Neptune DOS for my ATO!?!? (2025)

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  • Start dateJan 27, 2021
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  • Jan 27, 2021
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Dmat21

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I’m going to be trying to run the Neptune dos as my ATO. Hopefully by measuring the evaporation rate and having the dos top off during and throughout the day constantly with keeping an eye on season change when humidity levels change in evaporation rate probably will too and then adjusting DOS accordingly.
Is there anybody that has done this already and has a tried-and-true way or approach to this method?

i’m disabled and in a wheelchair and will be enjoying my tank for the most part on a daily basis and have a good eye for when things change within the aquarium. So far as having redundancies on an ATO I’m not really worried about it, I could always get a leak detector for my apex. I just want something simple that works and I have to deal with all the extra bull crap that comes with an ATO kit or going overboard with gear just figured I’d hang another Dos up and make it happen.

  • Jan 27, 2021
  • #2

LegendaryCG

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Wisco Reefers

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They make an optical sensor that you could probably use as water level decreases to turn on the DoS pump.

  • Feb 1, 2021
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landlubber

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i have to ask why?
A DOS is more expensive than any ATO i can think of, requires the user to estimate the evaporation to keep the tank stable and uses a stepper motor which is about as slow as it could feed.
i mean a person can mix sunday pancakes with a 1/2 inch hammer drill but there's something to be said for just using a hand-mixer. right tool for the job!

  • Feb 1, 2021
  • #4

landlubber said:

i have to ask why?
A DOS is more expensive than any ATO i can think of, requires the user to estimate the evaporation to keep the tank stable and uses a stepper motor which is about as slow as it could feed.
i mean a person can mix sunday pancakes with a 1/2 inch hammer drill but there's something to be said for just using a hand-mixer. right tool for the job!

Because it’s going to be a more reliable set up the nearest trash ATO‘s on the market.
Plus slow and steady major and Trace elements replacement by water changes on a daily basis of 5% is more effective on a successful tank and corals by a long shot then a 20% plus weekly or every other week water change.
so I’m trying to accomplish that by using a dos and perfecting it set up and evaporation rate which is no biggie

  • Feb 1, 2021
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landlubber

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Dmat21 said:

Because it’s going to be a more reliable set up the nearest trash ATO‘s on the market.
Plus slow and steady major and Trace elements replacement by water changes on a daily basis of 5% is more effective on a successful tank and corals by a long shot then a 20% plus weekly or every other week water change.
so I’m trying to accomplish that by using a dos and perfecting it set up and evaporation rate which is no biggie

to me it kind of begs the question, if you're going to pay all that attention to the evaporation rate so as not to disrupt stability why not just manually add water?
Maybe anecdotal but i've read it literally thousands of times here and everywhere else so i'll add it, my Tunze Osmolator 3155 has never failed me in any way and has multiple safeguards built in. This just seems like being different for the sake of doing it. oh well!

  • Feb 1, 2021
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Dmat21

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landlubber said:

to me it kind of begs the question, if you're going to pay all that attention to the evaporation rate so as not to disrupt stability why not just manually add water?
Maybe anecdotal but i've read it literally thousands of times here and everywhere else so i'll add it, my Tunze Osmolator 3155 has never failed me in any way and has multiple safeguards built in. This just seems like being different for the sake of doing it. oh well!

Because I’m a quadriplegic my hands dont work I’m paralyzed and need my families help for everythin. So I’m just t build reliable and efficient automated system. Not just because. And manual anything is hard to stay consistent and that’s what is needed for stability

  • Feb 2, 2021
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landlubber

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Dmat21 said:

Because I’m a quadriplegic my hands dont work I’m paralyzed and need my families help for everythin. So I’m just t build reliable and efficient automated system. Not just because. And manual anything is hard to stay consistent and that’s what is needed for stability

I had read that earlier in the thread and these are the exact reasons i think you should stick with the ATO. i can't think of what is more hands free and reliable than a system that requires no adjustment, regular calibration and has been touted as the unanimous best method for keeping evaporation at bay.
honestly, i'm not trying to defend a purchase here or be argumentative. i own 2 DOS and i think they're amazing at what they do but i would never choose them over the Tunze for that purpose.

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Dmat21 said:

Because it’s going to be a more reliable set up the nearest trash ATO‘s on the market.
Plus slow and steady major and Trace elements replacement by water changes on a daily basis of 5% is more effective on a successful tank and corals by a long shot then a 20% plus weekly or every other week water change.
so I’m trying to accomplish that by using a dos and perfecting it set up and evaporation rate which is no biggie

You seem to be talking about 2 different things here. It seems in this post you mention trace element replenishment by water changes. But in your original post you mention ATO and evaporation.

Are you trying to do Auto water changes or Auto Top off with the DOS?
Auto water change is definitely doable with the DOS

You definitely don't want to be topping off your tank with saltwater

  • Feb 2, 2021
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piranhaman00

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AWC with DOS is good idea.

Top off is bad idea, Tunze Osmolator is your go to there.

  • Feb 2, 2021
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Dmat21

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shblink said:

You seem to be talking about 2 different things here. It seems in this post you mention trace element replenishment by water changes. But in your original post you mention ATO and evaporation.

Are you trying to do Auto water changes or Auto Top off with the DOS?
Auto water change is definitely doable with the DOS

You definitely don't want to be topping off your tank with saltwater

For both; I was trying to use to Neptune DOS for an auto water change 5% daily as well as an RODI top off from the other one, doable..?

  • Feb 2, 2021
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landlubber

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shblink said:

You seem to be talking about 2 different things here. It seems in this post you mention trace element replenishment by water changes. But in your original post you mention ATO and evaporation.

Are you trying to do Auto water changes or Auto Top off with the DOS?
Auto water change is definitely doable with the DOS

You definitely don't want to be topping off your tank with saltwater


Dmat21 said:

For both; I was trying to use to Neptune DOS for an auto water change 5% daily as well as an RODI top off from the other one, doable..?

on one DOS no. you need one head to remove water and one to add it. that means one entire doser needs to be committed to the water change.

  • Feb 2, 2021
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Dmat21

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landlubber said:

on one DOS no. you need one head to remove water and one to add it. that means one entire doser needs to be committed to the water change.

Ya i understand that but how to I go about the other dos? For a rodi water top off?

  • Feb 2, 2021
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landlubber

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Dmat21 said:

Ya i understand that but how to I go about the other dos? For a rodi water top off?

this is the part i'm strongly urging you to reconsider. an ATO makes a better ATO than a doser.

  • Feb 2, 2021
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Anubisxii

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My first recommendation is going to be use the DOS for dosing or auto water change. And get yourself a 99 to $200 ATO system there's plenty on the market and they're all really intuitive these days.

Neptune DOS for my ATO!?!? (2025)

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