Awc with neptune dos questions.

[slythy]

I have a second Neptune Dos that I am toying with setting up as a AWC system.

has anyone had any issues with draining or overfilling? Im trying to make it as safe as possible. I only plan on changing 1 gallon per day so nothing crazy. The linea will run through the attic to my garage a few rooms away.

im hoping to set up a fairly trouble free system.

anyone have any pointers or advice?

 

[bushdoc]

I used it for few years and then dropped it. Somehow I had problems equalizing water coming in and out, so I had to correct it often. Tubing got disconnected few times, causing some flood. DOS is also very noisy, so I was running my AWC at night. WSith 1 gallon/day you should be fine, I was changing more like 3-4/day. Check connections frequently and check salinity, specific gravity often. Turn off ATO when you do ATC.

 

[Tastee]

I run 6 DOS units between 2 tanks, 2 for each tank for 3-part dosing + NoPoX and 1 for each tank for a six-weekly 24-hour AWC. I have had no issues with over/under filling, nor with any tubing disconnection issues. Dosing has also been very stable on both tanks.

For over/under filling you rely on the DOS calibration. I run a high and low level optical sensor in each tank’s sump. If it overfills the high level sensor would alert me. If it underfills then the Apex salinity probe would probably alert me first, due to the ATO replacing the missing SW, or if it ran the ATO dry, the low level sensor would go off.

With regard to tubing disconnections, I use the standard pressure fittings which I have had no issues with. Any time I set up or remove/refit (very infrequent) I carefully soak the tubing in boiled water to soften it before fitting and tightening. So far I have had no issues (5 years on one tank, 3 on the other and 3 for the AWC). Some others use a well known hack to retrofit push fittings in place of the standard pressure fittings as they don’t trust them. I haven’t done so yet.

I have only recalibrated each DOS once. I recalibrated the AWC DOSs after 18 months and they were still pretty much 100% accurate, think I adjusted one by a ml or two, nothing else. I recently recalibrated all 4 I use for dosing and a couple were out 3-4 ml. I am keeping an eye on the dosing container levels however as they still don’t appear perfect, so the recalibration may not have been quite correct. Next time I think I’ll run the recalibration process a few times to make sure I am getting a consistent reading before I make changes to the DOS.

Hope this helps, Brad.

 

[AJsReef]

I've ran AWC on my system for 5+ years now. Calibrating and maintaining your pump heads is important for ensuring you input/output is equal. Calibrating every 6 months or so and new heads yearly works for me.

I will say, unless you have your DOS in the garage I'd caution against using it for AWC. It is noticeably audible when running and if you're anything like me will drive you nuts. I much prefer Ecotech Versas for AWC usage.

As far as tubing, converting pumps to RO tubing has worked best for me over time.

Obviously, a FMM for hi/lo water sensors for the sump, lo for reservoir and a salinity probe for display are helpful fail safes as well.