A method and apparatus for providing the sequential delivery and timed release of measured amounts of additives to the water supply of livestock or plants is disclosed. Laser light is partitioned by an integrally formed cylindrical array lens, and is composed into a single uniform laser beam on an irradiation surface by a cylindrical lens and a doublet cylindrical lens. The gas is permitted to migrate through the particulate material, but it is then vented to the surrounding atomosphere without causing substantial turbulence in the particulate material and to reduce tendencies for dusting and separation of the particulates into sizes. Direct signaling of a sink inactive identifier takes also place between the tandem connection terminating network elements to inform the far end tandem connection terminating network element of an automatic deactivation of the tandem connection sink function.