Apex DOS without controller?

[679x]

Perhaps this is a silly question, but I couldn't find an answer from Google... can the DOS unit for dosing/water changes be used without an Apex controller?

I want the dosing and auto water change features but I'm worried about the Apex controller and how sometimes it malfunctions and messes things up. For example, one person had this happen just a few weeks ago (I'm assuming):

Here's a quote:
"...one day for no reason the outlet bar became possessed and turned all the outlets on and essentially drained my sump in a matter of minutes all the while dumping RODI water into it. If I hadn't been home it would have been a total loss."

I don't want to use the Apex controller if it could malfunction and cause problems like this. However, I do want to use the DOS. Which is why I hoped I could use the DOS without the controller, but I don't think this is possible. Is it?

 

[Bob Escher]

I believe this too be a very very rare occurrence. I know guys that have never had a problem with the Apex for years. I've had mine for 2 1/2.years and no problems other than a PH probe going bad but that's it. I love it myself

 

[679x]

I believe this too be a very very rare occurrence. I know guys that have never had a problem with the Apex for years. I've had mine for 2 1/2.years and no problems other than a PH probe going bad but that's it. I love it myself

I suppose that makes sense -- people who like the controller probably won't write a review because they don't feel the need to, but the few people who have problems WILL write a review in order to share their experience with the product. That quote was in a review of the Apex controller.

 

[Bob Escher]

Yes but if you look on Amazon for example and look up apex controller it will show you the number of reviews and how many good versus bad

Here's one
https://www.amazon.com/Neptune-Syst...-6&keywords=apex+controller+-+neptune+systems

 

[recess62]

If this worries you then set up virtual switche to turn off the DOS if you sump gets to low You can use a float valve and program the apex to turn off the dos when the float switch is open

What makes the apex so versitile is that you can set up a myriad of switchs to help protect your tank in the event of an equipment failure

 

[679x]

What makes the apex so versitile is that you can set up a myriad of switchs to help protect your tank in the event of an equipment failure

But what if the Apex itself fails? Then what would happen?

 

[recess62]

You should have the apex programmed so that if the power strips loose connectivity with the base unit it would default to off.

 

[Mark Gray]

Scarry but it
s

 

[p7willm]

I love my Apex. It makes taking care of the tank much easier. There are a bunch of things on my tank that could kill it if they broke, including the Apex. However having the Apex will stop some of these things happening and if something goes wrong I get an email. The Apex lets me add stuff to detect problems and turn stuff off to stop them. If you run a tank long enough something is going to kill it. I feel that, on the whole, my tank will live longer with the Apex than without it.

Now water changes. I do mine with a DOS and I probably would not if I had it to do over. It is very accurate. I replace 1543ml a day. If that was all my salinity would be stable for years. But, I also take out some salt water when I empty the skimmer. Some salt creeps out. Other peristaltic pumps may not be able to deliver 1ml a min to 250 ml a min but I always run at 250ms/min to do water changes. Other pumps may not be as accurate but I constantly monitor salinity and add more salt water daily if it is low.

I dose with a pair of BRS 1.1 ml/min pumps that I control with the Apex. I can't change the rate but I never want to. They are not as accurate but it probably makes no difference if I dose 15.3 or 15.5 ml/day.

Get the Apex, think about the DOS.

 

[p7willm]

Oh, the DOS will take 12 minutes to pump 1000ml at 250ml/min. It needs to rest twice as long as it pumps and it needs to rest after 1000ml.

 

[reefwiser]

Just get a Stenner dual head pump. It is built to do this task it doesn't have to "rest" while doing a water change. An you could run it off a mechanical timer if you wanted too. All you have to do to set it up is get two containers one with water and the other empty .Using a timer and then run the pump to you get the amount of water you want to change in the empty container.Then just set the timer to the amount of time you need to run the pump and run your input and waste lines and you are set.