marlinmero
Marlin
Well my Reef Fanatic Level Controller – Auto Top Off, took a crud today. keeps tripping the GFI. so i was wondering what ato you all would recommend. ive heard good things about the JBJ. $100 bucks is about my limit
good ato?
- Thread starter marlinmero
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DTECH07
M.I.A
Tunze 5170 or 3155 It cost a little more but well worth your corals and inhabitants IMHO.
dawgwe1
Well-known member
I have used the JBJ since December and has worked without any problems and fits in your budget....
DTECH07
M.I.A
Its a shame i sold a JBJ ATO yesterday for $45:tsk:. Some one has for sell, just post a WTB and see what happens or a new one is $79 plus shipping.
marlinmero
Marlin
Thanks, that was my next move after i figured out what one i wanted. id love a tunze buy $200 is a lot. but it does seem like an amazing ATO
DTECH07
M.I.A
What size tank do you have??? There's also a Tunze Nano for $104 + shipping. If your tank is 50 gallon or doesn't evaporate water due to a cooler location in your home this could also work.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/tunze-osmolator-nano-3152-auto-top-off.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/tunze-osmolator-nano-3152-auto-top-off.html
N1Husker
RF Staff
I got mine from autotopoff.com. Basic unit $51.00, consists of two floats valves, one with a snail guard and a heavy duty brackett with zip ties. I really like mine, works great. You can add what ever you want and can afford. I got mine with an extra float valve (reversed), for the storage tank. In case the storage tank runs below that valve, it shuts off the pump. I use a Tom's Aqualifter Pump for the pump, hooks right up. Simple and affordable.
marlinmero
Marlin
I have a 210 and a 180. They each go thru about a gallon a day or so. maybe a little less.
i have one of those DIY kits on my 210 right now, and the float seems to bad about every 8 months.
i have one of those DIY kits on my 210 right now, and the float seems to bad about every 8 months.
10gnano
Well-known member
+1... $60 shipped, can't beat it.
N1Husker
RF Staff
These aren't DIY and they use the Madison floats. About the only way you are going to get away without using one with floats is to get the Tunze Osmolator and that's going to run you around $200, or the Elos kit which is still pricey. They still use a float valve as a backup. There is also the Eshopps float valve. No magnetics involved but I understand they can still fail in the open position. I still clean mine out every couple of months to keep it clean and operable.
mfinn
Surgeonfish
My JBJ ATO has working for me for 5+ years.
NanaReefer
Well-known member
Ditto on the jbj ato. Been running mine for 1+yrs never an issue 
N1Husker
RF Staff
Exactly the one I have.
Red C Aquarium
Well-known member
autotopoff.com
texas baby!!
texas baby!!
N1Husker
RF Staff
Yeah Texas baby, but I bought one anyway. Just kidding, I like Texas, be there and through there many times when I was trucking.
marlinmero
Marlin
while im asking about ATO's i have my main display hooked straight to my rodi in the kitchen thats on the other side of the wall. i have a standard DIY ATO system on it. aquahub.com
goes from the RODI unit to a bucket under the tank with a leverage style float to shut off the flow from the rodi. so when the water level gets low in the sump the DIY ATO kicks on the aqualifter that sucks out of the bucket and into the sump.
its a simple setup actually but with all those parts working together it's bound to fail.
Is there a better safer way to go straight from the RODI to my sump? and get rid of the bucket, DIY ATO, and aqualifter?
I had bought a leverage style float shutoff that has a hang on bracket i thought about using. but im scared if the float sinks or something there's no safety.
goes from the RODI unit to a bucket under the tank with a leverage style float to shut off the flow from the rodi. so when the water level gets low in the sump the DIY ATO kicks on the aqualifter that sucks out of the bucket and into the sump.
its a simple setup actually but with all those parts working together it's bound to fail.
Is there a better safer way to go straight from the RODI to my sump? and get rid of the bucket, DIY ATO, and aqualifter?
I had bought a leverage style float shutoff that has a hang on bracket i thought about using. but im scared if the float sinks or something there's no safety.
IMO the better way is to isolate the RO/DI from the system into a larger make up water bin that you can remove water from for the ATO system or make up water. Then you only turn on the RO/DI when you need water from it. After that a DOUBLE float switch with aqualifter is about as safe as an ATO system can get.
mfinn
Surgeonfish
eartaker
Well-known member
DIY... go to Granger and get your float switches. The quality is much better, USA made, rated for 240vac, and will hold up longer than the $4 ones you see all over the internet. I ran mine in line with a small pump vs using a 12v line and a relay. People seem to not want to run a 120v line into there tanks but all of our pumps are done the same way and also the switch from Granger has UL, CE, and NSF approvals. mine has been going for a year now with no issues. The float is growing some Coraline but everything works like it did when I installed it. Also you can replace that float on the switches if they get to bad. I am about to change how mine works though because I want my controller I built to be able to disable the ATO when I do a WC.
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