A full install of the Seachem aquavitro Sentia Dose automated dosing system on our 130-gallon planted freshwater (FW) display tank — precise daily fertilization without the highs and lows of manual dosing.
Why Automated Dosing
Automatic dosers deliver consistent daily nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and trace elements in small, precise amounts, avoiding the swings that come with weekly bulk dosing. The Sentia system is fully modular: the main unit includes a Wi-Fi controller, power supply, and one pump head, with additional secondary units added for each nutrient you want to dose separately (we ran four heads for nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and trace).
Installation Tips
Vinyl tubing is much easier to seat onto barb fittings after softening in warm (not boiling, around 160°F) water — the tubing goes on smoothly and grips tightly once cooled
Color-coded rings snap onto each pump head and matching clips go on the corresponding reagent bottle intake, so there's no ambiguity about which line feeds which nutrient
Label each head physically as well as by color — especially helpful if anyone else ever needs to service the tank
Route tubing along the back of the cabinet with basic cable management to prevent tangling
App Setup and Calibration
The aquavitro Doser app recognizes Seachem-branded products via barcode scan and auto-detects bottle size. Before calibrating, run the pump manually until the line is fully primed with product, then use the included calibration vial to confirm actual ml output per run. From there, choose a calculated dose based on your tank volume and target PPM (we used the dosing calculator on our site) rather than a generic suggested dose, and the schedule stays programmed in the unit even without an active internet connection.
Ready to automate your planted tank's fertilization? Shop the aquavitro Sentia Doser (primary and secondary units) at natureaquariums.com. Use our dosing calculator under References to plan your schedule.
