Apex DOS users - tell me about your AWC

[Letterkenny]

Thinking of setting up an AWC for my setup using a 40/50g Brute as my storage. Since I would be looking to change 10g a week, that would enable it to be pretty hands off for about a month.

• For those doing this, what containers do you recommend?
• Do you still do WC in the DT and if so how often?
• Is a continuous AWC effective at nutrient reduction compared to a weekly 10%?
• What fail safes do you put in place to ensure no overfillings or draining the tank? FMM with two sensors? What about not triggering the ATO and lowering the salinity?
  
  
  
  

 

[SPR1968]

I use DOS for water changes in both my systems and it’s very simple to use and set up

I just use large plastic water containers, in my case 425 litres and change around 5% of total volume every week split into small daily amounts.

The water changes are from the sump not the display so you can’t see the tubes, so no I don’t do changes from the display, because you don’t need to.

I think the difference in nutrient export is nominal for each method and you might find this useful

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

I don’t have any fail safe as such and the changes are slow and the same in/out, so have no effect on the ATO, you should be fine

 

[Letterkenny]

I use DOS for water changes in both my systems and it’s very simple to use and set up

I just use large plastic water containers, in my case 425 litres and change around 5% of total volume every week split into small daily amounts.

The water changes are from the sump not the display so you can’t see the tubes, so no I don’t do changes from the display, because you don’t need to.

I think the difference in nutrient export is nominal for each method and you might find this useful

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

I don’t have any fail safe as such and the changes are slow and the same in/out, so have no effect on the ATO, you should be fine

Thanks - from the DT I meant any supplemental non AWC changes to filter out detritus.

 

[SPR1968]

Thanks - from the DT I meant any supplemental non AWC changes to filter out detritus.

No, I don’t anyway, I don’t filter or clean anything in the display tank (other than glass etc) in either system, sand or anything.

 

[schuby]

I stagger my add and remove pumps. Cuts noise level in half. Adding before removing keeps the ATO from lowering salinity, imo. Let Apex spread daily amount over almost 24 hours: slower rate = lowest noise.