DOS Dosing and Fluid Metering System

DOS :: DOSING AND FLUID METERING SYSTEM

A multi-purpose dosing and fluid delivery system of uncompromising quality combined with the simplicity of Apex Fusion software wizards for operations such as:

    2-Part Dosing (Calcium and Alkalinity)

    Other Additives Dosing

    Automatic Water Changes

    Micro-Quantity Dosing

    Delivery of Liquid Foods and Supplements

SO, HERE’S WHAT THE DOS CAN DO:

The DOS is a multi-purpose Dosing and Fluid Metering System. The DOS connects to any Apex via its AquaBus connection.  The true versatility and functionality of the DOS comes to life via the software wizards built into Apex Fusion.  This takes dosing to a whole new level in terms of ease of use as well as functionality when compared to standalone dosing systems because the DOS is part of your Apex ecosystem. Not only can you integrate it into other operations and devices you have configured, but we also will be continuing to expand on its capabilities as time goes on via software updates to Apex Fusion.

2-PART DOSING MADE EASY

The #1 reason people purchase a dosing system for their aquariums is for consistent and easy dosing of 2-part solutions (calcium and alkalinity) to their reef tanks. The most common method for doing this today is to use standalone dosing pumps and run them on a timer using seconds or minutes to determine how much to dose.

WATER CHANGES – THE NEVER ENDING CHORE

Hate doing water changes? – everyone does – so they never get done as often as they should. Not only that, water changes are disruptive to the stability of your system since all of that change is happening at once.

MICRO-DOSING OF ELEMENTS

If you need to dose tiny amounts of a particular solution, element or other fluid (like vodka dosing or Zeovit systems), the DOS is the perfect solution due to its precision controlled stepper motor. This ability to control pump movement in such a refined manner means that you can dose all the way down to 0.1ml at a time!

Note: You can not use vodka or any other alcohol based product in the DDR, If you are wanting to use the DOS to add an alcohol base product to your tank you will need to use a suitable container.

HOW IS IT BUILT?

When it comes to dosing, it all starts with the peristaltic pump.First, lets talk about the pump hardware. Be aware that not all dosing pumps are built alike. Well, lets clarify that. Almost all OTHER dosing pumps are alike – But most ALL OTHERS are very different from the DOS.

STEPPER MOTORS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

PRECISION

With the stepper motor pumps on the DOS, you have precise control each time you dose. And, you are guaranteed it will stay calibrated pretty much forever. On the other hand, with the standard DC motor pump found in most dosing systems, it cannot dose small quantities with ongoing accuracy and consistency. They also require ongoing calibration to account for the wear of the motor and the mechanisms. When pumps fall out of calibration, they dose either too much or too little – never a good thing considering an overdose to a tank will often be its demise.

VARIABLE SPEED PUMPS

One of the great features of the stepper motors on the DOS pumps is that they can be driven at various speeds depending on the purpose for which they are being used. For instance, dosing of vodka may require the slowest possible rotation while a water change use requires a much higher pump speed. The best part is that Apex Fusion wizards automatically select the proper speed based on the use and because of the stepper motor, accuracy is not compromised even at the higher speeds.

GEARING AND DRIVE MECHANISM

The DOS uses a direct drive mechanism that will not slip, it will not strip, it will not grind to a halt.  On the other hand, many other peristaltic dosing pumps used for aquariums have gears that can (and do) strip. Or, worse yet, some pumps work by using the friction of rubber rollers on the smooth metal motor shaft to make the pump spin. Foreign matter like salt creep, additives, etc. often get into the drive mechanisms of these pumps and make them fail or pump unknown amounts.

LIFESPAN

The stepper-motor in the DOS has a MTBF (mean time before failure) of 5000 hours. Other systems with brush-driven DC motor pumps have lifespans measured of just a few hundred hours of use. This means the pumps on the DOS may have up to as much as 12x the lifespan of others.

LARGE, SECURE TUBING CONNECTIONS

Leak proof fittings are very important, not just because of the possibility of leaking fluid, but also because the leaking of air into a line would cause the pump not to meter the correct amounts.  The pumps on the DOS have sure-fit compression fittings that are virtually leak-proof. Contrast this to other dosing systems on the market that still use dual-barbed fittings that commonly split the tubing and cause leakage of fluids or air.

SIMPLIFIED INTERFACE

Though nearly all interaction with the DOS will be done through the graphical user interface on Apex Fusion, there still is a need simplified user interface on the DOS itself. This is accomplished using a multicolor indicator for each pump to show its status as well a button to be used for priming the pump or for use during a calibration process.

AQUABUS CONNECTION TO YOUR APEX

The DOS easily connects to your existing Apex System via an AquaBus cable.  All configuration and control of your DOS is done through the Apex Fusion interface on your phone, tablet, or computer from at home or anywhere in the world! And, because there are two AquaBus connections, you can daisy-chain up to 10 DOS systems together.

ACCESSORY PORT

The DOS has an accessory port that will enable it to be connected to an upcoming optional accessories like the DDR – Dual DOS Reservoir. This accessory has two separate 2-liter cylinders for holding your additives. It also has optical sensors at the bottom that tell the Apex when it is time to refill and it then can send you an email or text alert.

QUIET OPERATION

We understand that aquariums are supposed to be serene. And noisy pumps often ruin that mood. So our engineering team has taken extensive steps both in how the pump operates as well as the enclosure design to ensure that the DOS system is one of (if not) the quietest dosing systems on the market for the fluid volumes it delivers.

 STYLISH YET FUNCTIONAL DESIGN

The DOS was designed to compliment your aquarium – not just be a box that holds pumps. Its attractive enclosure has the pumps  rotated at an outward angle to allow for the tubing to be routed with no chance of kinking, even when placed on a shelf. The DOS are also designed for stacking and they can be daisy-chained together via the AquaBus ports.

IT DOESN’T GET EASIER THAN THIS!

In a nutshell using the DOS is as simple as telling the Apex Fusion DOS wizard how much fluid (in ml) you want to pump, and over what time you would like it to happen. The DOS takes it from there and figures out what speed to run the pump and the exact amount of fluid will be dispensed over that timeframe.

Specifications

Size (Approx.): 9.5″ x 5″ x 5″

Weight (Approx.):  4 pounds

Lift Height: 24 feet (minimum at MSL)

Suction Height: 24 feet

Flow Rate: Variable (0.1ml – 250ml/min)

Power Requirement:  110/120V or 220/240V

Requires:  Apex, Apex Lite, or Apex Jr.