in water or in the liquid that will actually be dosed and the delivery line in a suitable measuring cylinder, then run the calibration from the App with the unit level.

The official manual requires at least 10 mL for calibration and does not recommend smaller quantities. When the product formulation allows it, a highly concentrated solution may be diluted with osmosis water so that a larger measurable volume can be used; the final dosing calculation must account for that dilution.

Inspect the dosing tubes regularly for wear, hardening, deposits, and obstruction. A blockage can increase pressure and produce leakage; a worn tube can release liquid outside the intended path. Recalibrate the affected channel after replacing a pump head, changing the tube route, or changing to a liquid with different flow behaviour.

Disconnect the power before changing a pump head so that no scheduled dose can start during the operation. The replacement head includes its rollers and internal tube. When fitting it, the motor axle must sit centrally between the three rollers and remain visible in the centre of the front opening.

Do not lubricate the pump. Never use corrosive or crystallizing liquids. If a solution tends to crystallize at the outlet, its suitability and the cleaning frequency must be assessed before automatic use; the manufacturer's prohibition takes priority over any generic application example.

• Strength: one compact channel, local manual control, and App scheduling suit a single additive without the footprint of a four-head station.
• Strength: compatible EVO 1, 3, and 5 units can be brought into the same App, allowing the installation to grow by separate modules.
• Limitation: automatic configuration depends on the App; the touch controls alone only provide manual operation.
• Limitation: a protocol using several independent liquids requires additional compatible units and more separate tubing and power planning.